Local food and drink
You’re staying in the Peak District village of Bakewell, and you’ve already wolfed down a full English breakfast (extra toast and marmalade, note). So you quite reasonably reckon on lasting out it ’til lunch. Then it hits you: the golden aroma of warm Bakewell Puddings, fresh from the baker’s ancient oven. Instantly, you get the munchies. Your tummy says eat, your head says wait; your tummy wins the day. And as you sit by the banks of the Wye and bite into the crisp puff pastry shell, the scrummy filling of jam, eggs, sugar, butter and almonds makes your tastebuds do somersaults of delight. Mmmm. The authentic Bakewell Pudding, bliss on a plate. Now, what time did you say lunch was?
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Just switching on the TV and seeing wall-to-wall cookery shows will tell you what a nation of foodies we’ve become. Yet here in the sticks, fresh, seasonal produce and wholesome ingredients have been a staple of the meal table since time immemorial.
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Many vineyards and wineries can be found in some of England's finest countryside. At present, some 100 vineyards are also open to the public offering you the opportunity of a most enjoyable day out.
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Cheese has been made in England for thousands of years, influenced by the early Romans, the Normans in the 11th century and the establishment of various monasteries.
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What better way to get a true taste of England than by paying a visit to one of England's many farm shops. There are over 3,000 farm shops scattered throughout England's beautiful countryside.
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England still has a great tradition for breakfast – offering distinct bacon, Lincolnshire sausages, Cumberland ham, apple juice, eggs, kippers and kidneys.
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A pint of beer is a curious thing. To the unseasoned pallet it might be nothing more than a simple prop for a good night out, a helping hand to ease away the working week.
Beer and pubs
Lick luscious dairy ice cream on a Devon beach, crunch crisp stalks of celery in a Fenland pub or bite into a warm, floury scone in a tearoom overlooking Windermere in the Lake District.
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