GUILD OF FOOD WRITERS ‘COAST TO COAST’ VISIT FLIES THE FLAG FOR DEVON’S FOOD AND DRINK

NEWS RELEASE
GUILD OF FOOD WRITERS ‘COAST TO COAST’ VISIT

FLIES THE FLAG FOR DEVON’S FOOD AND DRINK

Devon continues to grow in recognition as the county to turn to for the very best produce. Food & Drink Devon and its members are continually helping to build this reputation. This week a group from the Guild of Food Writers is visiting to experience a number of Devon highlights from ‘Coast to Coast’.

Barbara King, chair of the board of directors for Food & Drink Devon, says: “A trip like this, with the nation’s premier food journalists, adds credibility to the fact that Devon is fast becoming noted for its food and drink. It also highlights the large number of hospitality businesses using Devon produce, not only because it’s local, but because of the excellent quality.”

In the new Food & Drink Devon guide, Orlando Murrin from the Guild of Food Writers, comments: “The South West has always been rich fodder for the food writer, with its wonderful artisan producers, strong culinary tradition and vast choice of places to eat out. The Cornish ‘food renaissance’ over the past two decades certainly has done much to boost the region’s reputation, but now many food writers feel that Devon is where the main action is. Every month seems to bring news of launches, openings and awards; it is as if the county is entering a ‘golden age’.” Orlando continues to say: “Seafood, farms, specialist producers, micro-breweries, distilleries – Devon has the lot. Whether it’s a traditional family business you’re dealing with, or a venture-capital-backed entrepreneur, there’s a generosity of spirit in the county – everyone helps everyone else.”

Orlando, who is the ex-editor of BBC Good Food magazine, will be joined by ten fellow Guild members, including co-chair Genevieve Taylor, TV regular Aggie MacKenzie, Great British Bake Off’s youngest ever baker Martha Collinson and local food writer Anna Turns.

The trip begins at Noel Corston’s pioneering restaurant, NC, which is recommended in the Michelin Guide 2017 and is based at the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the North Devon Coast. Here there will also be the chance to meet some of North Devon’s many inspiring and innovative producers. Next stop will be the outstanding Broomhill Art Hotel, which last year won the Food & Drink Devon award for ‘Best Restaurant’.

Day two the group will move on to Eversfield Organic, which delivers the finest grass fed organic meat boxes to households across the UK, for a farm walk and tour before heading South to Salcombe. A visit to this highly in vogue coastal town would not be complete without experiencing the new Salcombe Distillery Gin School and dinner at the South Sands hotel. Renowned for his creativity and flair, as well as his love of using foraged food, ex Harrods chef Allister Bishop will be showcasing some of the best local ingredients. Before dinner, Lyme Bay Winery will be hosting a wine tasting, sampling their new Blanc de Noirs and Bacchus Block amongst others.

On day three the morning begins with a tour of the new Salcombe Brewery before a visit to chef Chris Sherville’s The Vineyard Kitchen on the Sharpham Estate. Next stop will be The Shops at Dartington where there will be another opportunity to sample a wide range of local produce, including Luscombe Drinks new range of Tonic Waters and goats milk ice cream from Dartington Dairy. Michael Smith from The Venus Company will be at the on-site café to talk about having a sustainable, environmentally aware approach as well as telling all about the forthcoming ‘Loving the Beach’ music festival (Blackpool Sands, 8th July) and David Jones from Manna from Devon Cooking School will be cooking tasty delights on a wood fired oven. The final destination for the day will be lunch at the new The Green Table café on the Dartington Estate.

A few of the group will then be extending their trip to experience Exeter Cookery School on the Thursday, staying the night before at Exeter’s Hotel du Vin.

The Guild of Food Writers is an association of over 400 professional food writers; the membership is exceptionally broad and includes cookery writers, journalists, broadcasters and bloggers. The highlight of the Guild year is its prestigious awards which honour the best in food and cookery writing, journalism and broadcasting. Food & Drink Devon is sponsoring the ‘Restaurant Writing’ award category this year.

Food & Drink Devon has over 250 members and works tirelessly to increase the county’s profile, both nationally and internationally. Food & Drink Devon - 'Love the Flavour' represents a membership of like-minded businesses, dedicated to providing good quality local food and drink. The Food & Drink Devon association is committed to continuously achieving its mission – to become a nationally recognised brand for outstanding sustainable food and drink.

The highly thought of Food & Drink Devon awards, currently in their seventh year, continue to grow with 2016 recording the highest number of entries to date as well as boasting a glittering sell out awards’ evening. Last year the judges tasted 200 of the finest products and visited dozens of establishments across Devon to select the pick of the crop for a shortlist of just 60. This year, the awards’ ceremony will be taking place on Monday 9th October, once again in the beautiful Orangery at the Deer Park Country House Hotel in East Devon, hosted for the third year running by BBC Radio 2’s fabulous food and drink expert, Nigel Barden.

The next date for the diary is the Dartington Food Fair which is taking place over the bank holiday weekend on 28th and 29th May. The Dartington Food Fair is free to enter and is run in association with Food & Drink Devon. It provides an opportunity for all to try some of the delicious produce the Guild will be experiencing on its tour, including the latest Devon gin, Dartington’s very own limited edition Elmhirst Gin.

For more information on Food & Drink Devon please visit www.foodanddrinkdevon.co.uk and follow @lovetheflavour on Twitter. To follow the Guild of Food Writers’ visit on Twitter go to @lovetheflavour and put in #Devoncoasttocoast.

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For further information, photography or an interview with either Barbara King or Orlando Murrin, please contact:

Hayley Reynolds at RAW PR and Marketing - hayley@rawprandmarketing.co.uk;
Telephone: 01548 550 429 / 07887 474 104
Twitter: @HayleyJReynolds / @RawSW