Calling all local foodies!

If you're a talented cook looking for a big break, passionate about your local food and eager to learn from top chefs, TV wants you! Taste The Nation, a new ITV show, is looking for contestants to represent their county in its national cookery knock-out competition. Contestants must be available for filming on the occasional day between November 2008 and February 2009. If you want to take part, call or email to register your details.
You must be 16 years or older to apply or call. Calls cost 10p from BT landlines. call from other networks may be higher and from mobiles will be considerably more. Lines close at midday on October 31. Calls made after closing time may will not be counted but may still be charged. ITV cannot guarantee that all applicants will be called back. Terms and conditions at itv.com/terms.
tastethenation@itv.com
09011 986986
http://www.itv.com

Cornwall has a world-class barista!

Hugo Hercod of Relish in Wadebridge came 10th out of 52 at the World Barista Championships in Copenhagen recently.
01208 814214
http://www.relishfoodanddrink.co.uk/

Von Essen Chef of the Year Competition

This year’s Von Essen Chef of the Year competition has been won by Dan Moon, head chef at Homewood Park. He was pitched against five other chefs in the final, and impressed the judges by making the best main course and pudding from mystery box of ingredients that included rabbit, lemon sole, and chocolate.
01225 723731
http://www.homewoodpark.co.uk/

Eat Out Magazine's list in Devon

Four Devon restaurants have been included in Eat Out Magazine’s list of the top 100 restaurants in the UK; congrats to Ode in Shaldon, The Room in The Elephant in Torquay, The New Angel in Dartmouth, and Tanners in Plymouth - where are the rest though?

Eat Out Magazine's list in Cornwall

Two Cornish restaurants have been included in Eat Out Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants in the UK; congrats to The Abbey in Penzance, and Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in Fowey.

New chef to run Olive Tree Restaurant

The Olive Tree in Bath has announced the appointment of new award-winning Head Chef, Paul Burrows. Paul who previously worked at The Residence, will oversee the running of the Olive Tree restaurant as well as the food and beverage aspect throughout the Queensberry Hotel.
Commenting on his appointment Paul said, “I’m really excited about my move to Olive Tree Restaurant. I passionately believe people want good service and to try something different to what they would ordinarily have at home. I am a firm believer in having ‘balance’ between the menu and each individual plate, whilst creating dishes that appeal to all the senses.” Laurence Beere, owner of The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant adds, “The arrival of Paul Burrows, our new head chef will, further enhance the reputation of the hotel and restaurant. Paul is passionate about food and always goes that extra mile to provide customers with a really fantastic dining experience.”
reservations@thequeensberry.co.uk
Tel. 01225 447 928
http://www.thequeensberry.co.uk

St Austell Brewery launch menus in braille

St Austell Brewery is launching menus in braille in its pubs and hotels to help blind and partially sighted customers ordering food and drinks.
The menus are being launched in the Brewery’s 30 managed houses, a move that has won praise from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). As well as having menus in braille, all staff are trained to assist blind and partially sighted diners by reading out menus, including the specials board.
The first St Austell Brewery pubs and hotels to launch menus in Braille are:
The Atlantic Inn, Isles of Scilly
The Central Inn, Newquay
The Copley Arms, Hessenford
The Cornish Arms, St Merryn
The Fort Inn, Newquay
The Harbour Inn, Porthleven
The Holmbush Inn, St Austell
The Lifeboat Inn, St Ives
The Lugger Inn, Polruan
The Norway Inn, Perranarworthal
The Old Custom House, Padstow
The Oystercatcher, Polzeath
The Port William, Trebarwith Strand
The St Austell Visitor Centre, St Austell
The Ten Tors, Kingsteignton
The Weavers, Bodmin
The White Hart Hotel, St Austell
All other managed houses will receive Braille menus in the coming months.
Tel. 0845 24111224
http://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/

DJ Miles online

If you've been out and about in the South West this Summer, the chances are you will have come across DJ Miles & Co Ltd. Supplying fine tea and quality coffee since 1888 has been their aim, and now they are on the world wide web too. Their new website is packed full of Miles' classics, like the Original and West Country blend teas and Mr Miles Blend coffee, plus loads more unusual teas, ancillaries, gifts, cafetieres and much more. It's a haven for tea, coffee and hot chocolate lovers, or if you are on the lookout for an unusual gift.
info@djmiles.co.uk
0800 387948
http://www.djmiles.co.uk

Salty sourcing trip

The latest recruits from Fifteen Cornwall enjoyed some fresh sea air away from Watergate Bay when they visited the Cornish Sea Salt Company on the Lizard Peninsula to see how the high quality salt, used in their restaurant is produced.
Eleven apprentice chefs were given a tour of the production facility at Pol Gwarra, Porthkerris, by company founder and Managing Director Tony Fraser. During their visit the apprentices saw how up to 15,000 litres of sea water an hour is extracted just eight metres from the sea into a state-of-the-art energy efficient production unit. After passing through filtration, concentration and steam evaporation stages the sea water becomes a concentrated saline solution which is slowly evaporated in open vats to produce large flakes of sea salt that are soft enough to crumble by hand.
Within just a few months of starting, the commercial production is already gaining a buzz amongst food circles in the UK and Tony was pleased to see such enthusiasm for his product from the Fifteen Cornwall apprentices, “It was great to see that the group of chefs were really interested in what we do here. We talked about how many years ago salt was made in Cornwall for preserving pilchards and showed them how we’ve resurrected an ancient process with twenty-first century technology.”
0845 337 5277
http://www.cornishseasalt.co.uk/

Jamie’s Italian

Jamie’s Italian is looking to turn into a widespread high street brand, and is opening for business in Bath this September, following the Oxford opening, which was pretty well received, and ahead of Kingston, Brighton and Cambridge. The concept is about high quality, affordable Italian food seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menus are pure rustic Italian with dishes such as “hot fingers” crispy lamb chops – proper grilled lamb chops served with dressed salad greens and Italian mint sauce, and Italian pear chocolate and almond tart served with orange crème fraiche. Check it out on Milsom Street, no bookings taken.
http://www.jamieoliver.com/italian/

