Photo by Tricia Gibson.
Technicolour Dream Sheep
Photo by Tricia Gibson.
Exmoor Food Fest launches at The Castle Hotel in Taunton
One Night. Four Chefs. A Taste of Exmoor.
Award winning chefs from the Exmoor region are joining The Castle’s head chef on 28 January in Taunton to prepare a mouthwatering Taste of Exmoor menu. Tickets are limited, so early booking is very advisable:
Canapés & Fizz
Hospitality Students
(The Combe, West Somerset College, Minehead)
Starter
Olivier Certain (Clavelshay Barn, North Petherton)
Pays d’Oc, Laurent Miquel, Père et Fils, Grenache-Syrah
Slow Roasted Belly of Little Oak Farm Pork, Black Pudding & Quail Scotch Egg, Apple and Cider
Fish Course
Mark Dodson (Mason Arms, Knowstone)
Pan Fried Scallop with a Thai Style Salad, Rice Wine Dressing
Main Course
Liam Finnegan (The Castle Hotel, Taunton)
McHenry Hohnen, Shiraz, Margaret River, Western Australia
Roast Exmoor Venison Loin, Faggot, Red Cabbage,
Jerusalem Artichoke and Wild Mushrooms
Dessert
Paul & Donna Berry (The Swan, Bampton)
Lemon Cheesecake with Exmoor Wolf Gin, Tonic and Thyme Sorbet
Petit Fours and Breads
The Castle Hotel
Four course dinner: £75.00 per person
(including a glass of fizz & 2 glasses of wine)
Award winning Exmoor-based chefs are joining The Castle’s head chef Liam Finnegan to cook up a Taste of Exmoor menu as the launch of the 2016 Exmoor Food Fest which takes place all over Exmoor in February.
The menu showcases the best the region has to offer. It is a celebration of local produce and local talent.
Elke Winzer, who is organising the Exmoor Food Fest as part of Exmoor4all, is delighted that so many outstanding chefs are bringing the best of Exmoor to Taunton.
“The launch at the renown Castle in Taunton brings some of the amazing Exmoor chefs together who all take part in the Exmoor Food Fest which takes place all over Exmoor in February. It is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness of the high standard of Exmoor restaurants some of which are hidden gems,” explained Elke.
Liam Finnegan commented: “We are excited to host the launch of the Exmoor Food Fest. It is a great opportunity for us chefs to work together and create a stunning menu.”
Award winning chefs Mark Dodson, Paul and Donna Berry and Olivier Certain are joined by the hospitality students of the West Somerset College training restaurant The Combe in Minehead. The students will prepare the selection of canapés which will open then night’s food celebration with a glass of fizz.
The Chefs:
Mark Dodson
Mark and his wife Sarah took over the The Mason Arms in Knowstone in June 2005. In July 2006, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star which they still hold. Since then, Mark and his team have gone from strength to strength, receiving many awards and accolades, including Michelin Pub of the Year 2010.
Prior to moving to Exmoor, Mark spent twelve years as Head Chef of Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn in Bray.
Paul and Donna Berry
There aren’t many awards Paul and Donna haven’t won for their historic pub “The Swan” in Bampton. Best Trencherman’s Pub of the Year 2016, Visit Devon Pub of the Year Gold Award, and AA Gold Star Award are amongst the most recent accolades, recognising Paul’s and Donna’s passion for food and the use of local, seasonal produce.
Liam Finnegan
Liam Finnegan, who has been head chef at The Castle Hotel in Taunton for three years, grew up in Carlingford, Co Louth in Ireland from where he still sources their famous oysters. However, whenever possible, he uses local suppliers.
Liam’s career path took him through some fantastic restaurants such as The George Hotel on the Isle of White, The Bath Priory and Gidleigh Park where he worked for Micheal Cains, and The Nuremore Hotel (Ray McArdle). When asked about awards Liam counters that a full restaurant and happy customers are more important. “Of course accolades are brilliant, but anything we get, we receive and share as a team.”
