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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Ethical restaurant is finalist in Devon Life Awards

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Thu, 10/04/2018 - 3:19pm

Ottery’s Rusty Pig has been shortlisted in the Devon Life Food & Drink Awards.

The Yonder Street restaurant is one of three finalists in the category for Restaurant of the Year.

Since opening in 2011, Rusty Pig has remained committed to using the freshest seasonal ingredients and ethically raised produce from smaller, local suppliers.

The restaurant now has three in-house chefs including owner Robin Rea, and also welcomes well-known guest chefs including Tim Maddams and Kasper Gaard.

Owner, Robin Rea said: “The whole team is thrilled with this...

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Finalists announced for 2018 South West Chef of the Year

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 10/03/2018 - 7:38am

The finalists for this year’s South West Chef of the Year competition have been chosen and now face the toughest challenge yet - to prepare their dishes for a daunting line-up of judges on 24th October at Exeter College. The finalists have been selected from eight semi-finalists in the Professional and Young Professional categories and ten in the Student/Apprentice Chef category. The finalists will be cooking a three-course menu using compulsory ingredients revealed just one week in advance, as well as a mystery box of ingredients supplied just 30 minutes before the final begins. Chefs...

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Danish celebrity chef makes welcome return to Rusty Pig

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Wed, 09/26/2018 - 11:53am

Diners who like to try new flavours will have the chance to enjoy a taster menu devised by Danish celebrity chef Kasper Gaard, who will be guesting at Rusty Pig in Ottery St Mary on October 5.

Kasper has cooked at Rusty Pig on a number of occasions to great acclaim, showcasing his skills with the freshest ingredients.

His home is on the island of Samsø on the east coast of Denmark where he has been head chef at the Hotel Ilse Made for the past six years. Kasper has also had stints cooking at River Cottage in Axminster and took part in the television programme, ‘3 Good...

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New talent trots along to Rusty Pig

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Thu, 09/06/2018 - 6:13am

Fans of Ottery St Mary’s Rusty Pig can expect an even more exceptional service with the addition of a second chef and new events manager.

Experienced chef Rob Tanner joins head chef Mark Russell at the ethically-minded restaurant in Ottery St Mary.

Rob attended catering college in Bath and was fortunate to gain work experience at renowned establishments including Claridges, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and Le Gavroche. He went on to work as a chef for restaurants in Bristol and Frome.

His new role came after a chance visit to the restaurant in Yonder Street...

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Food Drink Devon Awards shortlist announced

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 09/04/2018 - 10:05am

After months of blind tasting, deliberation and judging, the shortlist of finalists for the 2018 Food Drink Devon Awards have been announced.

The winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Highbullen Hotel Golf & Country Club on Monday 8th October hosted by food and drink broadcaster, Nigel Barden.

Entries from across the county included 250 products, 63 producers, 75 hospitality and 28 retail establishments judged by experts from the industry.

Barbara King, chair of Food Drink Devon since 2016, is thrilled with the quality of food and drink brought to the...

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It's hip, hip, POH ray for Exeter's newest restaurant!

Authored by Marc Astley
Posted: Mon, 09/03/2018 - 6:56pm

As this is a restaurant review you would be forgiven for thinking that I would start with the food.

That, of course, makes perfect sense but what is put on your plate does not a meal-eth make.

The ambience, the décor, the music can all make or break a dining experience, but one of the biggest influences for me is the staff.

And that is a big concern for a lot of restaurant owners in Exeter… because there just isn’t enough talent to go around.

Having knowledge of just how difficult recruitment currently is made our visit to the city’s newest eaterie, Poh,...

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Exeter Chiefs kick off the season with launch of Special Edition Salcombe Gin

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 08/31/2018 - 9:46pm

Saturday 1st September is a big day for the Exeter Chiefs, as the team take on Leicester at Sandy Park in the first game of the Gallagher Premiership season. For fans and spectators, there’s an extra reason to celebrate, as the 1st sees the launch of the new Exeter Chiefs Special Edition Gin in association with Salcombe Gin.

The new Exeter Chiefs Gin is in honour of the team, which has been on a seven-year winning streak and will compete this season for the European Rugby Champions Cup. This Special Edition Gin is Salcombe Gin’s multi-award winning ‘Start Point’, presented in an...

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Lympstone Manor to host celebratory Protégé Dinner

Authored by Chris Lake
Posted: Tue, 08/21/2018 - 10:10pm

On 19 September 2018, Lympstone Manor will be hosting its inaugural Protégé Dinner event to celebrate the talented chefs who have trained under celebrated British chef Michael Caines during their formative years.

Each of the eight hand-selected protégés will be joining Michael from across the UK and Ireland to create a collaborative eight-course tasting menu in his Michelin-starred kitchen.

All of these chefs now hold the accolade of running their own kitchens at properties including the Grove of Narberth, Ballyfin Demesne and Kentisbury Grange.

The collaborative...

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Devon Fire & Spice Festival turns up the heat at Powderham

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 08/20/2018 - 3:13pm

Last weekend, the beautiful deer park of Powderham Castle saw traders and visitors revelling in the Chilli and BBQ festival fun. Overlooked by the Castle, the grounds were filled with the bright colours of the festival flags and gazebos, and many visitors took to wearing colourful sombreros to keep off the sun.

Caterers provided a great variety of food, from Moroccan to pizza, and traders from near and far brought their chilli sauces, marinades, hot smokers, cheeses, ceramics, brownies, chilli plants and more, which saw the public leaving with bursting bags of goodies.

The...

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Six More National Awards for Exeter's Good Game

Authored by HarryWild
Posted: Tue, 08/14/2018 - 7:02pm

Good Game in Devon have won six national awards for their organic and non-organic charcuterie at the first British Charcuterie Awards, hosted by BBC Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace.

Competing against an impressive 400 other charcuterie entries created by 100 producers from across the UK, Good Game won four silver and two bronze awards for their range of cured meats, sausages and game.

These entries were judged blind by 20 leading food, retail and hospitality experts including head judge John Gower, who founded New York’s Charcuterie Masters, as well as Great British...

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