Roll out the red carpet

Marshfield Farm Ice cream from Bath is celebrating winning a prestigious Great Taste Award, often referred to as the Oscars of the food industry. The family-run artisan ice cream producer has been presented with a much-desired three star Great Taste Award for its new flavour of ice cream - clotted cream with blackcurrants. It also entered another two products which both won a two star gold award: clotted cream ice cream and its diabetic vanilla.
The Great Taste Awards is organised by the Guild of Fine Food. For more on Marshfield, read our recent ice cream round up here.
enquiries@marshfield-icecream.co.uk
Tel. 01225 891221
http://www.marshfield-icecream.co.uk/

Lessons to be learned at Slow Food summer market

It’s back to school for the monthly Slow Food Devon market at Topsham as young pupils from Topsham School will be selling some of the produce from their Sensory Garden and Allotment Patch for the first time. As part of their curriculum they have been growing beans, courgettes, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, radishes and peas, which they will sell on a regular basis from their own stall at the market.
All the money earned by the pupils will go towards the next stage of the school’s Allotment Patch scheme.
Slow Food Market, Matthew’s Hall, Topsham, Devon, Sunday July 20, 11am-3pm.
info@slowfooddevon.co.uk
Tel. 07708 371862
http://www.slowfood.com

Calling young chefs!

Do you know an aspiring chef aged between 11 and 16 who would like the opportunity to cook in the kitchen of a well-known restaurant? If so, get them to point their school in the direction of the Quality Standard beef mince Young Chef Challenge 2008.
Schools need to register with the competition organisers by July 21, then they're encouraged to help their students create original recipes using Quality Standard beef mince, which must be submitted with a photograph of the finished dish. The best entries will be invited to regional cook-off finals judged by James Martin and a panel of experts. There are also great prizes for the runners-up.
For lesson plans and an entry pack email visit the website, email, or write to Quality Standard beef mince Young Chef Challenge, 26 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1PQ.
QSMyoungchefchallenge@goodrelations.co.uk
http://www.meatandeducation.com

The Barbican Kitchen

Plymouth’s favourite chefs James and Chris Tanner have reopened their restaurant The Barbican Kitchen at the Plymouth Gin building, after the unfortunate kitchen fire in February. They’ve also got a fab new ice cream recipe book out and are happy to sign copies at the Barbican Kitchen, with some of the proceeds going to charity.
Tel. 01752 604448
http://www.barbicankitchen.com/

Dartmouth Apprentice

Dartmouth Apprentice, an Italian restaurant with a social conscience is opening on July 26. Serving a fusion of Devon and Italian food in a refurbished church, it will be a training restaurant - similar to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen - providing career and lifestyle development for local people.

The Seahorse Restaurant

Mitch Tonks’ The Seahorse Restaurant has some of the UK’s top chefs doing guest chef spots this summer. Mark Hix is sold out in July, but there’s still space for Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver of London’s St John restaurant, in September.
Tel. 01803 835147
http://www.seahorserestaurant.co.uk/

Enjoy England Awards

Fifteen Cornwall recently won gold at this year’s Enjoy England Awards, scooping the top award in the ‘Taste of England’ category for its excellent service, customer care, food sourcing and environmental policies.
Tel. 01637 861000
http://www.fifteencornwall.co.uk/

'Local' beef

In a recent investigation 20% of West Country pubs and restaurants were found to be selling beef as ‘local’ when it actually originated abroad. If you’re worried when eating out, ask restaurant staff where the meat comes from - they should be able to give you details.

New top-notch organic bakery

North Somerset has just got a top-notch organic bakery. Winnie’s Bakeries at Weston-super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea have long been big on making bread in the traditional and natural way, but now there’s a new little sister company, Brinkton Bakehouse, making organic bread, including the yummy fig and aniseed, and roasted hazelnut and raisin speciality loaves. Look out for the new sourdoughs, rye breads and house loaf, ‘The Brinkton’, which is packed with seeds, and which will be in the bakery soon.
http://www.brinkton.com

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Bristol’s Farmers’ Market which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. It was the first weekly farmers’ market to be established in the UK and ten of the original traders at the very first farmers’ market are still trading today.
http://www.bristolfarmersmarket.org/

Sharpham Park Shop

The much-anticipated Sharpham Park Shop and Kilver Court Gardens will open this summer. Everything in the shop will come from within a fifty mile radius and of course there’ll be the full range of Sharpham Park’s own top-quality produce. Visit the website below for more details.
http://www.sharphampark.com

The Green Table

Celeb chef Lesley Waters has just launched The Green Table, a new food concept to Devon, which is a sort of posh meals on wheels for foodies. She’ll be trialling it in the Salcombe area in July and August, so if you are interested in giving it a try then call the number below or visit the website.
Tel. 01548 560850
http://www.thegreentable.co.uk

Children lead the way on 5 a day

One in three parents admit that their children know more than they do about 5 A DAY and nutrition.
A new report released for the Department of Health's 5 A DAY campaign shows that although parents understand the importance of getting their 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day, many are still confused about what counts towards that target, with one in three admitting that their children know more than they do about 5 A DAY and nutrition.
1 in 2 parents don't realise that any vegetables they include in homemade food such as spaghetti bolognaise can count towards their five a day, and that of their children. 95% of mums and dads also didn't know that chips cannot be counted towards the 5 a day target.
While 91% of parents know that fresh fruit and veg counts, and 78% are aware that frozen fruit and veg counts, 4 in 10 parents don't realise that canned fruit and veg counts too.
It looks as though there's some clearing up to do on the 5 a day issue, and so celebrity mum Melinda Messenger offers parents the clarity they need in a new government video.
http://www.dh.gov.uk

