Main Story
With summer on the way in Devon and Cornwall, it’s time to start thinking al fresco meals and drinks. Whether you find yourself in town, country or by the sea, here’s a Heads Up on where to find some of the best al fresco enjoyment in the two counties. The city centres and towns take on a new vibrancy when the weather picks up as workers ditch the sandwich at the desk routine for a lunch break or after work drink in the fresh air.
Exeter has re ...more
Restaurant Review
Since arriving at the Orange Tree from Staffordshire one and a half years ago, Sharon and Bernd Wolf have made their mark on the fine dining scene in ...more
The Gastrotourist
Some meals are worth a special journey. In The Gastrotourist we profile select destination restaurants from across the UK and beyond. This month:
Ynyshir Hall, Eglwysfach
The Rant
Hear this, chefs and restaurateurs -- when it comes to choice on an evening menu, less is more. A two-page catalogue signifies your carefully exercised restraint, a focus on your strengths and suggests you’re paying due care and attention to each dish. ...more
Quick Bites
Get down to a fantastic Comedy Night on Weds 8th July Tickets £10 at The Treasury in Plymouth- This is the Launch of their new concept "Treasury Wednesdays"......Bistro One in Plymouth announce Aussie Wine Heroes Fusion Wine Supper on Sat 27th June £39 including all wine and commentary.....
ODE in Shaldon has just received it's second AA Rosette officially marking the restaurant as one of the best in Devon....... Join the fun at
The Grand Hotel in Torquay for their Grand Summer Ball on Friday 19th June, tickets only £16pp Call 01803 206 136........
The Seiners Hotel in Perranporth have launched a contemporary new restaurant- The Rocks Restaurant has just opened,has fabulous beach views and is serving modern British dishes at affordable prices......Exceptional Chef Simon Hulstone from The Room at The Elephant in Torquay has won a coveted industry ‘Oscar’ from the most respected association dedicated to culinary excellence in the UK.
Simon last night walked away with 'Competition Chef of the Year Award' at the glittering Craft Guild of Chefs Awards at London Hilton, Park Lane.
........New opening in Plymouth from the guys behind B.E.D- Heaven Restaurant Bar & Gallery has just opened on the site of The First & Last pub Exeter St......The Tin Fin A 'real food' outpost at Perranporth has a few places left for an exciting Portugese Wine and Tapas evening on Weds 10th June 7pm, Experience Wine in Truro will be providing a fun and interesting tasting of fine Portugese wines, tickets £19.50 Call Lloyd on 01872 572 117.......Stephen Barrett of Bistro One in Plymouth launches his 2009 wine course “Understanding Wine”, for a six week period starting Monday November 2nd to Monday December 7th inclusive.
The idea is that over six consecutive Monday nights we will explore wine in a modern context by studying where wine comes from, how it is made, why some grapes work in some countries and not others, when buying what role a Supermarket has as opposed to wine merchants or mail-order companies. Be quick! Limited to 20 places £150 per person inclusive of all wine samples.
Live accoustic music every Sunday at The Treasury in Plymouth and Jazz club every Wednesday night. . .Rhone wine tasting dinner at James Duckett at The Old Custom House in Barnstaple on Tuesday 19th May, with guest presenter Françoise Pagès from the Chateau de Campuget in the Rhône valley.James will be cooking an 8 course tasting menu £48pp Call Stefano 01271 370123....
A Spring Time English wine supper at Bistro One in Plymouth on Saturday May 30th 5 courses accompanied by the finest English wines and live music. £37.50 per head......
