Food

Cornish Beer and Mussel Festival – 16/17 March

Mussel lovers should head to Rick Stein’s pub The Cornish Arms in St Merryn next weekend. There’ll be a a variety of Cornish and British beers on offer – including our favourite, the brilliantly named Proper Job, and Stein’s own brews Chalky’s Bark and Chalkey’s Bite. Freshly cooked Cornish mussels will be in ready supply with recipes chosen to compliment the beers such as Moules Marinière, La Mouclade and mussels with beer and bacon. read more

Semley School Easter Food Fayre

Semley School’s hugely popular Easter Food Fayre returns this year on Saturday 23rd March. There’s something for everyone here – locally made Quangle Wangle Bread, James Cheese, Buttercup and Daisy ice cream, Sweet Almond Chocolates and Juliet Stallwood’s biscuits for foodies; Mr Bean Coffee and Keystone Brewery beers for those in need of a hit; and biscuit decorating, arts and crafts for the kids. Semley Village Shop, Shaftesbury’s Beggars Banquet and Ansty PYO will also be running stalls. read more

Top 10 Butcher’s Shops in the South West

Pictured: Sumbler Bros, Marlborough

Good butchers have never been more in demand and the South West is lucky to have some of the best in the country. You’ll find high quality meat with guaranteed provenance – a far cry from the pre-packed selection in supermarket chiller cabinets. Here are our Top 10 Best Butchers – a cut above the rest…

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Festive Farmers Market at Montacute House

Shun the supermarkets and head to the Level’s Best Festive Farmer’s Market at Montacute House in Somerset next Saturday to stock up on last minute Christmas foodie treats.

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The Great Dorset Chilli Festival

Feel the heat next weekend (4 and 5 August) as The Great Dorset Chilli Festival takes place for the second year running at St Giles Park, Wimborne St Giles, Dorset home to the Earl of Shaftesbury. Expect chilli cider, chutneys, chilli sauces, chilli chocolate, plus things for the less hot headed, including local ice creams and charcuterie. Plus a not-to-be-missed chilli eating competition which is not for the faint hearted. read more

Bread of Heaven

We had to give you the heads up on a weekend of artisan breadmaking under the tuition of Tom Herbert, aka one half of Channel 4′s Fabulous Baker Brothers.

Tom who runs the Hobbs House Bakery in Bristol will teach a 2 day master class in the art of producing the perfect loaf – from soda to sourdough. The course, which includes a midnight sourdough shaping session (yes really) takes place at Bedruthan Steps, a stunning hotel which overlooks Mawgan Porth beach in North Cornwall from 17-19 May and costs £390 per person. Freshly baked bread interjected with sharp bursts of sea air and some legendary cooking – surely it has to be done.

Exeter Food and Drink Festival

This food festival is a must for anyone wanting to discover the vast array of quality food and booze on offer in the South West. The Exeter Food and Drink Festival celebrates the best of fine dining – this year more than thirty celebrated chefs are taking part in the event including the  two Michelin starred Nathan Outlaw at the St Enodoc Hotel Rock, Cornwall and Michael Caines, also with two Michelin stars from the Abode, Exeter.

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