Roskilly's creates historic ice cream for Tregothn

Roskilly’s – one of Cornwall’s leading makers of ice cream and fudge – has teamed up with Tregothnan Estate to create a brand new Ice cream.
The new Kea Plum and Vanilla ice cream uses fruit from the historic plum orchards on Tregothnan’s Cornish estate and has been combined with Roskilly’s organic milk and ice cream expertise to create the unique new flavour, which will be sold on the Estate.
Jonathon Jones from Tregothnan says: “The Kea Plum orchard is over 300 years old and is the only one of its kind in the world. We have worked hard over the years to bring the orchards back to life and we want to ensure its future is preserved. One way of doing that is to make sure the rare fruit produced is used wisely and now that the trees are producing more plums, we decided to expand into ice cream."
Tel. 01326 280479
http://www.roskillys.co.uk/

Riverford Sidmouth

Riverford Farm Shop has just opened a branch at Sidmouth. Check it out for the fresh meat counter, outside fresh fruit and vegetable area, deli counter and dairy, wine selection, local fruit juices, dry goods, chocolate, and much, much more.
Sidmouth Garden Centre, Stowford, Sidmouth EX10 0NA.
Tel. 01803 762571
http://www.riverfordfarmshop.co.uk/

Latte lover

An expert coffee-maker from Cornish fair-trade coffee company Origin has just won the UK Latte Art Championship at this week’s Caffe Culture Exhibition at London Olympia.
Phil Gevaux, Origin’s highly experienced Barista Trainer, beat entrants from throughout the UK and earned the right as the UK Latte Art Champion to represent the UK in the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe World Latte Art Championships in Copenhagen at the end of June.
Tel. 01326 340320
http://www.origincoffee.co.uk/

Allium knows its onions

Allium in Fairford, Gloucestershire is the winner of the Which? Good Food Guide – South West Restaurant of the Year award. Allium will feature in the 2009 edition of The Good Food Guide and will now compete with nine other regional winners for the Restaurant of the Year award, which will be presented at a ceremony on 17 June 2008 at the British Museum.
Tel. 01285 712200
http://www.allium.uk.net/

Bristol to get its own Bar Week

After successful Bar Weeks in London and Brighton the organisers have decided to launch Bristol’s first Bar Week. It’s essentially a week of intimate gigs and events taking place from 10th – 15th June in the best bars that Bristol has to offer. Look out for events publicised in bars around the city, over the coming weeks.

Chris Horridge in the Great British Menu finals

Chris Horridge, head chef at The Bath Priory Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, is through to the finals of the Great British Menu. Chris, who represents the South West of England, will join the other finalists from around Great Britain to compete for the opportunity to cook a fantastic four-course dinner in June at the restaurant at the top of the iconic Gherkin building in London. The host is Heston Blumenthal of the 3 Michelin starred restaurant The Fat Duck in Bray, and his guests will include top chefs from around the world as well as gourmets and celebrities.
You can watch Chris’ progress from Monday May 19 until Thursday May 22 May on BBC 2, from 6pm-7pm. At the end of the programme, viewers can vote, so get that finger on the dial…
In celebration of Chris’ participation his four course Great British Menu is available at The Bath Priory for lunch or dinner at £66 per person. Or catch him at the Taste of Bath Festival from July 3-6, where you’ll also be able to sample a couple of his Great British Menus dishes.
The Bath Priory Hotel, Restaurant & Spa
Weston Road, Bath, BA1 2XT.
01225 331922
http://www.thebathpriory.co.uk

Annual chef v chef competition

Chefs from The Dower House at the Royal Crescent Hotel won top prizes in the annual chef v chef competition at the City of Bath College. Martin Blunos judged the competition, which was open to chefs from Bath and the surrounding area.
Tel. 01225 823333
http://www.royalcrescent.co.uk/

New head chef at Woolley Grange Hotel

Woolley Grange has a new head chef in the form of Mark Bradbury. He’ll be creating a great new summer menu that will make the most of the organic kitchen garden in the fine dining restaurant and informal orangery.
Tel. 01225 864705
http://www.woolleygrangehotel.co.uk/

Local children learn about food

The Jack in the Green’s head chef Matthew Mason (pictured) is continuing to help local children learn about food. He took 30 children from West Hill Primary School to Quickes Cheeses at Newton St Cyres to learn all about how cheese is made, then followed this with a cooking lesson at The Jack in the Green. Plans are now afoot for the next session which will focus on breadmaking.
Tel. 01404 822240
http://www.jackinthegreen.uk.com/

Final round of the AA Wine Awards

Northcote Manor’s wine list has made the final round of the AA Wine Awards. “I couldn’t be more thrilled,” says Northcote’s Cheryl King. “Our wine list is now more comprehensive, well balanced, and easy to use for people who feel overwhelmed by endless names and vintages.” To win the final award the hotel must match wines from its list to complement an unusual menu; watch this space for the result.
Tel. 01769 560501
http://www.northcotemanor.co.uk/

Supporting Cornish farmers

The Nare Hotel is pinning its colours to the mast again this month and sponsoring The Eden Project’s celebration of food and farming in education on June 21-23. It aims to explain, promote and celebrate food production in Cornwall. “We need to support our farmers,” says Toby Ashworth (pictured), proprietor of the hotel, “and get across to people the dependance that we as a nation has on farming.” As a result of the hotel team’s passion for supporting local food, and serving it at the restaurant, The Nare Hotel has long been a sponsor of the champion and reserve champion beef animal class at the Royal Cornwall Show.
Tel. 01872 501111
http://www.thenare.com

Major refurb at The Rosevine

It’s all change at The Rosevine (above) near Portscatho. It’s had a major refurb by new owners Tim and Hazel Brocklebank, a new chef in Simon Stallard and a cool new look, making it the place to hang out in Cornwall this summer.
Tel. 01872 580 206
http://www.rosevine.co.uk

Rosehill holiday lodges

The georgeous Rosehill holiday lodges near Porthtowan beach have just become the first five star eco lodges in Britain thanks to an award from Visit Britain.
Tel. 01209 891920
http://www.rosehilllodges.com

Could yours be the wedding of the year?

