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My Week In Pictures – Lockdown 3.0 Week 2

17th January 202117th January 2021 - tara Leave a comment

Hello all. We seem to have made it through another week in lockdown so let’s give ourselves a pat on the back for that. it’s challenging and we are all doing a great job. However we get through the week and whatever we do is alright. If you want to spend a day in your PJ’sRead more

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

16th January 202116th January 2021 - tara 1 Comment

I don’t know about you but when it’s cold outside I want to eat spicy food; something with a bit of zing and kick. This recipe has been on the back burner until now purely because I hadn’t received a cauliflower in my weekly organic veg box delivery but as soon as I saw theRead more

Let It Be Sunday - My Week In pictures #4

My Nine Best Things Of 2020

30th December 202030th December 2020 - tara Leave a comment

2020 has been challenging for all. Work has been sparse for some and non-existent for others. Loneliness for many has become a real issue. There have been constant challenges thrown our way that has meant we have had to adapt and adopt new ways of thinking, working, socialising and exercising. For me, 2020 has givenRead more

Pigs In Puff Pastry Blankets - A wonderful Party Canapé

Pigs In Puff Pastry Blankets – A wonderful Party Canapé

22nd December 202022nd December 2020 - tara Leave a comment

(Ad) I was recently sent some sausages from my friends at HECK. These aren’t any old sausages though. Of course, they are delicious, we know that, but these sausages are doing good at the same time. With each packet, purchased HECK are contributing to a very worthwhile campaign to combat homelessness. I wanted to highlightRead more

Let It Be Sunday - My Week In pictures #4

Let It Be Sunday – My Week In pictures #4

20th December 202020th December 2020 - tara Leave a comment

Wow! Another week where our worlds get picked up and thrown down thus jiggling all plans once again. I guess in reality I was expecting a u-turn on the Christmas rules. It had to happen but why with less than a week to go? Why not last week when people could switch up/cancel plans/food deliveriesRead more

Let It Be Sunday - My Week In Pictures #3

Let It Be Sunday – My Week In Pictures #3

13th December 202013th December 2020 - tara Leave a comment

Happy Sunday friends! Are you feeling festive yet? With less than two weeks to Christmas I feel like I should be but I am not. I am excited for Christmas but I certainly don’t have that festive warm feeling yet. It may be because we don’t have our tree or it maybe because I don’tRead more

Gingerbread & Chocolate Chip American Style Cookies

Gingerbread & Chocolate Chip American Style Cookies

5th December 20205th December 2020 - tara Leave a comment

It’s been a whole year since I found myself in New York and it got me thinking about all those yummy sweet treats that the Americans do so well. Yes, I love a crunchy English biscuit but sometimes a doughy, soft American style cookie is just what a girl (or boy) needs. Am I right?Read more

Gingerbread Loaf With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Gingerbread Loaf With Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

19th November 20201st December 2020 - tara Leave a comment

This sweet and spicy gingerbread loaf with spiced cream cheese frosting is a perfect alternative to Christmas cake for those who don’t like a fruit cake option at Yuletide. I do however love a traditional Christmas cake so will most probably make both! After all, it is the season to be jolly and this secondRead more

Let It Be Sunday - My Week In Pictures #2

Let It Be Sunday – My Week In Pictures #2

8th November 20208th November 2020 - tara Leave a comment

For me, this week has been made up of two contrasting halves. I am pretty sure that for others based in England right now you may agree with me? Lockdown 2.0 started at 12.01 am on Thursday morning with many restrictions in place that we haven’t seen since the easing of the first lockdown inRead more

Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Cake

Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl Cake

2nd November 20201st November 2020 - tara 2 Comments

Ok, this cake may sound and look really like a Halloween cake but rest assured it’s more than that. As always I am a little behind with my posting and this recipe comes a day or so late so I apologise. I really need to deal with that especially now we have just had theRead more

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Tara Smith | Foodie & Content Creator

tarasbusykitchen

Devon-born foodie & content creator
Finding brilliant places to eat, drink & explore
Indie restaurants • cafés • vineyards • South West gems

W H A T T O P U T in your shopping basket this A W H A T  T O  P U T in your shopping basket this August

August is basically nature’s way of saying EAT ME NOW.

This is the month for making the most of those gorgeous summer fruits and vegetables before the seasons start to shift. Think juicy berries, soft fruits, stone fruits, early apples & pears, alongside tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, runner beans, broad beans, peas and those delicious new potatoes.

