Devon is known for having some of the best food and drink in the UK - think incredible farm house breakfasts, fresh, seasonal ingredients, the very best in fish and seafood and of course, cream teas to remember forever. How do we do it? Well... we're about to let you into a secret, Devon’s culinary success is in the landscape.
England's seafood coast
The clean, temperate waters that offer some of the best seafood and fish in the British Isles, and the lush, fertile soil produces some of the best vegetables and provides excellent nutrition for grazing animals. The English Riviera, home to the famous fishing port of Brixham, forms part of England's seafood coast - making it a great place to grab some fish and chips!
Traditional Devon Cream Tea
Perhaps one of the best things about a trip to Devon is getting to sample a traditional cream tea. No matter what our friends over the Tamar say, the Devon cream tea is the best! It originated in Tavistock, when the monks would reward those working around the monastery with a sweet bread, called the Tuft (an early precursor to the scone), fresh cream from nearby farms and jam created by the monks themselves. It became so popular that visitors were served it too and the rest, as they say, is history!
From the Tuft to the Devon split to the scone, whatever you have with your cream tea, just remember to always eat it the Devon way! (cream first.)
Local, seasonal menus in Devon
All across Devon, food and drink producers, restaurants and more take their responsibility to the environment very seriously and there are an ever-increasing number of organic and environmentally responsible farms supplying local restaurants. In turn, these establishments are able to gain accreditation and awards from bodies, such as the Soil Association, certifying that the ingredients they use are organic and as fresh as possible.
It’s not just unusual fruit and vegetables that are getting good press, either. Unusual meats are being farmed here too, such as venison and ostrich, alongside traditional breeds, such as Red Devon Cattle. And where there are cattle, there’s milk; Devon is justly famous for its clotted cream, custard and delicious ice-creams, but it is steadily gaining recognition for a range of traditional and unusual cheeses, too.
With excellent local produce and fantastic producers, Devon’s food and drink is known for being outstanding. Restaurants in Devon are some of the best in the UK, and it is no surprise that the county is home to a number of award winning establishments.
With chilli farms and dairies, coffee roasters and micro-brewers, vineyards and blueberry farmers, as well as excellent restaurants, cafés, delis and farm shops, Devon’s food is one of the key reasons why many people love to come and visit. You won't want to miss out on the fresh seafood of North Devon's coastline and you can’t visit the region without having a Cream Tea!
Top Devon chefs and places to eat
More and more big-name chefs are setting up in the area, inspired by the quality of the raw materials they can work with, to create truly memorable meals. Michael Caines MBE, one of the UK’s most influential and respected chefs, is the chef/ patron at the Michelin-starred Lympstone Manor, his personal project where his excellent fine dining is one of the draws to staying in this beautiful country house hotel.
You'll also find the famous Riverford Kitchen here in East Devon and Mitch Tonks has several restaurants here too.
If that wasn't enough to bring you to the region, many of Devon's food and drink businesses have won accolades at both regional and national levels.
Devon food festivals, events and markets
Devon food festivals and events take place throughout the year, so at Easter, you could spend the weekend at the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink, in August you could visit events at the South Devon Crab Month or Flavour Fest in Plymouth, and in October, try Barnstaple's North Devon Foodfest or Dartmouth Food Festival.
Or if you’re only here for a short stay, you can source the best in fresh, organic ingredients and produce from the Devon farmers’ markets that take place practically every weekend - or eat amazing food right where it's cooked at street food events across the county.
Devon cider, wine, ales and juices
All this food will need something delicious to accompany it, so remember to check out the local ales, wines (we've some very successful vineyards) and, of course, cider. Devon is famous for its traditional scrumpy, but there's a more refined side to West Country tipples too. And with dozens of micro-breweries across the county, real ale lovers are in CAMBRA heaven, with plenty of local brews to choose from. Devon is equally famous for its gin distilleries, so for something a little stronger, visit the Plymouth Gin Distillery (with the Tanners brothers' Barbican Kitchen next door), or if you’re teetotal there’s plenty of freshly produced (non-alcoholic) organic apple juice to try. There are plenty of options for those with special dietary requirements too.