With Valentine’s Day 2009 falling on a Saturday, Combe House, a wildly romantic Grade I Elizabethan manor house hotel at Gittisham, near Exeter, is seeking a couple planning to tie the knot on this most special of lover’s weekends.
Combe is hidden on a glorious wooded estate in the lush Devon countryside where Arabian horses and pheasants roam freely. A Michelin Rising Star and the Good Hotel Guide UK Country Hotel of the Year 2007, it’s one of the few places in the West Country perfectly suited for exclusive wedding use ensuring total privacy and a wonderful sense of occasion in an idyllic setting all year round.
The hotel has a civil wedding licence in four intimate rooms, including the Great Hall with its oak panelled walls and crackling log fire, and can welcome 100 guests in the main house or up to150 in a garden marquee. Whether it’s a candlelit wedding with dancing into the night or a weekend long party with fireworks and entertainment, the Combe team have the right contacts to ensure it runs smoothly.
The contemporary-British cuisine is created by Combe’s two resident Master Chefs of Great Britain, Hadleigh Barrett and Stuart Brown, who are ardent about sourcing the freshest and best quality ingredients for their menus from local producers.
Accommodation is in fifteen individually styled bedrooms and suites including a four-poster, many with stunning views across the valley to Dartmoor. For the wedding night the bridal couple would have their very own thatched cottage with a private walled garden sleeping just two, hidden at the entrance to Combe’s mile-long drive.
Exclusive wedding use of Combe House for two nights over Valentine’s weekend 2009 (2pm Friday to 10.30am Sunday) is around £14,000 based on 60 -100 guests including B&B for 32 guests in fifteen bedrooms/suites and Combe’s thatched cottage. All other meals, beverages and wedding arrangements are additional.
For a wedding brochure and to discuss your personal requirements call or email Ken or Ruth at Combe House. on 01404 540400 or visit www.thishotel.com . Alternatively the email address is stay@thishotel.com.
stay@thishotel.com
Tel. 01404 540400
http://www.thishotel.com

Cornwall’s got the best coffee in the UK

It’s official! You’ll find the finest latte in the whole of Britain at Wadebridge café Relish Food & Drink. Proprietor Hugo Hercod won the 2008 UK Barista Championship in London on Thursday 21st February, and now he’s going to take on the world at the World Barista Championships.
Hugo kept his nerve through three days of stressful competition, preparing four cappuccinos, four espressos and four ‘signature’ drinks of their own creation in a 15 minute slot. As well as the flavour and texture of the drinks, the baristas were judged on their speed, professionalism, attention to detail and knowledge of their coffee’s provenance.
“Making a dozen coffees in a quarter of an hour may not sound that difficult, but it really is an incredibly high-pressure experience,” said Hugo. “If you get even the smallest thing wrong it will be noticed by the judges, and the standard of the competition was so high this year that there just wasn’t any room for mistakes.
“I make around 1000 coffees every week at Relish, and it was very satisfying to be able to take the coffee I use every day in the café, Origin’s Triple Certified espresso blend, to the UK championships and win. It shows that our customers consistently get coffee that’s as good as any in the country.”
“The standard of espressos and cappuccinos made by baristas at this level is almost unrecognisable to anything you’ll find on the high street. Cappuccinos are small, the coffee taste is strong and rich, the milk foam is silky smooth and latte art is obligatory. Espressos are short and sweet with thick crema and deep, complex flavours, while the beans are fresher and higher grade than anything you’ll find in a supermarket.”
Tel. 01208 814214
http://www.relishfoodanddrink.co.uk

Michelin men in Devon

The new Michelin guide is out, so here’s who’s in:
Michael Caines (pictured) kept his two stars for Gidleigh Park, and his reputation as the most highly awarded chef in the South West. The Masons Arms in Knowstone and The Room at The Elephant in Torquay both retained their single stars. Hadleigh Barrett at Combe House Hotel and Restaurant was given a rising one star for the second year running.

North Devon Food and Drink Awards

The winners of the North Devon Food and Drink Awards have been announced. The Best Restaurant award went to Lathwells Restaurant in Bideford, Best Pub to The Lower House in Georgeham, the Best Café award to The Corn Dolly Tea Shop in South Molton, Best Local Producer to Higher Hacknell Farm in Umberleigh, and Best Specialist Retailer to Marshford Organic Foods in Northam. The Best Cream Tea award went to Docton Mill Gardens in Hartland, The Best Breakfast to The Roundhouse near Bideford, and The Best Farmers’ Market Stall was awarded to The Cheese Shop at Barnstaple Pannier Market.

Michelin men in Cornwall

The new Michelin guide is out and Nathan Outlaw (pictured) at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in Fowey not only got a star for the restaurant but was also awarded a rising two stars. “It’s fantastic to achieve one star, but to also get tipped for two with a rising star is amazing,” said Nathan. “I can’t stress enough that without the team this would not have been possible.” A new single star has also been awarded to Kenny Atkinson of the Teän Restaurant on St Martins in the Isles of Scilly, and the new addition for Cornwall in the Bib Gourmand section was The View at Millbrook.

