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London, Paris, New York…Devon? Why not? The term 'foodie' has become part of our modern vernacular, and while we all love a good chow down, for some people food goes beyond fuel and enters the realm of high art. But there's no need to get too carried away, and in the lovely British county of Devon you can enjoy a genuine 'foodie' experience without wearing a cravat and carrying a Michelin Star-o-meter – although it might come in handy! Farm Fresh and Fabulous For a genuine organic, paddock-to-plate experience, the Riverford Field Kitchen, in Buckfastleigh, serves up the epitome of hearty, regional cuisine. Their ethos insists on only the best seasonal produce plucked from their own farm, alongside local organic meat, poultry and seafood. More an experience than simply a meal, you'll dine at long wooden benches, sharing with other diners and making for a highly convivial atmosphere. There's only one sitting of service for lunch or supper, with the whole restaurant served at the same time. You'll start with a salad using seasonal ingredients like broad beans, samphire, and cucumber with piccalilli dressing, or griddled nectarine, salami and ricotta salad. The main course is a meat dish like stuffed shoulder of pork or braised beef blade, and some innovative vegetable sides, including hispi, garlic and artichokes, or beetroot and pink peppercorn gratin. Leave room for pudding though, as you're all invited in to the kitchen to choose from such mouth-watering offerings as gooseberry and elderflower fool and poached rhubarb pavlova. The Riverford Field Kitchen is open every day for lunch and supper: 12.00pm and 7.00pm respectively. Book ahead and arrive early! Contemporary Coastal Cuisine Ok, maybe you can drag out that Michelin Star-o-Meter after all - but there's actually no need for airs and graces at The Elephant, in the coastal resort town of Torquay, because you can choose to dine downstairs in the relaxed brasserie, or tuck in your shirt and head upstairs to The Room. Priding himself on sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients (many from their own farm), in the brasserie, chef and proprietor Simon Hulstone serves up dishes showcasing the best of South West Devon on plate, such as Brixham crab on toast with salsa verde and soft boiled Clarence Court bantam egg, followed by breast of crediton duck with celeriac purée, fondant potato and cavolo nero, and finishing off with prune and Armagnac ice cream. Upstairs in the The Room, the Michelin-starred tasting menu is a parade of exquisite dishes almost too beautiful to eat (but not quite!), including things like Orkney scallop accompanied by lardo iberico, parsnip and verjus; Southdown Farm lamb croquette with thyme and onion fondant; and summer berries with Somerset brandy sabayon and lovage ice cream. With views over the lovely Torbay Harbour, The Elephant Restaurant is at 3 & 4 Beacon Terrace, Torquay. Casual Classics Any foodie article on Devon would be remiss if it didn't offer a couple of locals' tips on two of the most iconic dishes of all. So here goes. Rockfish, in Dartmouth, serves up sustainable seafood caught in the waters off the south coast of Britain (with 30 different catches landed daily), live music, and what could be the best seafood offer in the world (Fish Friday £3 takeaway). Is this the best fish and chips in the county? We wouldn't argue with a local! Come to Devon and not have a Devonshire Tea? Unheard of! The battle for the 'best' is ongoing, but the Georgian Tea Room, in Topsham (a village outside Exeter filled with antique shops and tea rooms), is definitely a contender, and it's backed up by a Top Ten rating. They bake their scones on-premises every day, and serve them up with homemade jam, farm-fresh clotted cream (cream on first please!), and Twining's Traditional Tea. Could Heaven actually be in Devon? If all this talk of Devon's gastronomic delights is giving you ideas, why not enter the Arundell Arms' competition to win one of their Delicious Devon experiences. You'll be in the draw to win an overnight bed and breakfast stay for two in beautiful Dartmoor, including a 5-course Taste of the West tasting menu in their award-winning restaurant. If you're lucky enough to win, why not get some use out of your annual travel insurance and make a week of it exploring the fabulous foodie trail of Devon? Your taste buds will thank you - although your trousers may not... Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of InsureMore, an award-winning team of specialists in global single trip and annual travel insurance policies. Besides offering great deals on travel insurance, Patrick also collects and shares the best free travel competitions to help his clients get the most out of their holidays.
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