I think you may have been lucky (or else the rules have changed again) as I know that when I last asked for a food item in MCE as a OWE (BA Gold, same as you) I was told it was chargeable and that only AA EXPs and CKs get the complimentary food item.

However, in terms of drinks in MCE we had two good crews on our LAS - DFW - LAS flights last weekend. My wife and I had a beer / wine on the first drinks round and we asked for a refill later on in the flight and we got a second drink, no questions asked. Well, technically there was a question as I went to the rear galley for the second drink on the DFW - LAS flight and the FA asked where I was sitting but when I said "MCE, row 9" she was perfectly happy to hand over another couple of bottles of wine.