St Moritz

The long-awaited St Moritz Hotel has just officially launched. From the beginning of March food lovers can treat themselves to the freshest local produce including the fruit of our seas, cooked up by international head chef Elliot Ketley who, after four years as head chef at London’s seafood restaurant J Sheekey, should know what to do with it. The new hotel is on the site of the original St Moritz and is the first purpose built, luxury hotel in Cornwall for over thirty years. It includes a luxurious spa, large restaurant and external dining deck, bar and coffee lounge. Foodies will also be pleased to know that a deli will be situated onsite selling the very best local fare including organic breads, fresh fish from Padstow harbour, fruits, preserves and wines.
St Moritz Hotel, Trebetherick, Wadebridge.
Tel. 01208 862242.
http://www.stmoritzhotel.co.uk

The Abbey

The Abbey restaurant in Penzance has been taken over by Bill Treloar and chef Michael Riemenschneider of The Old Coastguard in Mousehole. Michael (pictured left, with Bill) has honed his skills working at Michelin starred kitchens across Europe and the UK. The menu aims to be a ‘tour de force of choice and interest’ and in addition to the à la carte, the team will offer a ‘menu surprise’ where Michael won’t know what he’ll be cooking until the front of house staff tell him what the guests do and don’t like.
http://www.abbeyrestaurant.co.uk/

Michelin men in the Somerset and Bath area

The new Michelin guide is out, and the local newcomer to the scene is The Wheatsheaf at Combe Hay near Bath, where a rising one star has been awarded to talented chef Lee Evans (pictured). Lee said, “It’s something which we have been working towards and it is great to have the recognition. We haven’t got too ‘starry eyed’ about our prices and remain committed to fresh seasonal and local produce cooked to the highest standard.” Other establishments in the guide in the region are Lucknam Park just outside of Bath and The Bath Priory, which have both retained their single star status.

Chicken Out

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's campaign to end the misery of intensively-farmed chickens already has nearly 60,000 supporters.
In a series of TV programmes this week he urged viewers to boycott cheap supermarket poultry - birds that live short lives, in cramped conditions, without ever seeing natural daylight - and buy free-range. It is hoped that this will both encourage the government to improve animal welfare regulations, and show consumers how much better free-range meat is both morally and in flavour.
If you would like to join the campaign and find out more, visit the website below.
http://www.chickenout.tv

Could you win series 2 of The Restaurant?

Last year's series ‘The Restaurant’ was a huge success, featuring Raymond Blanc and nine couples who battled it out over eight weeks to win thier own restaurant. The show is coming back for a second series. Last year's winners were Jeremy and Jane Hooper, originally from Braunton in North Devon, who opened their Oxfordshire restaurant "Eight at The Thatch" in November 2007 and are currently booked up 4 months in advance.
Raymond Blanc will once again be giving nine couples the opportunity to try their luck as restaurateurs. The stakes are high as the successful couple will go into business with Raymond and, as last years winners are finding out, this is an opportunity money just can't buy.
The BBC want to hear from any couples who think they too could run a restaurant. Married, friends, siblings, relatives, partners, colleagues – any pair over the age of 18 can apply. Experience of a restaurant or catering environment isn't necessary but they only want to hear from people who are passionate about food and the dining experience.
For more information contact Monica Bjorklund, Producer of 'The Restaurant' on her number below.

Tel. 020 822 57635

Tarka Springs bottles

New glass Tarka Springs bottles. Our favourite Devon spring water now looks as good as it tastes. Great for dinner parties and restaurants.
Tel. 01805 601179
http://www.tarkasprings.co.uk

Off to restaurants new

The team behind The Abbey Restaurant in Penzance is moving on to a new challenge.
After six and a half years Ben and Kinga Tunnicliffe are in the process of selling the restaurant, with their last day being December 23.
Watch this space for news of the new owners, and the Tunnicliffes' next venture.


http://theabbeyonline.com

Brewery wins green award

A West Country brewery has won top honours at this year’s Devon Environmental Business Awards.
The Otter Brewery at Luppitt near Honiton won the hotly contested ‘Greening Devon’ category at the 2007 DEBI Awards. The brewery proved a long term commitment to protecting and enhancing its immediate surroundings, (the Blackdown Hills are both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest) and have ensured that their long term future is wholly sustainable.
01404 891285
http//:www.otterbrewery.com

Festive cheese

Christmas - a time of cheese and goodwill to all men, and for complementing your local cheese of choice with the right glass of wine. Thankfully this year help is at hand in getting those wine and cheese pairings just right.
The British Cheese Board and English Wine Producers have joined forces to match up the perfect partners in the run up to the Christmas season, and found that wines and cheeses from the same area tend to complement one another better because they have been formed from the same soils and the same weathers. One very good pairing was found to be Camel Valley Brut with Cornish Yarg.
Julia Trustram Eve of the English Wine Producers also advocates breaking with tradition:: "We would suggest that not all cheeses go well with red wine, although English reds do go particularly well with a vintage or farmhouse cheddar. Perhaps surprisingly, some of our deliciously aromatic dry and medium white wines genuinely complement many cheeses. As a rule of thumb we would suggest that the whiter the cheese the better it goes with white wines."
http//:www.cheeseboard.co.uk

Bread of heaven

Anyone who loves top-quality bread made from only natural ingredients will be glad to hear that Truro's Lemon Street Market is now host to the first BakerTom shop. Tom Hazzledine started by baking bread at home and cycling it to the local farm shop. Now his range runs from Italian style focaccia to the award-winning honey and lavender, and has proved so popular that it needed a home of its own.
http://www.bakertom.co.uk

Love artisan

One of our favourite places to shop for the kitchen is Artisan Cookshop in Truro, so we’re very pleased to let you know that it has just won Best Cookshop in Britain and Best Newcomer in Britain’s Best Retailer Awards 2007. Well done and congratulations to Sam, Annie and team!
Artisan Cookshop, 17 Pydar Street, Truro.
Tel. 01872 261040.
http://www.artisancookshop.co.uk

Don't miss...

