The pasty was ours first…!

And other delicacies that call Devon home

One of the greatest bones of contention between Devon and Cornwall is the ‘Cornish’ Pasty. The earliest known recipe for it however came from Plymouth, so we’re claiming this as one of our own, even if pasties made in Devon lack the Protected Designation of Origin, which is scandalous if we do so say so ourselves.

While you’d expect to find Jellied Eels in the East End, Yorkshire Puddings in Yorkshire and Cheddar Cheese in Somerset, there are some delicacies that are native to Devon with no arguments.

First and foremost, Cream Tea is Devon’s. The idea of jam and clotted cream, added to a scone in the correct way, teamed with scones is said to have originated in Devon, with countries across the world referring to it with the rather grand title of Devonshire Tea. Historians claim that it was monks at Tavistock Abbey who first came up with it.
You can enjoy a traditional Cream Tea at a number of accommodation and food providers across the region, but you might want to sample a wide range to find the best one!

North Devon’s Huxtable Farm B and B greets all their guests with a traditional Devon Cream Tea which you can enjoy in the comfort of a 16th century farm house. The Arundell Arms Hotel and Restaurant serve Devon Cream Teas daily as part of their Afternoon Tea option offering a range of home cooked cakes and treats, with, of course, the warm Devonshire scones with jam and cream.
Ilsington Country House, in Dartmouth, offers a Devonshire Cream Tea in their conservatory and their main restaurants. If you fancy sampling a Cream Tea while you’re out and about, many attractions, such as The Big Sheep and Roadford Lake offer cream tea as a refreshment for those that need a bit of rest in between the activities!

Similarly, you can try a Devonshire Splits, along the same lines as a Cream Tea, these are made from yeast based dough, which is split down the middle and filled with clotted cream and jam.

It’s not all cream and jam though, Devon is particularly famous for its sea food, although Devon can’t claim Fish and Chips as being theirs, some of the best chippies in the country reside on Devon’s coast. Including the Rockfish, run by celebrity chef, Mitch Tonks. You can even tour Brixham’s Fish Market and see for yourselves which restaurants choose the best fish! Brixham is well known for being one of Britain’s best fishing ports and many specialities are caught here. Devon Crab is a particular favourite! Clovelly is a great place to go if you’re a fan of seafood, there are regular food festivals held in the town featuring the best Devon can offer.

If you were thinking more of a liquid lunch, aside from Salcombe’s Distilling Co where you can create and sample your own gin, as well as taste some of the locally made drinks or the Devon Ginspiration Bar at Dartington Crystal, Devon is well known for their cider. There are a number of breweries in the region offering tours and the opportunity to buy a variety of beers, ales and ciders, one to look out for is Dartmoor Brewery, which is the highest brewery in England!

Farmer’s Markets can also be found all over the region and are the best places to find Devon Blue cheese, which is handmade in Totnes. Other cheeses from the area include Beenleigh Blue and Harbourne Blue, both made from the milk of animals that graze only in areas of Devon.

We’d love to hear about your dining experiences in Devon, so get in touch on our Facebook and Twitter or tag us in your Instagram posts!