The weekly family dinners make for the most memorable moments on Blue Bloods, as the gathering is often the only time during the show when every Reagan is on screen together.
But as Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) and the rest of his clan are chowing down, some might be curious if the home-cooked meal on their plates is actually edible, or if the grub is fake. The truth? Several actors say the fare is all real—but it's still served with some strings attached.
"We embrace family dinner," Tom told CBS 58. "The only problem is it takes six-to-eight hours and you have to just keep eating the same old food." Will Estes, who plays Jamie Reagan, agreed with his co-star and told the outlet: "You gotta' pace yourself."
Pacing themselves sometimes means spending time pushing bites around and pretending to eat, Jim Lillis, the property manager for the crime drama tells The Virginian-Pilot. "Some are good at faking it. They are very good at making it look like they're really enjoying a hearty dinner," he said.
According to the publication, the actors don't get to choose what they eat that week, but the food does sound pretty tasty. The newspaper reports that The BeeHive Oven Biscuit Cafe in Brooklyn, New York, caters everything. The menu features some tasty plates including chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese.
Lillis also explained that the show's cuisine mirrors the comfort food the restaurant is famous for. "It's usually a pot roast, maybe meat loaf, roast chicken with some version of potatoes. Green vegetables. Always dinner rolls," he said.
Although the police commissioner might get tired of filming the long scenes, at least the menu consists of entrees that are right up his alley. "Tom's a steak and potatoes kind of guy," Lillis reveals.
To watch more of the classic dinner scenes, tune into Blue Bloods on Fridays at 10 p.m. EST on CBS.