Tom Cull's new shop - Tom’s on the Triangle, at the top of Bristol’s Park Street. The shop sells a range of handmade, freshly prepared dishes inspired by seasonal, rural English cooking. Choose from imaginative and inspiring pies served with or without minted peas, mash and gravy, hot or cold tarts, and mouth-watering cakes and pastries. Perfect comfort food for winter from the man behind the award-winning Dartmoor Kitchen catering company. Also look out for Tom’s TV debut in January in Tom’s Big Feast, an eight part documentary which screens weekly on ITV1 from Thursday January 3 at 7.30pm.
01395 239000
http://www.dartmoorkitchen.com

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get to Shirwell Stores of course. The new shop will be opening in the near year in Shirwell, near Barnstaple and is committed to supplying local food and drink. Expect to find it stuffed to the rafters with top quality regional produce including veggies, meats, breads, jams and pickles. There’ll also be veg boxes for pick-up and hot local pasties.
01271 850734.

Hold the mayo

You don’t find ‘pastrami and Russian’ sandwiches in many Devon cafés, so for a taste of the Big Apple in the shape of New York deli-style sarnies, hot beef rolls, bagels and homemade soups, hot foot it over to Barnstaple’s newest coffee house, The Corner Café on Mermaid Walk. Owner Bill Denton makes one of the best cappuccinos we’ve had in ages.
01271 859555

Ello, ello, ello...

Roborough’s Ye Olde Inn had a makeover when former police officers Alex and Vicky Stanbury decided to swap the beat for the bar. They took on the run-down pub, changed its name to The New Inn (pictured left) and set about bringing good local food to the people. That’s what we call good community service.
01805 603247

FARMA winner

Occombe Farm Shop near Torquay has been named Best Newcomer in the UK at the recent national Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association annual awards. Rita Exner, FARMA Secretary said: “Occombe Farm Shop is a thriving example of a farm retailing business that has set out on a path to be unique. It is not easy; it takes great skill and determination and it is a great pleasure to see this very special farm shop recognised as a winner.”
http://www.countryside-trust.org.uk

Bakewell brilliance

Exeter cocktail agency Monkey Bars’ Rachel Williams recently came second in the Bols World’s Favourite Cocktail competition, held in Leeds. Rachel made a ‘well baked’ cocktail, inspired by Bakewell tarts (the theme of the competition was ‘British’). To match the flavours of the bakewell tart she used Plymouth Gin, almond syrup, cherry syrup, lemon juice, egg white and fresh mint, all topped off with a mini bakewell tart.

Bringing home the bacon

Make it a British banger and support your local pig farmers. They’re having a tough time due to feed prices having doubled, and The National Pig Association estimates that they are losing £26 for every pig produced. Buy local, buy British and if possible buy direct from the producers now, to ensure that you can continue to do so in the future.

Slowly does it

The Slow Food Market is moving to Topsham and will be held on the third Sunday of each month, from 10am-4pm in St Matthews Hall. Expect to see offerings from Quickes Cheese, Emma’s Breads, Shillingford Organics, Marbled Meat, Brimblecombes Cider, Shute Fruit and Pebblebed Vineyard. There will be tasting workshops and visitors can also grab a spot of Sunday lunch.

Ripley's to close

Paul Ripley's eponymous Michelin starred restaurant in St Merryn will be closing on December 15. However, you will still find Paul's culinary offerings in the deli opposite the restaurant from January.

Local charity

The Local Food Company is really entering into the Christmas spirit this year. The contents of its local food hampers have been chosen by top local chefs like Michael Caines, the Tanner brothers, Peter Gorton, Paul Da Costa Greaves, and a donation from their profits go to children’s charities such as Jeremiah’s Journey, Children’s Hospice, Families for Children, Brainwaves and 15.
01548 831183
http://www.thelocalfoodcompany.co.uk

Cornwall Tourism Awards

There were some fab foodie established praised this year in the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2007. Not content with hosting the glittering presentation ceremony, which rewarded Cornish businesses for excellence in 14 categories, Newquay's Headland Hotel claimed two gold awards - Hotel of the Year and Popular Restaurant/Café of the Year for the Sand Bar and Brasserie. They then went on the win the coveted "Winner of Winners" title.
More than 50 businesses, from hotels and guest houses to restaurants and activity providers, were represented at the awards, organised by Cornwall Enterprise's VisitCornwall service to draw attention to the quality and variety of Cornish tourism.
Other winners on the night were The Bay Restaurant at Hotel Penzance in the Restaurant of the Year category; Pub of the Year went to Golden Lion & Lakeside Restaurant at Stithians Lake; and St Michael’s Hotel & Spa in Falmouth won the award for Cornish Distinctiveness.
http://www.cornwallenterprise.co.uk

Well done Roy

Roy Heath of the Cornwall Food Programme received a special commendation from the judges at the Farm Business Food and Farming Industry Awards 2007 recently in the category of Food Farming Personality of the Year.
As Sustainable Food Procurement Manager for the Cornwall Food Programme, based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Roy (pictured far left)was nominated for Food Farming Personality of the Year and was short-listed with seven other finalists.
The awards ceremony, held at the House of Commons on the 16th November, recognised those in the food and farming industry that have promoted British food through buying from small-scale rural producers.
On receiving the award, Roy said, “It was a pleasure to compete with others in the food and farming industry that also strive to bring British produce to the forefront. The programme has continually sought to promote Cornish produce and the support from our suppliers has enabled it to gain further recognition at national level.”
Roy has worked with the NHS in Cornwall to initiate a programme that seeks to provide locally sourced, fresh produce for hospital patients. Since 2002, the programme has identified several local suppliers and growers to purchase produce from.
The judges of the award were particularly impressed with the way that Roy and his team are using local produce to help in the healing and rehabilitation process of Cornish patients.

