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A Celebration of Food
Added: (Tue Oct 03 2006)
A Celebration of Food
If you are thinking about booking an Autumn break and are passionate about
what you eat, a visit to the southernmost tip of Devon, the South Hams, during
October is sure to get your taste buds going.
This month has been designated a ‘Devon Celebration of Food’ –
a whole month of good eating and drinking, including festivals and food related
activities. Not that good eating and drinking in this area of outstanding natural
beauty is restricted to just one month of the calendar! With a varied and productive
local food economy, including many award-winning products and premises, South
Devon boasts fantastic, locally produced and sourced food all year round, with
something for all tastes and budgets, whether self-catering or eating out is
your preference.
For such a rural, unspoilt area the South Hams boasts more than its fair share
of great places to dine, including pubs offering great, freshly caught fish
& chips (try the Start Bay Inn right on the beach at Torcross, recommended
by Rick Stein in his TV show) or the superbly named ‘The Oyster Shack’
at Bigbury for special fish and seafood eaten al fresco, weather permitting.
The fabulous Dartmoor Union Inn, in the pretty village of Holbeton, was last
year named the UK’s ‘Dining Pub of the Year’ by Les Routiers
– we are delighted to market a property just a few paces away ,West St.
Marys, ideal for a long weekend or short break for food fans. The pub’s
sister restaurants, The Rose & Crown (AA Rosette for excellence) and The
Seafood Restaurant in Yealmpton (AA two rosettes), opened at the end of 2005
to great acclaim – the Rose & Crown has now just been awarded the
Devon Pub of the Year Award in the Good Pub Guide. As they say on their company
website ‘not what you quite expect from a sleepy village.’
Dartmouth
is increasingly becoming a place to choose for a break all year round, with
many good pubs, hotels and restaurants to choose from. The New Angel, run by
TV chef John Burton Race, gained a Michelin star within 7 months of its opening
in May 2004. Visitors have specifically booked to stay at our properties in
Dartmouth in order to visit the restaurant made famous by the Channel 4 series
‘Return of the Chef'. Our personal favourite, Anzac Street Bistro, is
booked up weeks in advance during busy periods such is its popularity –
excellent local food, often from the family farm and a great atmosphere.
Talking of farms, one of the most enjoyable and unusual dining experiences
is to be found at Riverford Organic Farm’s new Field Kitchen. Take a tour
by tractor around the fields and poly tunnels that make up this successful organic
farm and box delivery company and then eat on communal long tables in the purpose
built restaurant with views of the farm. The freshly grown and picked food is
delicious – if not already a convert to organic food or box schemes, you
will be! Now our self-catering customers can arrange for a box of locally grown
organic Riverford vegetables and other produce to be delivered to their holiday
home ready for their arrival. With other local companies such as Red Earth Kitchen
producing and delivering high quality, delicious meals, frozen and ready to
put simply in the oven, self catering suddenly seems a much more enjoyable option!
If you like seeing food and drink production in progress and even if you have
not tried English wine before you will be bowled over by the whole experience
of a visit to Sharpham, near Totnes. Not only do they produce delicious award-winning
wine and cheeses, but the setting on the River Dart, with walks and tours part
of the tasting package, is magical. With many other producers opening their
‘doors’ to visitors during the year, including Chilli Growers, South
Devon Chilli Farm, you could happily fill your days seeing the produce being
grown and then dine out on it at night! Take a walk along the beach at Beesands
on the Start Bay coast and see the fishermen bringing in their catch, try your
hand at fishing or simply buy from Britannia Shellfish close to where the boats
land. Local Coast & Countryside events promoted by the South Devon Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty Organisation throughout October also include Chestnut
Gathering and Roasting, Hedgerow Hips and Haws Gathering, both on the Sharpham
Estate, plus Apple Pressing at various locations in the area.
Most Saturdays see a local Farmers market somewhere in the area, highly popular
and well supported by locals and visitors from far and wide. During the month
of October these take place in Kingsbridge (7th), Dartmouth (14th), Ivybridge
(21st) and Totnes (28th) and are great opportunities to sample new foods, talk
directly to the producers and purchase a whole array of wonderful products from
vegetables to venison, fudge to fish, sausage to soup and much more.
For complete foodies, why not time a visit to this beautiful area to coincide
with Dartmouth’s Food Festival, taking place over October 12th, 13th,
and 14th. With cookery demonstrations, including ‘tackling a lobster’,
advice on choosing a local cheeseboard, workshops, tasting sessions, children’s
activities and more, the event looks set to be a real celebration of the diversity,
success and pleasures that are South Hams food and drink.
Karen Jones
September 2006
Coast and Country
Cottages – Over 300 self catering properties in and around Dartmouth,
Salcombe and throughout the South Hams, ideal for a holiday or break all year
round. Short Breaks. Special Offers. Couples Discounts. Dog-friendly Properties.
For details of availability during Dartmouth Food Festival call our Dartmouth
team on (01803) 839499 or visit http://www.coastandcountry.co.uk
Editorial contact – Karen Jones karen@coastandcountry.co.uk or call Karen
on 01548 852572. Photos and contact details for local companies mentioned in
text all readily available.