Blog entries

New Head Chef at the River Exe Cafe

Rachel Creasy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:53:02 +0100

The River Exe Cafe is delighted to welcome Gavin Athanasiou this coming season as their new Head Chef and culinary expert. Gavin is establishing himself as one of the UK’s top seafood chefs and joins the River Exe Cafe from his position as Group Head Chef for the Mitch Tonks seafood chain of restaurants.

A local lad from Teignmouth has decided it’s time to make his own mark and name in the field, and there's no better place for fresh, local seafood than The River Exe Cafe! Gavin’s p...

British rapeseed - the honest oil

Rachel Creasy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:29:22 +0100

Want reassurance that your cooking oil does exactly what it says on the label? Amid recent concerns that counterfeited Italian olive oil is finding its way on to British supermarket shelves, with false labelling and adulterated bottles, British rapeseed oil - such as Fussels' award-winning Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil -is emerging as the increasingly attractive, healthy - and honest option.

Somerset Farmer Andy Fussell of Fussels Fine Foods comments: "Our Extra Virgi...

Improve your cash flow with Streamline

Emma Grainger — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:17:27 +0100

Discounted rates through Streamline is one of the many benefits available to Taste of the West members.

Click here for further information on how to improve your cash flow by accepting credit cards.

Something special this Mother's Day

Rachel Creasy — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:54:31 +0100

Godminster has something very special to treat well deserving mothers this year, a mature Godminster Cheddar paired with an indulgent fruit cake from The Simply Delicious Fruit Cake Company, all hand-packed in a gift box to make a Cheddar and Fruit Cake Combo. The gift provides the perfect combination of tradition, sweet and savoury.

Godminster's award-winning vintage organic Cheddar is made to a unique 70-year-old recipe and has been made on the farm in Bruton, Somerset for over te...

Put mutton on the menu this Easter with Langley Chase Organic Farm

Emma Grainger — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:31:00 +0100

Enjoy a sumptuous and different feast this Easter with Langley Chase Organic Farm's multi-award-winning Manx Loaghtan mutton, a luxurious dark and gamey rare breed meat judged by top chefs as the Best Organic Meat at the Soil Association's prestigious National Organic Food Awards in 2011.

Mutton - praised in Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management (1861) as "the meat most generally used in families" - was once part of the UK's staple diet, but suffered a dramat...

New owners at The Tytherleigh Arms

Rachel Creasy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:18:15 +0100

In December 2011, Mark Starling and Rosie Goyder completed the purchase of the once renowned Tytherleigh Arms, between Axminster and Chard. “We have had a very warm welcome!” said Mark; “everybody has been so supportive. Our families, friends and the locals gave us such terrific support and encouragement .”

With 18 years frontline experience working across the world to bring a depth and wealth of knowledge to his work, Mark has most recently been the manager at the famous Circus res...

Gold Hill Run 31st March

Emma Grainger — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:32:34 +0100

Shaftesbury is one of the highest towns in England enjoying spectacular views across the unspoilt farmland and dairy pastures which surround it. Yet getting provisions up its steep greens and slopes has always been a challenge for the various victuallers supplying the town. Charlie Turnbull of Turnbull's Delicatssen & Cafe is reviving an old tradition.

There’s ancient tales that cheesemakers and brewers, millers and butchers raced to get their most superior goods to the Abbey...

Savings for emerging South West food producers at the Taste of the West Trade Show

Emma Grainger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:40:44 +0100

For any company based in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire or Wiltshire who has been trading for less than 18 months and is looking for new trade customers, the organisers, Hale Events Ltd has a fantastic cost saving offer.

Book in to the Source / Taste of the West Trade Show on a small stand, with electrics, for just £325.00 + vat (a saving of 30%).

Two of the 2011 newcomers who are returning for 2012 are Wild Trail and Fine Country Lifestyle.
<...

The Bridge Brasserie, Cheltenham

Emma Grainger — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:18:48 +0100

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2012, we have spent January planning & scheming to put together some great events for the coming year. So, without further ado, let us furnish you with a selection of dates for your diary. As always keep watching our website & Facebook page for even more up to the minute news and please don't forget to review us on TripAdvisor.

Mothering Sunday. 18th March. 12-3pm.
Treat your Mum to lunch from our A la Carte menu or choose from our ...

2012 South West Food & Drink Seminars

Emma Grainger — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:46:41 +0100

The Federation of Small Businesses and CBG Management Academy are holding two seminars in February on the subject 'What's Ahead for Business in the UK Food & Drink Industry?' The first is on the 16th February 2012 9.30am – 12 noon at Thornbury Golf Club, Bristol followed by a similar seminar on 23rd February 2012 9.30am – 12 noon at Basepoint Business Centre, Exeter.