Smoking a Success in Clovelly

Herring, once one of the mainstays of the British fishing industry, are caught for a short season off the coast of Clovelly. They travel there from the Irish sea to spawn and arrive in superb condition. Clovelly's fortunes were once very dependant on the very fickle herring shoals. At the height of the season, most villagers were involved in dealing with the catch, but today, there is only a handful of herring fishermen.
Through the overfishing of popular fish, stocks have been dwindling and the aim of the first Clovelly Herring Festival, held on November 17, was to promote the neglected but great-tasting herring and help support the beleaguered fishing industry.
In the week leading up to the festival, Clovelly herring proved to be as fickle as ever as the Clovelly fishermen returned morning after morning with empty nets. Then just 36 hours before the festival, they returned to the port triumphant with a catch of a maise or mease of herring equivalent to 612 fish.
The catch provided delicious herring tastings from a kitchen on the quay as well as cold-smoked kippers and bloaters, pickled and soused herring. The remaining fresh fish sold out within hours.
There were shanty songs throughout the day, a photographic exhibition and special promotion of Devon cider and wine. Mike Smylie, aka Kipperman, maritime historian and writer was there with his Kipperland exhibition and smokehouse.
Visitors came from all over Devon and the event was judged a great success - well done all!

Christmas cheers

Want to know which local wine to drink with your Christmas dinner? Well, you're in luck - TV wine expert Olly Smith will be available live online to answer all your questions on Tuesday November 20 at 1pm.
Submit questions for Olly - Richard & Judy's wine expert - by clicking on the link below, and follow the same link to join the live chat on the day.
http://www.webchats.tv/webchat.php?ID=457

Taste of the West overall winners announced

The very best food and drink producers in the South West and retail and hospitality establishments were honoured recently at the Taste of the West Awards 2007, sponsored by Budgens.
John Sheaves, Chief Executive Taste of the West, said: “The South West is renowned for its exceptional food and drink produce. The appeal of local products is higher than any other ethical alternative at the moment and that includes organic and fair trade. The food and drink industry must now face up to the market and deliver. The awards aim to provide an important quality benchmark, giving well deserved recognition and reward to those creating the very best produce and places to eat and drink in the region.”
One of the most successful winners is Deli Farm Charcuterie, Delabole, Cornwall, who came away with the Champion Product Award for their Coppa Air Dried Ham. Individually rubbed with a mix of salts and spices and slowly cured, each Coppa is then pressed into a natural skin and gradually air dried over a long period of time. Ruby red in colour, the same ham also won the Best of Meat category.
Olive Farm of Somerton, Somerset, picked up the award for Best of Dairy with their Untreated Guernsey Cream.
Among the Devon winners were Ode restaurant in Shaldon (pictured above), who picked up South West Restaurant of the Year. Judges were particularly impressed with the exquisite food, charming and knowledgeable service and owner Tim Bouget’s obvious passion for locally sourced seasonal ingredients. The Well Hung Meat Company also won this year, securing the award for South West Online Retailer of the Year. Well done all. For the complete list, visit the website below.
http://www.tasteofthewest.co.uk

Gourmet Mill End

Dartmoor is the most wonderful setting for a spot of indulgence. The food team were lucky enough to go along to one of Chagford hotel Mill End's Gourmet Weekends recently where six courses of the finest local ingredients are washed down with matching wines from the hotel's rather wonderful wine list.
Often one of the hotel's wine suppliers is on hand to talk you through each wine, so you'll get insider knowledge on the best choices to accompany each dish. The next weekend is planned for December 7-8. If you'd rather wait 'til Christmas is out of the way, there are more dates planned for the spring.
info@millendhotel.com
01647 432282
http://www.millendhotel.com

Hold a worthwhile dinner party

The Food Chain is the newest fundraising initiative for Penny Brohn Cancer Care and is a way to indulge your love of food and raise money for a whorthwhile cause at the same time.
Supported by Bart Spices, the Food Chain is simple - it starts with one person inviting some friends around for food, whether it’s a three course dinner party, lunch or simply a tea party! Each person makes a donation and pledges to keep the chain going by hosting their own get together if they can.
Keeping the Food Chain going means you have the potential to help raise thousands of pounds for people with cancer.
With Christmas fast approaching why not use the Food Chain as a perfect excuse for a festive-themed dinner party?
Everyone who takes part receives a FREE recipe book from the Food Chain supporters Bart Spices.
To find out more call, email or visit the website and click on Get Involved.
events@pennybrohn.org
01275 370 079
http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org

Cream supreme

A lucky six year old has claimed her chance to make her own ice cream flavour, as part of the Future Footprints competition to ‘draw your best day out in the South West’.
Future Footprints, the region’s sustainable tourism campaign, took Abigail to Roskilly's where, with the help of Toby Roskilly, she chose from lots of tasty options to make her own unique concoction.
Future Footprints received hundreds of postcards from children across the South West which were then judged by Miranda Krestovnikoff from BBC’s ‘Coast’,
http://www.futurefootprints.org.uk

Sharp’s beer money

The search is on for new beer tasters, as Sharp’s Brewery sees the first volunteers graduate from its beer taster training.
After a county-wide appeal, a select team was put through its paces to win regular tasting sessions at Sharp’s. Head brewer Stuart Howe is now keen to attract even more discerning drinkers, and women in particular. Team members are paid a beer allowance, plus some brewery merchandising.
“There are a number of tests to pass to qualify," says Stuart. "Volunteers are asked to tell the difference between two beers. We are looking for the ability to detect and identify important flavours, tastes and smells, the ability to learn about beer flavours, and the ability to articulate what they perceive”.
Volunteers go through a rigorous training process to get their taste buds up to the brewery’s high standards, and must pass exams on the comprehensive training course. Call Sharp's Brewery on the number below for details.
01208 862121
http://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk

Like boutique hotels?

