Food & Drink

Harrison Brockington was the winner of last year's South West Chef of the Year competition

Michael Caines launches South West Chef of the Year 2025

Renowned chef Michael Caines MBE DL has launched the 2025 edition of the prestigious South West Chef of the Year competition – a highlight of the region’s culinary calendar and a platform for recognising the best cooking talent from across the South West.

Michael, who is chef/patron at the Michelin-starred Lympstone Manor, co-founded the competition in 2004 with the aim of championing professional excellence, nurturing rising stars, and celebrating the world-class food and drink produced in the region. Now in its 21st year, the competition continues to spotlight the outstanding...

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How To Make That Perfectly Healthy Cup of Coffee You've Been Yearning For

For all of us coffee lovers, a cup of coffee isn’t just an energy source in the morning that gets the day going in the right direction, but it also has many aspects to it. The smell, the taste, the ritual, the social aspect, when sharing it with our loved ones, the absolute enjoyment when you brew your favorite blend, and so on. But that being said, there is always room for exploration and enhancement, especially considering the fact that the calories in your daily cup can quickly add up if you add the wrong things.

There are many ways to make your cup of coffee healthier, and in...

Simple Ways to Stick to a Healthy Diet

Starting a healthy diet is always beneficial for the human body but it can be a real drag . A lot of people associate diets, in general, with starvation and chewing the green stuff forever. Some people honestly believe that those misconceptions will result in weight loss and improved health.

However, a healthy diet means including all nutritious food groups, but it also includes eating responsibly and exercising. Therefore, once you start such a diet it’s of vital importance to stick to it until you see the results you want. With that in mind, here are a few simple ways to stick...

Which of the The WineHunter’s best Italian wines can you buy in the UK?

The Merano WineFestival is the epitome of Italian "dolce vita". Each year, experts gather in the Alpine spa town to sample fine wine, high-end olive oil, gourmet food, craft beer and small-batch spirits. After the tastings, they award points to decide which are the best products that Italy has to offer. The event has been taking place since 1992, and 2020 was no different. Despite the global pandemic, The WineHunter team managed to rally the troops and keep the awards going. Safely, of course.

The fine wine festival is at the heart of Merano, as expert panels from The WineHunter...

How to cook venison

It has the potential to be delicious, but is all too easy to overcook. So how do you get the most out of venison?

Delicious and nutritious, venison is a marvellous meat, and yet many people are afraid of it. The leanness that makes it so healthy has also given it a reputation for being tough, but this is unfair. As with the so-called 'fatty' duck, it all comes down to how the meat is sourced , prepared and cooked, and it's not as difficult to get right as you might think. With a little care, you can easily unlock the potential of this underrated meat.

Where to buy your...

Bill's Exeter to extend EOTHO scheme throughout September

As the Eat Out to Help Out scheme approaches an end, we are delighted to announce that Bill's Exeter is still joining in with a bespoke menu; offering up to 50% off from Monday – Wednesday throughout September.

Celebrating up to 50% off, the set menu means guests can now indulge in one course for £10 and two courses for £14.50. Always looking for ways to treat customers and enhance their experience, Bill's has created a special menu for diners to choose from including:

Starters

Truffalos - Vegan truffled buffalo "wings" with a vegan cheese dip & celery

Bella Italia reopens its doors in Exeter

Bella Italia is reopening its doors in Exeter, inviting guests to dine and experience the joy of the Italian table once again.

The restaurant, opening on 30th August, will be welcoming guests back with a range of summer dishes inspired by classic Italian favourites, alongside some new dishes and flavours, including a daily set menu, bottomless pizza (£10pp), a bottomless Prosecco Pizza Brunch (£25pp) and Signorina's Night Out – 2 starters and 4 cocktails (£25pp).

The Bella Italia Set Menu, priced £12.99 for two courses, includes starters such as Gamberi – king prawns...

What’s all the fizz about? The potential of prosecco

Join the Prosecco DOC’s UK Ambassador Neil Phillips , The Wine Tipster, for ‘What’s All The Fizz About?’, an informative and fun virtual tasting on Friday 11th September from 7 – 8pm to explore and taste the UK’s favourite bubbles.

Tickets for the evening wine and food tasting, which is taking place in association with South West Wine School on Larks.live, are £30.00 per screen booked. For the ticket price each guest will receive a delivery of the three Prosecco DOC wines that will feature in the tasting together with the Prosecco DOC brochure leaflet. The wines can be delivered...

New McDonald's opening in Exeter

A brand-new McDonald’s restaurant will open adjacent to Exeter Racecourse, following significant investment from local franchisee David Shawyer. With the addition of this restaurant, David will now own four restaurants across Devon including the McDonald’s restaurants at Marsh Barton and on Exeter High Street. The restaurant will open on 26th August and create over 120 new jobs for the local community.

To help create a safe experience for everyone, the restaurant will be opening with several measures in place to help keep employees and customers safe. These measures include:...

A deluge of awards for Sharpham wine

Well-known West Country winery, Sharpham Wine, has taken a clutch of top awards at WineGB , a major competition for British wines, which has this year been showcasing the fact that the UK is now regarded as one of most exciting wine regions in the world.

Sharpham Wine, which won a total of four medals at this year’s recently announced WineGB Awards including GOLD for Sharpham Bacchus ‘Stop Ferment’ 2019 and Sharpham Pinot Noir 2018, is presently undergoing an exciting new expansion in conjunction with the Sandridge Barton Winery just across the River Dart. Sharpham also won a...

Michael Caines Collection appoints group executive chef Liam Finnegan

Acclaimed chef restaurateur and hotel owner, Michael Caines has announced the appointment of Liam Finnegan as Group Executive Chef of the Michael Caines Collection as of 8th September 2020. The news follows Michael’s recent acquisition of former Rick Stein Restaurant in Porthleven, Cornwall.

With a working relationship spanning 14 years, Liam’s appointment is a natural fit for Michael and the wider collection, following an eight-year stint as Head Chef at The Castle Hotel Taunton and prior to that under Michael’s tutelage at Gidleigh Park.

Reflecting on the appointment,...

Food & Drink

Michael Caines launches South West Chef of the Year 2025

How To Make That Perfectly Healthy Cup of Coffee You've Been Yearning For

Simple Ways to Stick to a Healthy Diet

Which of the The WineHunter’s best Italian wines can you buy in the UK?

How to cook venison

Bill's Exeter to extend EOTHO scheme throughout September

Bella Italia reopens its doors in Exeter

What’s all the fizz about? The potential of prosecco

New McDonald's opening in Exeter

A deluge of awards for Sharpham wine

Michael Caines Collection appoints group executive chef Liam Finnegan

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