Guest Blog Post –Â My Delicious Devon
ABOUT ME
Hi there. I’m Helen, a 50 something food lover and I live in Dartmouth with my hubby and my hound! In My Delicious Devon blog you can join me on my foodie adventures and find out where, what and how to eat the best that Devon has to offer.
As many of us are probably a bit fed up with our own cooking (there is a limit to what you can do with a tin of tomatoes or how many times you can serve an omelette up for tea – unless you’re in Gwen’s house*) I thought it was a good time to look at the current food scene in my home town.
As I write, plans are afoot in Dartmouth to grant restaurants, pubs and cafes permission to create/extend seating areas outside their establishments. So very soon you may be able to enjoy fresh seafood and a tipple alongside the bustling River Dart. Watch this space…
Currently, however, these are the places that are back in business – as of June 15th – but please do contact them for more details on opening times, availability etc. as things are always changing. Social distancing measures are in place and most will want you to pay by card.
HOME DELIVERIES
Many smaller local businesses experienced a huge uptake in their services during Lockdown, as supermarket delivery slots filled up quicker than my plate at an all-you-can-eat buffet! Dartmouth Dairy (who offer not only milk but all sorts of groceries including vegetable boxes) reported over 300 new customers and Riverford were so overwhelmed with new requests for their veg boxes that they were unable to accept any new orders until relatively recently. Now that things have eased slightly I hope that people will keep using these local businesses and help create a strong local economy. Apart from the two above, here’s my pick of more top notch delivery services:
•   Dartmouth Fine Foods, have recently launched a range of affordable, freshly frozen, restaurant quality ready meals. Currently delivering to Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Totnes, I have been reliably informed that their Beef Bourguinon is second to none. They will deliver to second homes and people on holiday and have recently extended their offerings to salads, quiches, cream teas and a selection of hand picked artisan Devon products.
•   Darts Farm in Topsham are now offering home delivery nationwide. Choose from a huge selection of amazing produce. Their meat boxes in particular are terrific.
•   And if you fancy a tipple with your dinner then look no further than Michael Sutton’s Cellar, The Wine Loft and The Dartmouth Wine Company, all of whom will deliver straight to your door.
TAKE-AWAYS
Early on in Lockdown I realised that the two things I missed most were a proper cup of coffee and Friday night fish and chips! I did attempt a DIY version of the latter but I seem not to have inherited my dad’s batter-making skills – although the chips were cracking. Thankfully both of my cravings are now available – plus a few more …
Coffee, cakes, breakfasts, light lunches & more
•   Cafe Alf Resco (Daily 7-2pm) : whose bacon sandwich was the 3rd thing I couldn’t wait to get my sticky hands on.
•   Bayards Cove Inn (Daily 8-4pm, 6pm on weekends) : take your purchases to nearby Bayards Cove where you can sit by the River Dart and enjoy some amazing views.
•   The Anchorstone Cafe : situated in Coronation Park so plenty of room for social distancing (Fri, Sat & Sun from 8am) : card only : if you do pay with cash the change will be given to Dartmouth Caring (great idea).
•   Kendricks (Daily 9-2pm) : for a mean Breakfast Burrito & American style pancakes amongst other things.
•   Dart to Mouth Deli (Mon-Sat 10-2pm) : in the Old Market Square.
•   The Castle Tea Rooms (Daily from 10am) : out at Dartmouth Castle.
•   Yarn (Sun 10-2pm ish) : check facebook for weekly specials.
•   Woodroast (Weds 10-1pm & Sun 10-1pm) : great coffee and cakes.
•   And if you’re the other side of the river do try Moor @ 13 and The Kingswear Coffee Company (Fri, Sat 8-1pm : Sun 9-1pm).
Fish & chips
•   The Wheelhouse (Daily 12-2pm & 5-9pm).
•   The Seale Arms (Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat 4-9pm) : pre-order recommended.
•   Platform 1 (Weds-Sun 11-5pm ish).
Pizza, Tex Mex, burgers & more
•   Saveurs (Pizzas Fri & Sat 6-8pm from their kitchen in Nelson Road).
•   The Dartmouth Arms (Fri, Sat & Sun 5-9pm).
•   Kendricks (Daily 9-2pm & 5-8pm).
•   The Ship in Dock (Daily 5-7.30 : also do Sunday lunch).
•   The Floating Bridge (Tues, Fri from 4pm : Sat from 12.30pm) : pre-order recommended.
Ice-cream
•   The Good Intent (Daily 11-5pm).
•   Salcombe Dairy (Daily 10.30-5pm).
Other
•   Grazing Boxes (cheese, antipasti, afternoon tea etc) from Bushells Riverside (Daily but need to pre-order).
•   Jenny at Dart to Mouth Deli in the Old Market Square offers a fabulous eastern inspired takeaway on the weekends (pre-order essential).
•   Tsangs Chinese Restaurant (Daily, except Tues 5.30-11pm).
•   Cornish pasties from The Cornish Bakehouse (Daily 10-4pm).
•   DIY Food Boxes from Platform 1 so you can cook your favourite dish at home (Weds-Sun : pre-order essential).
PICNIC FARE
Now I’m not a huge fan of picnics – too many memories of sand in my egg sandwiches and nettle rash in unmentionable places – but needs must and here in Dartmouth we are rather spoilt for some beautiful alfresco dining opportunities. So, grab your baguette and away you go:
•   The Deli at Dartmouth for a great range of cheeses, home-made salads, pates and olives (Thurs 11-2pm : Fri 9.30-3pm : Sat 10-2pm).
•   The Salcombe Bake House for amazing bread – their Devon Apple Cake is worth a try too (Daily 8.30-3pm).
•   Saveurs for authentic baguettes and other french fancies (Mon-Sat 8-3pm).
•   The Crab Shell for the tastiest seafood sandwiches (Most days 10.30-2.30pm – if her board is out she’s open!).
•   Sloping Deck bakery for bread, cakes, sandwiches etc (Mon-Sat 8-4pm : Sun 9-4pm).
•   If you’re having a BBQ at home then you’ll want to stock up on some sausages, burgers and kebabs all lovingly made by our very own Dartmouth Butchers. And if fish is more your thing then you must pay a visit to Mark Lobb in The Old Market Square. And for the veggies check out Jilly’s Farm Shop (Mon-Sat 8-2pm).
Also worth a mention are Peppers World Foods in Dartmouth which has remained open all through Lockdown keeping us locals supplied with dried ingredients, herbs, spices and that oh so hard to come by flour and yeast … Currently open Tues-Sat 10-2pm (cash only).
If you need some inspiration for where to eat your picnic here’s some of our favourite places in and around Dartmouth town centre:
•   Gallant’s Bower – a bit of a climb but worth it
•   Sugary Cove – check your tide timetable before going
•   Dartmouth Community Orchard – amazing views over the river
•   Coronation Park – the only flat green area in town
FOODIE ACTIVITIES
If you want a hands-on foodie day out then look no further than Manna from Devon Cooking School who will be back open soon and offer a range of day and weekend courses.
WORTH TRAVELLING FOR
•   From 24th June The Cellar Door at Sharpham will launch a takeaway menu (Weds-Sun 11-3.30pm) so you can pick up some amazing food from them and then enjoy it in their new picnic area with river views : pre-ordering essential.
•   Wild Artichokes in Kingsbridge have just launched a takeaway service for picnic fare, bakes, salads plus dishes to pop in the oven. Order Monday (by 2pm) for Wednesday collection and Thursday (by 2pm) for Saturday collection.
*That one was for all you Gavin & Stacey fans!!!
