Everyone has to eat! I was curious about what they ate in Tudor times. To find out, we met Ros at Wilton House, a large estate in the English countryside, to see the replica of the Tudor kitchens.

During Shakespeare's time, trade and exploration were expanding. This meant new foods and spices were arriving in England. Some of these new foods are things we eat every day like oranges. Imagining life without cooking basics like sugar was the most interesting part of learning about the eating habits of the Elizabethans.

Feasts during Shakespeare's day sometimes included exotic animals like peacock, as well as more traditional meats like chicken and lamb. The size of the kitchens and the number of staff depended on how large the household was. For example, the kitchens at Hampton Court, when the palace served as a functioning home, could serve up to 1,200 people. Imagine having to do the dishes following a meal! A large and elaborate meal was the chance to show your visitors how wealthy you were.

One of my favorite things to do in London is go to Borough Market! Borough Market is a huge outdoor market full of fresh fruits, veggies, meats, fish, nuts, cheese, amazing breads, and much more.  There are many stalls and vendors who come from all over England to sell their produce.

If you name it you can most likely find it at Borough Market. In fact, lots of chefs from hotels and restaurants in London come here to do the shopping for their menus. This morning we went to the market to stock up on fruit and other snacks for our hotel room. We all picked our favorite fruit – Sarah picked out fresh figs while I attempted to blend in with the locals the best I could.

We bought fresh croissants and Jenny bought some goat cheese. For just a £ Jackie and I bought an enormous brownie to share. We could not wait until we got back to the hotel to eat, so we had a little picnic by the Thames River and sampled the food we'd bought.

It is places like this that allow you to see how people really live. They are off the tourist track and let you get a flavor of life in another country. It is also really amazing to think about people all around the world, both past and present, who have shopped in markets and bazaars just like this one.

Full of tasty food,

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