The highlight of touring with CAST’s The Tempest was not performing the Bard to packed houses of grinning Americans, nor the impromptu after-show parties with hoards of college girls. Yes, you guessed it: the best part without doubt has been the food. OMG!

New York City

The city is a food-lover’s paradise. You can eat anything, any time, anywhere. During our all-too-brief stop there I sampled the succulent, market-fresh Italian cooking at Chelsea favourite Tre Dici (the pan-seared Ahi Tuna is to die for, as are the parmesan-encrusted truffle French-fries), authentic Mexican street food in hip Williamsburg and brunch at Norma’s in Le Parker Meridien Hotel (luxurious raisin bran overflowing with juicy berries followed by ‘Upstream Eggs Benedict’). I left the Big Apple bursting at the seams…

Ashurst, Massachusetts

The 16-strong cast and crew stayed with a lovely couple called Jamie and Ricki Carroll. Ricki is known by all as ‘The Cheese Queen’, being a nationally renowned expert in home cheese-making. After the show we were treated to some unusual and delicious home-made cheeses: cheddar, hard sheep’s milk, and crumbly goat curd made with raspberries, all full of subtle, autumnal flavours.

Hartwick College, Oneonta

This small private college in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains gave us our first taste of all-you-can-eat college canteen dining. For $6.50 we were able to eat our fill and then go back for more. And more. And more. The choice was unbelievable. If only Hall back at Cambridge offered such bespoke dining.

Little Washington, Virginia

Known to residents as ‘The Real Washington’, this picturesque town boasts one of America’s most renowned eating experiences. The Inn at Little Washington is Chef Patrick O’Connell’s haute cuisine dining experience. With mouth-watering items like carpaccio of herb-crusted lamb with caesar salad ice cream on the $135 a la carte menu (there’s also a $240 eight course tasting menu) it is no surprise that DC bigwigs regularly hop over here when they get a bit peckish. Needless to say we ate at the café nearby!