And honestly, when produce is this good, you barely need to do anything to it.

A bowl of perfectly ripe tomatoes with good olive oil, a handful of berries with yoghurt, buttery new potatoes, or a simple salad packed with whatever you’ve brought home from the farm shop.

I’m Tara, a Devon-based foodie and massive lover of seasonal food. I love cooking with what’s growing around us, partly because it means fewer food miles and better flavour, but also because buying local seasonal produce means supporting the brilliant growers, farmers and independent businesses around us.

And if you get ridiculously excited when tomato season comes around, you’re definitely in the right place.

When I’m not in the kitchen cooking up something seasonal, I’m out exploring the South West looking for the best places serving up local, seasonal food. If I feature somewhere, you can be sure it has my seal of approval.

So tell me, which seasonal fruit or vegetable gets you most excited and what’s your favourite way to eat it? I’m always looking for foodie inspiration.

#DevonFoodie #SouthWestFoodie #SeasonalEating #LocalFood #DevonFood
T H A N K Y O U for reading my announcement. Norm T H A N K  Y O U for reading my announcement. Normal service will resume until my next monthly meltdown. 

The good news is, I shan’t be writing my CV this month .. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that tbh .. how do ballet teacher skills translate to real life??🫠

Love Tara xx
H O W W E ‘ D S P E N D A S U N D A Y in Exe H O W  W E ‘ D  S P E N D  A  S U N D A Y in Exeter.

Hey, I’m Tara. I’m a Devon-born foodie with a huge love for independent, seasonal & local food. If it’s on this list, I can genuinely say I’ve loved it and would recommend it to a friend.

For coffee & a really good pastry, Boatyard Bakery, The Ridge & Lilac Bakery are my go-tos.

For brunch, try Crave, Boston Tea Party, The Press House, The Birdhouse, Juice King or Sacred Grounds. Full English, things on toast, pancakes, smoothie bowls, bagels... there’s plenty to choose from.

For lunch or dinner, Herbies is a new Exeter favourite for great vegan & veggie food, while Kin Khao is always a good shout. Want something simpler? Grab a toastie, or pick up Krispies fish & chips, a bottle of something delicious and head to the quay for an Exeter picnic.

For food and drinks, try Portal Pizza at Exeter Brewery, or go for a roast at Artigiano or The Fat Pig.

Dessert or afternoon matcha? Pink Ginger gets my vote every time. For ice cream, try Suki’s, Zuki’s or Chococo.
And it’s not all about eating...

For culture, there’s @rammuseum , @exeterphoenix or the @exeter.library , while @exeter_leisure at St Sidwell’s Point has swimming, classes, a gym & soft play.

Fancy a walk? The Exeter Quay loop is an easy favourite, or try part of the 12-mile Exeter Green Circle, which links green spaces around the city.

And yes, I realise there’s a LOT of food in this Sunday itinerary, but pick your favourites. I like to give you choices!

Save this for your next Exeter day, share it with your foodie friends & tell me your Exeter favourite that I need to add to the list.

#ExeterFood #ExeterFoodie #ExeterRestaurants #DevonFoodie #VisitExeter
W H A T ‘ S A C T U A L L Y I N S E A S O N W H A T ‘ S  A C T U A L L Y  I N  S E A S O N  in August? Your foodie friend is here to remind you…

August might just be one of my favourite months for seasonal produce. Soft fruits, stone fruits, early apples and pears, plus some of the best vegetables of summer.

Think juicy tomatoes, runner beans, broad beans, new potatoes, cucumber and peas. Basically, the kind of produce that doesn’t need much doing to it because it’s already so good.

Seasonal fruit and vegetables really don’t hang around for long. August is when so much of it is at its absolute best, so make the most of it while you can.

I’m Tara, a Devon-based foodie, and I love cooking at home with seasonal, local ingredients. It can help keep costs down, reduce food miles and, most importantly, I genuinely think everything tastes better when you eat it in season.

I look forward to tomato season ALL year. That first properly delicious, sweet, juicy tomato of the summer? Simple pleasure, but one I get very excited about.

And when I’m not cooking at home, I’m hunting out the best places to eat across Devon and the South West that are championing seasonal and local produce too.

