Last month, we enjoyed an eight course meal of locally sourced food courtesy of several prominent Devon chefs. The event, hosted by the beautiful Ashridge Court Farm, was organised by The Devon Food Movement – a venture started by the talented chef, Luke Fearon. The premise was simple: guests would…

The Elephant Restaurant A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting The Elephant Restaurant in Torquay for my 26th birthday lunch. The Elephant is run by chef proprietor, Simon Hulstone, and is somewhat unusual in marketing itself as an informal fine dining establishment. Indeed, while the decor is minimal…

Originally posted on West Country Lifestyle  As I headed up the long drive to Larkbeare Grange B&B, the scene before me set the tone for the evening ahead. To my left, a well-kept lawn stretched out in front of a grand, wisteria-clad country home. To my right, a family of sheep…

Reviewed by Oli Justice Not so long ago, the thought of trying to find somewhere to eat in Exeter would quite genuinely pain me. Come the weekend, you’d find yourself in the same restaurants, eating the same dishes (or thereabouts) and having the same conversations about what the city really…

“Devon is one of the best places to forage, with an abundance of plants and wild foods on offer all year round”, says Chef Chris Tanner, from The Barbican Kitchen, “Both my brother James and I have been foraging for many years, and there is no better feeling than the…

Between Saturday 22nd September and Sunday 7th October 2018, The English Rivera will be celebrating all things seafood with the hotly anticipated England’s Seafood FEAST. This fortnight of events will bring together a number of talented chefs and eateries and give visitors the opportunity to experience the very best that Devon’s coastline has…

Review by Collette Dyson Going by the number of diners we saw during our recent visit to Pho, it would seem that this new Vietnamese restaurant has filled a gap for quality Asian cuisine in the Exeter foodie scene. Pho fits so seamlessly into the new Queen Street restaurant development, one would…

There’s something a little bit special about that first glimpse of River Cottage HQ, as you round the corner of the hill on the back of their tractor and the sun sets over the Devon-Dorset Border. River Cottage Summer Night dining experiences are designed to make the most of long summer evenings…

The Five Bells, Clyst Hydon We last paid a visit to The Five Bells Inn when its new custodians James and Charlie took to the helm. Back then, the young couple discussed their hopes of bringing the Devonshire pub back to its former glory, with a simplified menu and a focus on…

A Little Background Few places in the Devonshire town of Totnes can be described as ‘run-of-the-mill’ and Rumour Wine Bar is no exception to this rule. In its former life, this 14th-century building on Totnes High Street was once home to a busy jazz bar and it even served as a…

Last week Collette enjoyed an evening of Sicilian wine tasting at Chandos Deli. Chandos Deli is known throughout the South West (Bristol, Bath & Exeter) for their wide range of speciality foods, both local and imported, including farmhouse cheeses, charcuterie, fresh bread, antipasti, award-winning sandwiches and, of course, fine wines. So, when I…

Torquay’s newest burger bar promises honest and tasty food with a ‘Caribbean twist’. But does it deliver? Collette Dyson finds out… Last week we were kindly invited by The Fat Cow Burger Bar in Torquay to sample a complimentary burger or two from their extensive menu. Summer had very much arrived…