Olivier Certain
Marseille-born Olivier moved to Somerset in 1998 following his Michelin star training in La Bonne Etape Chateau Arnoux and Les Roches in Le Lavandou. In 2006 he joined Woods in Dulverton as head chef where he achieved 2 rosettes and the accolade of Somerset Dining Pub of the Year 2008, 2010 and 2011. In 2009 in reached the finals of the South West Chef of the Year competition.
Olivier now heads the kitchen at Clavelshay Barn in North Petherton.
The Students
The Year 13 hospitality students from train at West Somerset College, Minehead under Chef Lecturers Paul Ruttledge (a former British Master Chef) and Werner Hartholt.
A Mackerel Sky
Photo by Helen Disberry.
Exmoor Food Fest launches at The Castle in Taunton
Award winning chefs from the region are joining The Castle’s head chef on 28 January in Taunton to prepare a mouthwatering Taste of Exmoor menu. Tickets are limited, so early booking is very advisable:
Canapés & Fizz
Hospitality Students
(The Combe, West Somerset College, Minehead)
Starter
Olivier Certain (Clavelshay Barn, North Petherton)
Slow Roasted Belly of Little Oak Farm Pork, Black Pudding & Quail Scotch Egg, Apple and Cider
Fish Course
Mark Dodson (Mason Arms, Knowstone)
Pan Fried Scallop with a Thai Style Salad, Rice Wine Dressing
Main Course
The Castle Hotel, Taunton
Roast Exmoor Venison Loin, Faggot, Red Cabbage,
Jerusalem Artichoke and Wild Mushrooms
Dessert
Paul & Donna Berry (The Swan, Bampton)
Lemon Cheesecake with Exmoor Wolf Gin, Tonic and Thyme Sorbet
Petit Fours and Breads
The Castle Hotel
Four course dinner: £75.00 per person
(including a glass of fizz & 2 glasses of wine)
Award winning Exmoor-based chefs are joining The Castle’s head chef Liam Finnegan to cook up a Taste of Exmoor menu as the launch of the 2016 Exmoor Food Fest which takes place all over Exmoor in February.
The menu showcases the best the region has to offer. It is a celebration of local produce and local talent.
Elke Winzer, who is organising the Exmoor Food Fest as part of Exmoor4all, is delighted that so many outstanding chefs are bringing the best of Exmoor to Taunton.
“The launch at the renown Castle in Taunton brings some of the amazing Exmoor chefs together who all take part in the Exmoor Food Fest which takes place all over Exmoor in February. It is a great opportunity for us to raise awareness of the high standard of Exmoor restaurants some of which are hidden gems,” explained Elke.
Liam Finnegan commented: “We are excited to host the launch of the Exmoor Food Fest. It is a great opportunity for us chefs to work together and create a stunning menu.”
Award winning chefs Mark Dodson, Paul and Donna Berry and Olivier Certain are joined by the hospitality students of the West Somerset College training restaurant The Combe in Minehead. The students will prepare the selection of canapés which will open then night’s food celebration with a glass of fizz.
The Chefs:
Mark Dodson
Mark and his wife Sarah took over the The Mason Arms in Knowstone in June 2005. In July 2006, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star which they still hold. Since then, Mark and his team have gone from strength to strength, receiving many awards and accolades, including Michelin Pub of the Year 2010.
Prior to moving to Exmoor, Mark spent twelve years as Head Chef of Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn in Bray.
Paul and Donna Berry
There aren’t many awards Paul and Donna haven’t won for their historic pub “The Swan” in Bampton. Best Trencherman’s Pub of the Year 2016, Visit Devon Pub of the Year Gold Award, and AA Gold Star Award are amongst the most recent accolades, recognising Paul’s and Donna’s passion for food and the use of local, seasonal produce.
Liam Finnegan
Liam Finnegan, who has been head chef at The Castle Hotel in Taunton for three years, grew up in Carlingford, Co Louth in Ireland from where he still sources their famous oysters. However, whenever possible, he uses local suppliers.
Liam’s career path took him through some fantastic restaurants such as The George Hotel on the Isle of White, The Bath Priory and Gidleigh Park where he worked for Micheal Cains, and The Nuremore Hotel (Ray McArdle). When asked about awards Liam counters that a full restaurant and happy customers are more important. “Of course accolades are brilliant, but anything we get, we receive and share as a team.”