Eat Out Magazine have released the Top 100 UK Pubs list to reveal five pubs in Devon & Cornwall were successfully included; The Jack in the Green in Rockbeare, The Masons Arms in South Molton, The Williams Arms in Braunton, The Gurnards Head in St Ives and Viners in Newquay.... Get down to the Thai Night Market at Chantek where you can enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of a Thai street market Weds 20th May...The finalists for the 2009 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards have been chosen and will now go on the roll call at the awards ceremony at the London Hilton Park Lane on June 1st. Click here for details. . .The Room at the Elephant in Torquay re-opens for the season on Friday May 15th. . .C3 Café Bistro in Helston launch New “Free-Range Grill” menu which includes Local Steaks, Cajun Chicken, Lamb Steaks, Ribs and veggie stacks. . .Nathan Outlaw, chef at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw at the Marina Villa Hotel in Fowey will take over the food and beverage operation at the St Enodoc Hotel in Rock next month where he will launch a new restaurant called Nathan Outlaw Seafood and Grill. The 65 seater restaurant will serve a menu of classic British fare with a focus on Cornish seafood and meat dishes. . .Lebanese wine tasting dinner at James Duckett at The Old Custom House in Barnstaple on 2nd June with wines from the celebrated Massaya estate in the Bekaa valley in the Lebanon all served with authentic Lebanese and middle eastern dishes lovingly prepared by James and his team.The seven course tasting dinner including all wines is £48.00 per head. . .Rick Stein’s Mediterranean-style bistro St Petroc's Bistro in Padstow has introduced a new "From the Grill" menu. . .Portuguese wine supper at Bistro One in Plymouth on May 1st with Portuguese wine and classic dishes given the Bistro-One twist accompanied by Iberian Classical Guitar from Guy Harris for £29.50 per person. . .Foodswild the Cornish wild food company who supply cornish restaurants with foraged food will be hosting "Spring Feast" on 17th April, a feast of 20 dishes each including something wild.There will also be a talk about foraging and cooking with wild food,a slideshow to accompany it and a glass of Cornish Stingers,Foodswilds own nettle brew.The event is at The Kings Arms at Penryn and tickets are £25 available from www.foodswild.com. . .A Taste of Sicily at Loyton Lodge in Tiverton is a weekend devoted to the food, wine and flavours of this historic Italian region kicking off 24 April at this beautiful country estate in Devonshire.The price is £585 per person or £1015 per couple sharing a double room and includes accommodation, food, wine, tuition and clay pigeon shooting and quick to react to the earthquake in L'Aquila, a percentage of the profits generated from the weekend will be donated to the victims.Call 01398 331051 to book. . .The Jack in the Green at Rockbeare celebrates as Scott Patton, pastry chef and Craig Sampson, 2nd chef both reach the finals of South West Chef of the Year. The cook-off final is on 6th April at Exeter College. . . .The Old Custom House in Barnstaple re-launches as James Duckett at The Old Custom House with the new appointment of Manager and Sommelier Stefano De Raimondo who joins from Michelin Starred Christophe in Guernsey and James is joined in the kitchen by third chef, Raul Hernadez direct from Madrid. . .Black Rock Cornish fine dining restaurant opens in St Ives. . .Southside in Falmouth has re-opened as Rush Sports Bar with the latest hi-tech AV systems. . .New lounge bar opens in Truro, Vertigo offers 3 rooms and a secret garden. . .Kazbah in Truro launch new Moroccan restaurant Thurs-Sat nights. . .Lanteglos Hotel near Camelford re-opens for the season with new kitchen team ex Viner’s stable for exciting modern British cuisine. . .VIP in Torquay re-launches as Hennessy Restaurant and Bar. . .Edwards Brasserie at Wellswood in Torquay transforms into The Fountain Restaurant for Seafood and Steak. . .Simius in Torquay gives way to Marrakech offering Moroccan dishes and Mediterranean style pizzas. . .Get set for The Exeter Festival of South West Food & Drink 17th - 19th April. . .The Forces Tavern at Blackawton has re-opened after a refurbishment. . .Keir Meikle of the Navy Inn at Penzance is a finalist for two awards this year, Seafood Pub Of The Year and also Seafood Chef Of The Year, winners to be announced in May. . .Terra Nova Bistro & Bar opens in Lostwithiel in March with an eclectic mix of dishes from around the world. . .Restaurant 42 in Salcombe gives way to the new Dick & Wills Restaurant and Bar opening in March. . .The Walrus in Plymouth has re-opened under new ownership and after a refurb, the bar is open now for food and drink with a new dining room launch set for March. . .The Treasury in Plymouth launch new ‘Express Winter Menu’ adding new dishes whilst retaining the old classics. . .New European café and bistro opened in Falmouth on the former Caffe Veneto site The Weidela Café offers breakfast and lunch, specializing in Fondue and hot Lava stone grills at table in the evenings. . .Orange Tree Restaurant in Torquay was
awarded Restaurant of the Year 2008 by Les Routiers.