For full details and a registration form please click here for the Bristol seminar and here for the Exeter ...

Lobbs Farm Shop Coffee Morning

Rachel Creasy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:06:12 +0100

Lobbs Farm Shop is holding a coffee morning on Saturday 11th February in their countryside barn in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care.10:00am to 2:00pm.

Delicious homemade cakes and savouries will be available to eat and buy to take home. They will also be having a raffle and will be joined by Elaine and Marilyn too selling their locally made cards and gift ware.

The coffee morning will run from 10am till 2pm

Lobbs Farm Shop Limited
Heligan
St Ewe
St A...

New Season Wild Garlic Yarg Cheese Now Available

Emma Grainger — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:54:12 +0100

Cornish hedges and woodlands are brimming with the vibrant green and pungent aroma of wild garlic at this time of year. It is also the time of year that a dedicated team of pickers from Lynher Dairies spring into action at Pengreep Farm, West Cornwall to produce Wild Garlic Yarg. The result is a seasonal, handmade cheese that makes the most of the changing seasons and flavours of the Cornish countryside. This is a fabulous cheese for al fresco eating: mild, creamy and just a little c...

ExpoWest 2012 - Special Membership Offer. Don't Delay! Book Today!

Emma Grainger — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:59:00 +0100

For 2012 there is a special Taste of the West Area highlighting members' businesses and their products at expowest's Westcounty and Cornwall events.

Sponsored stands in this area are offered to Taste of the West members only at a special price of

2m x 1m = £207.00 + VAT (larger stands are available upon request)

The cost includes a free entry with a live link on the show website, a free entry in the show guide along with inclusion in all their promotional and marketi...

Best of the West – Early launch for Taste of the West Awards 2012

Emma Grainger — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:08:09 +0100

The food and drink product awards for this year’s Taste of the West Awards have been launched this week at the Giving & Living Trade Show in Exeter, shifting the whole awards programme forward by three months to give producers an opportunity to maximise their awards over the key summer season. Producers across the South West region are now being encouraged to enter their products, with the coveted award winners’ logo being a recognised sign of quality and provenance across the country, helpi...

Shake Up Your Wake Up With Cafe at 36

Emma Grainger — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:18:29 +0100

With a staggering one in six people never eating breakfast1, The Cafe at 36 in Cowick Street, the heart of St Thomas, Exeter, is inviting their customers to Shake Up Their Wake Up during Farmhouse Breakfast Week, and start the morning with a tasty, healthy breakfast.

The promotion is part of the celebrations for Farmhouse Breakfast Week (22 – 28 January 2012) and is one of hundreds across the country celebrating the most important meal of the day. Research shows that eating a healthy bala...

A Scarlett Valentine

Emma Grainger — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:30:40 +0100

The Scarlett's three night Valentine package starts on Sunday, 12th of February with prices from £360 per person based on two sharing. This includes bed and breakfast on each night, with a special dinner on Valentine’s night, as well as the choice of a rhassoul or hammam to share with your loved one.

These packages are best booked over the phone with our team, who can talk you through everything that is included. Please call 01637 861800 or email stay@scarlethotel.co.uk.
...

Riverside Restaurant Launches New Website

Emma Grainger — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:19:27 +0100

The Riverside Restaurant, West Bay is proud to announce the launch of its new website www.thefishrestaurant-westbay.co.uk. The new website has a fresh, modern look and most importantly has been designed with their diners, old and new, in mind. Everything you need to know about the Riverside is at your fingertips. It is easy to navigate and is filled with great content. As you would expect, it contains full details of their menu and wine choices as we...

Otterton Mill in ITV Series - The Hungry Sailors

Emma Grainger — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:53:28 +0100

East Devon's Otterton Mill takes a starring role this week in the new weekday ITV series, The Hungry Sailors, starring 2011 Celebrity Masterchef finalist Dick Strawbridge and his son James. Dick and his son spent a day filming at the Mill last summer. Under the tutelage of the Mill's Head Baker Roy Hamilton, they learnt how to make different types of foccacia bread, ending in a bake-off, and finally a taste-off to see whose bread was the best!

During...

Lick the Spoon Launches 2012 Valentine’s Chocolate Collection

Emma Grainger — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:34:34 +0100

Award Winning Chocolatier Lick the Spoon launches their 2012 Valentine’s Chocolate collection this week. The 2012 Valentine's chocolate collection features a shimmering red and gold milk chocolate heart with a surface that looks almost like polished marble.