What seasonal fruit or vegetable are you most excited about eating this August and how do you cook it? Tell me yours in the comments, because I’m always looking for my next foodie obsession.

#SeasonalEating #SeasonalProduce #DevonFoodie #SouthWestFoodie #EatLocal
W H E N S O M E R S E T feels like Italy for a ho W H E N  S O M E R S E T feels like Italy for a hot minute…

Last night was one of those evenings that felt a little bit magical. The setting, the light, the atmosphere…

I had the absolute pleasure of watching my friend of crikey, 25+ years, Rebecca, completely in her element talking about wine and sharing the wines she’s loving right now through her business, Emile Wines.

And as someone whose love of all things Italian is long standing, I was very happy to be there. First up on the tasting was delish Lambrusco. 

And can we talk about Lambrusco for a minute?

I’ve been a Lambrusco lover for years. Good Lambrusco, obviously. Not that stuff from the 80s. And I feel like maybe, just maybe, I’m finally cool because Lambrusco is BACK in vogue, friends. 

After Rebecca’s tasting, we hopped up to the kitchen counter for more deliciousness from Holm’s head chef Jack Gordon.

Westcombe Cheddar fries, which are an absolute must order.

Smoked cod’s roe with pink radish. Pink on pink. Love.

Homemade sourdough & salty butter.

Sea bass crudo with cucumber.

And confit tomatoes with burrata.

Honestly, every single thing was outstanding.

This was my fourth visit to Holm and I think we can safely say it might just be my favourite restaurant in Somerset. I know I bang on about Holm every time I go, but it really is justified. It is one of those South West restaurants that I genuinely think deserves to be on your radar.

And just for transparency, I wasn’t here in a PR capacity this time. I was simply there as a friend supporting a friend. I just thought I should mention that I have visited Holm as a guest of the restaurant in the past year. 

If you’ve been looking for somewhere special to eat in Somerset, I really cannot recommend putting Holm in South Petherton on your list enough.

I’m a Devon-based foodie travelling around the South West for good food, brilliant independent restaurants, wine, cafés & places worth making a journey for.

If that sounds like your kind of thing, you know what to do.

Happy Friday friends.. Love Tara x

#SomersetFood #SomersetRestaurants #SouthWestFoodie #DevonFoodie #SouthWestRestaurants
W H E R E I ‘ D T A K E my vegan friend visit W H E R E  I ‘ D  T A K E  my vegan friend visiting Exeter…

Got a vegan friend coming to Exeter for the weekend? 

This is the list I’d be sending them.

From breakfast, brunch and lunch to snacks, cake, pizza and dinner, these are some of my favourite 100% vegan independent businesses in Exeter.

Think ridiculously good brownies and cakes from Cake or Death, brilliant small plates at Herbies, brunch and lunch at Sacred Grounds, pizza at The Flat, smooth bowls galore at Luna and cathedral views at Sprout.

And if you fancy putting together a picnic, How On Earth Deli is SO good. Sandwiches, salads, cakes, vegan deli meats and cheeses… basically everything you need for a very good picnic.

I get asked all the time where to eat in Exeter if you’re vegan or dairy-free, so I wanted to put all these brilliant vegan Exeter independents in one place.

And don’t forget, these are all vegan-only businesses. 

There are also loads of other independent cafés, restaurants and delis in Exeter with a really good selection of vegan and dairy-free options on their menus.

So if you’ve got a vegan foodie visiting Exeter, hopefully this gives you a few places to start.

Vegan Exeter friends, where else should I add to my list? Have I missed a brilliant indie?

#VeganExeter #ExeterFood #ExeterEats #DevonFoodie #IndependentExeter
1 0 S O U T H W E S T H O T S P O T S I can’ 1 0  S O U T H  W E S T  H O T S P O T S  I can’t stop thinking about this month

This month has taken me from wood-fired Sunday lunch at Horrell & Horrell in Somerset, to smash burgers and frickles at Shaka in Totnes, and from coffee and cake at the brand new Kiln in Topsham to a fish finger sandwich from The Galley, best enjoyed with a bottle of wine on the quay. Honestly, an elevated picnic doesn’t get much better.

I’ve been back to Holm in South Petherton, which has to be one of my most visited restaurants of the last year, celebrated a birthday at The Newt in Somerset with a lunch at The Botanical Rooms and a mooch around those beautiful gardens, and discovered Thursday Lates at Magdalen Cheese & Provisions in Exeter.

