So when SurreyLive sent me to try out the new Gail's Bakery in Woking, I took it as a sign that I'm starting to become a respected figure in the newsroom. Gone are those early days of trying out chicken shops with subpar hygiene ratings - this was an assignment I could quite literally get my teeth into.
The first thing that hits you when you walk into Gail's is the glorious smell of freshly-baked bread. I think I counted 10 different kinds of sourdough on display alongside bagels, baguettes and ciabattas. None of them were particularly cheap, of course - in fact some loaves cost £4 or more - but you get what you pay for, and purely on the basis of what my nose was telling me I was already prepared to open my wallet.
Then I remembered I was supposed to be buying myself lunch only, and that an entire loaf might be difficult to explain to our finance department. Instead I turned my attention to the glass display cabinet at the front of the shop and the array of savoury and sweet treats contained within - every one of them looking more artisan than the steak slices and chocolate muffins that were my standard picks at Greggs.
I nodded knowingly as I put the pot back on the shelf, hoping that passers-by would be tricked into thinking my ignorance wasn't on such a biblical scale, and returned to more comfortable territory. The mushroom and caramelised onion quiche looked tempting despite the £4.20 price tag, and it proved to be a good decision - delicious from start to finish, and surprisingly filling for its relatively small size.
For dessert I chose something called a 'Reverse Chocolate Chunk Cookie' (again quite pricey at £2.50), mainly because I didn't understand the reason for its name. As far as I could tell the 'reverse' part was because the dough is dark and the chocolate is white, making it the opposite of their other cookies, I suppose - but after the first bite I realised I didn't care because it was delicious regardless.
I'm not a coffee or tea drinker (which makes me "not properly English", according to one American friend) so I can't give you any insight into how the hot beverages compare with other rivals in the town centre. I was, however, intrigued by something called a 'Daily Dose Hot Shot', a small medicine-like bottle apparently containing a 'fiery' liquid mix of lemon, ginger, agave and cayenne pepper. I say "apparently", because in the end I chickened out and had a bottle of fresh apple juice that cost me another £4.20.
So, what's the verdict? Gail's Bakery definitely adds something different to the lunch options for people working or shopping in Woking town centre. Clearly it's not as cheap as some of the alternatives - in fact, a savoury item, a cookie and a drink cost me well over a tenner. That being said, everything I tried was delicious - and on another day, in a more courageous mood, it might be good to know there's a bakery where I can eat foodstuffs I've never heard of, washed down by a drink that's hotter than the sun.