Yes, there was only one.

Here's a challenge. A writing competition for foodies. You might be better at it than us.

We have been asked to give this a mention, so here it is. This is the first food and drink festival of its kind to be held at Henham Park Nr Southwold, in the lovely setting of the historic walled garden. Over the two days of the Festival, the aim is to celebrate and publicise the amazing variety of food and drink available in East Anglia. Local, regional and national firms will exhibit and there will be a special children’s activity area. Cookery demonstrations and talks will be held throughout both days and those purchasing food will be able to store their shopping in a chilled store. Day entry is £6 for adults and £3 for children aged 12 – 16, under 12’s are free. For more details and to buy tickets please visit www.flavoursof2012.co.uk.

This three hour tour takes you through the foodie paradise of Bethnal Green in East London - from the famous and beautiful Columbia Rd flower market for fresh morning coffee and pastries from Italy,  to Brick Lane, the home of curry, with foodie stops all the way.  Jamie Oliver comes here to buy his Vietnamese street food and even the kebab vans are good.  So we can try fresh oysters; beigels stuffed with salt beef or smoked salmon, traditional Cockney pie, mash and eels and home made baklava - from the traditional shops that have been here for years, and from the fabulous new street food vendors that cook here at the weekend.

The tour is £10 per person, runs most Saturdays and Sundays and meets at Hoxton station. You buy your own food throughout but don't worry, it's mostly under a fiver and you'll easily walk it off! It starts at 11.00am going for coffee, and ends at 2.00pm with whatever you liked best...and there is even a Cockney cashpoint to get your money out in rhyming slang!

Send me a message for details of the next tour dates and how to book.

...for food as well as fake tans and big white teeth, at the Essex Food Show, and if you look at the exhibitors list you will see lots of them are our friends from Suffolk. 

If you can get salt fish try these, the fish needs soaking overnight and smells horrible but the flavour afterwards is worth it. Just make a thicker batter than usual, add the shredded salt fish, some chopped spring onions and chili, and fry until crisp. Mmmmm... 

From the original London home of real bagels - Brick Lane - we joined a long queue that moved faster than you can get your money out and enjoyed the perfect £3.50 breakfast/brunch/lunch/teatime/midnight snack. Bursting with meat and oozing with mustard and pickle, you can see them being steamed and baked out the back, being filled out the front, and they are open twenty-four/seven.