Devon County Show - Great Westcountry food on the menu

Local chefs are taking to the stage at the Devon County Show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday near Exeter.

Throughout the three days they will give a series of cookery demonstrations which use local and seasonal ingredients and won’t break the family budget.

Chefs from local restaurants and hotels will take to the stage at one end of the larger than ever food and drink pavilion to pass on some great recipes, cooking tips and their passion for good food.

Joining Brend Hotels’ group development chef, Dez Turland, on Friday will be budding young chef Toby Mosedale, who wowed the audience at last year’s County Show.  Sixteen-year-old Toby, from Chulmleigh, has won a prestigious scholarship under chef Michel Roux junior at the three Michelin-starred Le Gavroche restaurant in London.

Show Steward Celia Hyland said: “I’m really looking forward to an interesting and busy time in the kitchen again this year and, helped especially by the producers, we’ll be looking at how to make the best use of local food and think of the environment.”

Newcomers to the stage include Matthew Mason, head chef of The Jack in the Green Inn at Rockbeare near Exeter, who developed his love of fresh food during his childhood on his family’s Devon smallholding.

A butcher working with Dartmoor Farmers, a marketing initiative inspired by HRH Prince of Wales to deliver top quality beef and lamb, will explain how to select and cook meat.

Saturday morning features plenty of competition with members of Devon Young Farmers’ showing off their culinary skills including junket making and butter sculpting. Devon County is the only show which puts on junket making classes.

Celia added: “New this year is a class for two young farmers who have 30 minutes to cook two dishes for less than £10 using locally sourced ingredients.”

The County Show has traditional attractions in abundance. There is magnificent livestock, wonderful local food and drink to taste, try and buy, inspiring flower and garden displays, marvellous crafts, and stalls offering a wealth of goods.

There is a packed a line-up of non-stop and traditional entertainment in six rings. From the thrilling Bolddog Lings motorcycle display team, the breath-taking ‘For Your Eyes Only’ paramotors (powered parachutes) performance, 7-aside rugby tournament to the dog show, Tennessee horse whisper, scurry driving, axe racing, sheep racing, vintage tractors and steam engines, there is a great deal to enjoy.

FunForKidz is bigger than ever this year with lots of hands-on activity for lively youngsters; everything from planting seeds, petting tame farm animals and pets from Crealy Great Adventure Park to getting crafty with paper and paints to milking Dais, the model cow.

Devon County Show is on May 19-21 at Westpoint, Exeter. Children go free on Saturday when they come with an adult. For more information ring 01392 353700, email info@dcshow.org or www.devoncountyshow.co.uk

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