The End of a Trip of Research and of course Lunch

I've always wanted to bring the tours to the UK. Kiwi's love England and while I ran to the other side of the world to grow up and discover who I was, I've always appreciated the beauty of England and it's charm to the rest fo the world.
When I left the food scene was changing and growing up. Pubs were listening to what people wanted and while a cheddar ploughmans was still a classic member of the pub grub menu, Thai chicken noodles was making an appearance.
Every year I venture back and this year I'm very impressed with what is on offer. We have of course eaten in a number of places sampling the changes in styles of menu's, the planks of food piles in messy combinations that taste devine, the huge chunks of meat with four forks for everyone round the table to pull apart the slow cook tender pork and bowls of steamed brocolli with a cheese sauce served as a pub snack???
Borough Market was a fabulous delight of tastes and smells. My favourite find was stall of potted game - rabbit, quail, wild boar, pheasant and trout. I love potted anything (except perhaps geraniums!) Potted Shrimp on hot toast spiced heavily with mace is one of the UK's beloved traditional dishes and something everyone should taste.  An unplugged freezer fortunately for us meant we skipped away with 5 pots for the equivalent of $20.00 - bargain!!! Every morning for the next 4 days, breakfast was a feast of hot toast, potted meat and a poached egg. Totally unconventional, but totally delicious.
A Burger Bar in Soho called Honest Burgers was exactly what is said on the door. A meaty patty cooked medium rare with smoked bacon, mature cheddar, pickled cucumber, onion relish and lettuce was exactly what we wanted when there was so much choice dotted around. The Rosemary chips and dill enhanced homemade slaw was comforting, English and served simply in metal white and blue bowl - probably one of the best burgers I’ve had in a long time. Good Luck Honest Burger - fab product!!!
The wonderful town I grew up in has become a foodie haven. The market twice a week has endless fresh produce from fish, cheese, vegetables, bread and olives. Dorringtons bakery has been in the town longer than I can remember. Burtons the butchers were as always more than welcoming with amazing cuts of meat in the window. 6 Pork Hocks for a pound each - I was very spoilt!!! My favourite discovery was the Saffron Grange Vineyard which was planted in 2009. I met Paul Edwards who own the property and he showed my father and I around the 5 hectares of Chardonnay and other vine variety that will go into a local sparkling wine. Paul was using New Zealand methods of growing vines and I can’t wait until 2013 when the first vintage is ready.
So we have a tour, accommodation, cooking school day, trips to the coast and dinner in Paris on the agenda at the moment! Now all we need is people :)