Then you need this book. The new collection from experts Mr & Mrs Smith UK/ Ireland Volume 2 features a guide to the most inspirational places to stay in the British Isles and Ireland, including boutique hideaways, luxurious spa retreats and secret city havens.
Inspiring and informative, this stylish book gives you the inside scoop on the sexiest places to stay, featuring some of our local faves. In Cornwall, Driftwood in Rosevine gets a mention; in Devon, you'll find Hotel Endsleigh in Milton Abbot and in the Somerset region, Charlton House in Shepton Mallet
and The Wheatsheaf in Combe Hay.
Reviewers include a stable of tastemakers and opinion leaders from fashion to music. Available to buy now.
http://www.mrandmrssmith.com

Tastes good

The results of the hospitality and retail classes in the Taste of the West Awards 2007 have been announced.
In Cornwall, the best bed and breakfasts were: Highland Court Lodge in St Austell (gold); Trerosewill Farm in Boscastle (silver); Buttervilla Farm in Torpoint (bronze); Bedruthan Steps Hotel in Mawgan Porth (bronze). The best dining pubs were Victoria Inn in Penzance (gold); The Springer Spaniel in Launceston (silver); 5 Degrees West in Falmouth (bronze). The best tea rooms/cafés were Muffins in Lostwithiel (gold); The Venus Café on Tolcarne Beach (silver). Best restaurant awards went to Trawlers on the Quay in East Looe (gold); Tapenades Restaurant in Liskeard (bronze); Bedruthan Steps Hotel in Mawgan Porth (bronze). And the best local retail outlets were Purely Cornish in Looe (silver); Tiffins Deli and Bakery in Fowey (silver); St Kew Harvest Farm Shop in St Kew Highway (bronze); Trevaskis Farm Shop in Hayle (bronze).
In Devon the best bed and breakfasts were: Percy's Country Hotel in Virginstow (gold); Prince Hall Hotel in Yelverton (silver); The Dartmoor Inn at Lydford (bronze). The best dining pubs were: The Jack in the Green near Exeter (gold);The Grove Inn in Kings Nympton (silver); The Merry Harriers near Cullompton (silver). The best tea rooms/cafés were: Georgian Tea Rooms in Topsham (gold); Fremington Quay Café near Barnstaple (silver); The Venus Café at Blackpool Sands (silver); Food Dreckly at the Cattle Market Café in Tavistock (bronze); The Venus Café in Bigbury-on-Sea (bronze). The best restaurants were: Ode in Shaldon (gold); Combe House Hotel and Restaurant near Honiton (silver); Café Paradiso @ Hotel Barcelona in Exeter (bronze). Best local retail outlet awards went to: D J Haggett Butchers Ltd in Silverton (gold); Darts Farm near Topsham (gold); Real Grub Local Food Centre/Stokeley Farmshop in Kingsbridge (gold); Lifton Strawberry Fields Farm Shop in Lifton (gold); Pipers Farm near Exeter (silver); Gribbles Butchers @ Delicatessen in Ivybridge (silver); Jacksons in Newton Abbot (silver); Downes Farm Shop near Crediton (bronze).
In Somerset, Bath and Bristol the best bed and breakfasts were: Spears Cross in Dunster (gold); Three Acres Country House near Dulverton (gold); The Pilgrims at Lovington near Castle Cary (silver). The best dining pubs were The Montague Inn at Wincanton (gold); The Pilgrims at Lovington (silver);The Queen's Arms in Corton Denham (silver); The Globe in Milverton (bronze). The best tea rooms/cafés were: East Lambrook Manor Gardens in South Petherton (gold); Bank House Café in Axbridge (silver). The best restaurants were: Little Barwick Housein Yeovil (gold); Bordeaux Quay in Bristol (gold); Thomas's Restaurant at Bellplot House Hotel in Chard (silver); Truffles Restaurant in Bruton (silver); New Farm Restaurant in South Petherton (bronze); Clavelshay Barn Restaurant near Bridgwater (bronze). Best local retail outlet awards went to: Pitney Farm Shop near Langport (gold); Roots in Taunton (gold); Rumwell Farm Shop near Taunton (silver); Barleymow's Farm Shop near Chard (bronze); Jon Thorner's near Shepton Mallet (bronze).
http://www.tasteofthewest.co.uk

Love Dinner Parties?

The Channel 4 show Come Dine With Me is looking for people in the Exeter area to take part in the new series.
Four strangers with a passion for cooking take turns, over four days, to host the perfect dinner party for each other. At the end of the week the most impressive host wins a £1,000 cash prize.
If you live within 20 miles of Exeter and fancy having a go at creating the perfect dining experience, and three nights dining out with the chance to win a prize, get in touch ASAP as filming commences soon.
comedinewithme@granadamedia.com
0871 244 4142

Taste of Christmas

Taste of the West has launched its fab Christmas Hampers at Mole Valley Farmers. The stores have been stocking the Taste of the West range of regional food and drink products since it was launched nearly a year ago with nearly 130 different local food and drink products from over 33 producers.
As well as making a great gift, the hampers are a good way to kick-start your locally-sourced Christmas food shopping, and also support small producers.
http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com
http://www.tasteofthewest.co.uk

On the Grapevine

Exeter’s funky Alias Hotel Barcelona is halfway through its foodie events programme, Grapevine 2007, with two dates to go and places still available.
food was lucky enough to attend the first wine evening, hosted by Stephen Barrett, the Plymouth restaurateur and co-creator of Channel 4’s Wine Hunt. Great Winter Wines (hosted by Stephen) takes place on November 13 and Contemporary Banquets (hosted by Stan Parks of Milton Sandford Wines and Barcelona’s head chef Chris Archambault) will be held on December 11. Don’t forget the hotel’s Supper Club starts again in the New Year and is always great fun; membership even makes a great gift.
Alias Hotel Barcelona, Magdalen Street, Exeter.
01392 281000.
http://www.aliashotels.com

Something fishy going on

The ‘silver darlings of the sea’ will be celebrated at the Clovelly Herring Festival, which takes place o