Herbies was the surprise of the month with its brilliant vegan and veggie small plates, The Birdhouse remains one of my Exeter favourites, and a trip to Lyme Regis isn’t complete without a visit to Swim for food, cocktails and that sea air.

Basically, it’s been a very good month for eating my way around Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

And the best bit? Quite a few of these adventures were done by public transport, because getting on a train for something delicious is one of my favourite ways to spend a day.

Now I want to know what I’ve missed.

Where have you eaten in the South West recently that you genuinely can’t stop thinking about? Tell me your favourites, especially the brilliant indie places I need to know about.

#SouthWestFood #DevonFoodie #DevonFood #SomersetFood #IndependentFood
H O B B I E S ? I mean… does eating count? Beca H O B B I E S ? I mean… does eating count?

Because if it does, then I’m absolutely sorted.

I will happily spend three hours travelling for a good lunch. I’ve caught a train to another county for a really good pastry and a top-notch coffee. I will absolutely, without doubt, plan a day trip around where we’re going to eat.

Food isn’t just fuel to me. It’s a huge part of how I enjoy life.

It’s finding a brilliant little indie café, discovering a restaurant I can’t wait to tell people about, eating ice cream in the sunshine, sitting down for a long lunch with friends or putting together a picnic and making an afternoon or evening of it.

Basically, I just really like eating, exploring and finding the good stuff.

I’m Devon born and bred, but I’m always off exploring Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall and the wider South West, looking for brilliant independent places to eat, drink and be merry.

And if somewhere is worth a three-hour round trip, I’m probably going.

So yes, I think we can safely say this has gone beyond a hobby.

And then, completely unrelated to my inability to walk past a good pastry.. HELLO 10k !

10,000 of you are now following along with my very food-focused adventures, and that honestly makes me rather happy. Thank you for being here and coming along for the good food.

If you’re into discovering independent places to eat across Devon and the South West, I hope there’s plenty more here for you to discover too.

#DevonFoodie #SouthWestFoodie #ExeterFoodie #DevonFood #SouthWestFood
W H E R E T O E A T in Somerset when you want so W H E R E  T O  E A T in Somerset when you want something a little bit special…

Ad Yesterday I discovered @horrellandhorrell in Sparkford and honestly, what a find.

Tucked away in the Somerset countryside between Yeovil and Castle Cary, this beautifully curated communal dining experience is run by husband & wife Jules & Steve, and it’s somewhere I’d absolutely recommend booking.

We were there for their family-style Sunday lunch, where everything is cooked over coals or in their beautiful brick oven and served in the middle of the table for everyone to share.

Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding & pigs in blankets, Chalk Stream trout for the pescatarians, roasted summer squash with goats cheese & pomegranate for the veggies, plus all the glorious Sunday roast sides. 

Cumin roasted carrots, hispi cabbage, roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and green beans picked from the garden.

Then came plum pavlova, made with plums from their own trees and swirled through piles of whipped cream. Heaven.

And there’s more…

It’s BYOB with no corkage. LOVE this ..

After lunch you can wander through the kitchen garden, orchard and flower garden, meet the chickens and generally let lunch go down in the loveliest surroundings.

They also host end-of-the-week evening feasts, which I am very keen to return for in the autumn. I’m already imagining this place lit by fairy lights, candles & log burners… and perhaps finding a local B&B so I can properly embrace the BYOB situation!

If you’re looking for where to eat in Somerset, a special Sunday lunch, seasonal dining or somewhere a little different for a food-filled day out, put Horrell & Horrell on your list.

Somerset foodies, I want to know your hidden gems too… Tell me your favourite places to eat in Somerset in the comments because I’m on a mission to discover more of them, and I’ve got my eye on an autumn return to Horrell & Horrell already.

#SomersetFood #SomersetFoodie #WhereToEatSomerset #SomersetRestaurants #SouthWestFoodie
N O T A V E R Y I N T E R E S T I N G P O S T N O T  A  V E R Y  I N T E R E S T I N G  P O S T …

Unless you’re into watching the sun go down with your sister, eating a ridiculous amount of cheese and calling it dinner.

A little picnic with a cracking bottle of Muscadet, some delightful cheeses from Pullo, tinned hake (never have I ever), giant olives & bloomin’ lovely crunchy crackers.

It really doesn’t take much to make me happy.

