4.
Look out for local dishes
This part of the UK has always been famous for its local eels, but if you don't quite fancy the slime, why not embrace local food traditions and enjoy a bowl of ginger pudding instead? There's nothing nicer than a hot steamed pudding with a jug of custard on a chilly day in one of the cosy Chelmsford restaurants. You'll find the more traditional restaurants in Chelmsford are embracing their roots and digging out old recipes to reintroduce to modern diners. Other local favourites to look out for are Burnham oysters, pea soup, plum pudding, pickled herring, ploughman's pasties, rock cakes, syllabub and elderberry wine. The ingredients used are always of excellent quality, too, as Essex has a rich agricultural tradition and plenty of recognised local suppliers, many of which have won awards for their food.