Olivier Certain
Marseille-born Olivier moved to Somerset in 1998 following his Michelin star training in La Bonne Etape Chateau Arnoux and Les Roches in Le Lavandou. In 2006 he joined Woods in Dulverton as head chef where he achieved 2 rosettes and the accolade of Somerset Dining Pub of the Year 2008, 2010 and 2011. In 2009 in reached the finals of the South West Chef of the Year competition.
Olivier now heads the kitchen at Clavelshay Barn in North Petherton.
The Students
The Year 13 hospitality students from train at West Somerset College, Minehead under Chef Lecturers Paul Ruttledge (a former British Master Chef) and Werner Hartholt.
Robbers Bridge
Guy Kirkham took this photo of Robbers Bridge near Oare, Somerset on Exmoor on New Year’s Eve.
There’s lots to do at the Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre
Fly with us, Ride with us, Stay with us …. or visit for the day
Exmoor Owl & Hawk Centre is a unique farmstead within Exmoor National Park, in a small 15th century historic farmyard setting, housing a really special collection of free-flown owls and other birds of prey, animals free roaming together, and some beautiful horses for all to enjoy.
We can fly our birds and owls to your gloved hand when you book into a variety of different activity sessions and experiences in the mornings to suit any budget; you come face to face with these amazingly graceful creatures who have learnt to fly to anyone using behavioural and trust-based training techniques. You can experience many different birds and their various methods of flying and catching prey just by watching them and taking photos of them during your activity experience.
During the main season, the Centre opens to the public at 12 noon, and many of our visitors enjoy a wander around the gardens and fields, followed by a delicious light lunch of sandwiches or baguettes with quality produce from our local suppliers before relaxing into the Afternoon with the Birds Display at 2pm when you will enjoy our special birds as they are flown around your tables and across the open field. Many visitors have described this close hand experience as “a privilege, really awesome and totally unique” – a must-do visit during your stay in North Devon and Exmoor.
To make your holiday really amazing you can ride one of our six horses over the hills, moors and through the woods of Exmoor, exploring places you may otherwise never visit. All our horses can be ridden with bitless bridles, treeless saddles, and all are barefoot with rock-crunching hooves across this challenging terrain. We believe that we can offer some of the best riding countryside in the world on some really special horses for individual riders, or a small group of up to five experienced adult and teenage riders. Our ride and stay short break holidays are now becoming increasingly popular and we have riders coming from all over the world to enjoy both our horses and our birds!
Young children can enjoy led pony rides on our smaller horses and on our Falabellas or miniature Shetland ponies, along the lane and through the delightful village of Bossington. Gaby our Falabella, loves the little ones, age 3-5yrs, and Rosie or Juta enjoy the challenge of teaching older children the basics of riding. Maya, our other Falabella is still a youngster, but will be taking a few rides during the coming season.
And if you wish to make our farmhouse your holiday base, then we offer bed and breakfast in our historic home, providing accommodation for one up to a family of six. Our rooms are comfortably furnished, with goose down duvets and super soft pillows, with tea and coffee making facilities in the room, ensuite or private bathroom and are spacious rooms offering spectacular views across the garden to the hills beyond. The farmhouse is surrounded by three ancient courtyards, dating back to the 15th Century, when the house was probably the Manor of Bossington, with its own Chapel of Ease in the yards for private worship in those times. You can wander around the Chapel today during your visit or stay here with us.
Please visit our website for full details of everything that we have to offer – www.exmoorfalconry.co.uk and www.exmoor-riding.co.uk
Beech Trees at Cloutsham
Photo by Richard Clements.
Happy 2016
What better way to begin 2016 than on Exmoor under the Milky Way and the magical green glow of the Northern Lights.
Photo by John Spurr Photography.
Competition Winner: Stag Silhouette
All this week we are running mini photo competitions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This photo of a stag on Exmoor, submitted by Ian Brown, had the most likes on all our social media channels. Ian won an Exmoor4all calendar.
Today’s theme is “People on Exmoor” – we are looking forward to all the competition entries!
Memories of winter
Wimbleball Lake in February 2009.
Photo by Peter Mather.
Exmoor 4 all 