Give me good food, a bottle of wine, a sunset & good company and I’m sorted.

And actually, this is exactly why I love shopping local. Picking up lovely things from independent businesses, finding something a little different and putting it all together to make an ordinary evening feel like a bit of an occasion.

So if you’re looking for summer picnic ideas in Devon, forget making it complicated. Grab some good local food, find somewhere pretty and enjoy it.

What’s your absolute picnic essential?

#DevonFoodie #SummerPicnic #ShopLocalDevon #SouthWestFoodie #SupportIndependents
I F Y O U A R E W O N D E R I N G what you’ll I F  Y O U  A R E  W O N D E R I N G what you’ll get from following me... here’s your answer.

I’m Tara, a Devon foodie who is happiest exploring independent cafés, restaurants, farm shops and hidden gems across Devon and the South West. If it’s seasonal, local and independently owned, there’s a good chance I’m already planning a visit.

I also believe the little things matter. Supporting small businesses. Shopping second hand. Walking instead of rushing. Spending time with people I love. And stopping to say hello to every cat I meet.

If that sounds like your kind of feed, I think we’ll get on just fine.

Life’s too short for boring recommendations, and there are so many brilliant local places that deserve to be discovered. I hope my page helps you find somewhere new to eat, drink and be merry.

Tell me one thing we’d definitely have in common.

#DevonFoodie #SouthWestFood #SupportLocal #IndieFood #DevonLife
I F I H A D T O P I C K just ONE place in Exe I F  I  H A D  T O  P I C K  just ONE place in Exeter...

As a Devon-born & bred foodie, this might be one of the hardest lists I’ve ever made.

I spend a lot of my time exploring the best independent cafés, restaurants, bakeries, pubs & coffee shops in Exeter, and if you told me I could only choose one in each category right now, this would be it.

My current Exeter favourites:

✨ Vegan & veggie – Herbies
✨ Tapas – Calvo Loco
✨ Lunch with a conscience – The Birdhouse (a wonderful social enterprise café creating employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. Every coffee & lunch helps support an amazing local project.)
✨ Cosy dinner with incredible service – Harry’s
✨ Greek – Polly’s Little Greek Kitchen
✨ Pop-up vibes – Magdalen Cheese & Provisions
✨ Pizza – Portal
✨ Drinks – Scapegoat
✨ Elevated pub food & top-notch service – The Fat Pig
✨ Coffee & homemade cakes – Alma
✨ Matcha & dreamy cakes – Pink Ginger
✨ Brunch – The Press House
✨ Authentic Thai – Kin Khao
✨ Sandwiches – Dukes Deli

There are so many incredible independent businesses in Exeter that deserved a mention, and narrowing this down to one in each category was almost impossible. 

Ask me again next month and there’ll probably be a few changes! Supporting local is something I’ll always champion, and you’ll only ever find independent recommendations on my page.

Which Exeter indie would make your list?

Share this with your foodie buddies, save it for your next trip into Exeter & tell me your current favourites in the comments.

#ExeterFood #ExeterIndies #DevonFoodie #ExeterRestaurants #SupportLocalDevon
“W H A T D O Y O U actually do for fun?” Tu “W H A T  D O  Y O U actually do for fun?”

Turns out... exactly what you’d expect from a South West foodie.

I love gathering friends & family around a table, discovering independent cafés, restaurants & pop ups, packing a picnic for a sunny afternoon, visiting English vineyards, drinking brilliant English wine, cuddling my cats & finding new local gems across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset & beyond.

For me, supporting local isn’t just something I post about, it’s genuinely how I choose to spend my free time. The best weekends are the ones spent exploring somewhere new, meeting passionate independent business owners & making memories over really good food & drink.

If you’re looking for the best independent places to eat, drink & explore in the South West, you’re in exactly the right place. Come along while I discover somewhere new... you might just find your next favourite spot too.

What would your perfect day look like? Tell me your favourite way to spend a weekend, or recommend somewhere in the South West that I need to visit next.

#DevonFoodie #SouthWestFoodie #SupportLocalUK #IndependentBusinesses #EnglishWine
D O E S E X E T E R R E A L L Y N E E D another D O E S  E X E T E R  R E A L L Y  N E E D another chain coffee shop... or should we be looking after the brilliant indie cafés we already have?

Every time we choose an independent coffee shop over a big chain, we’re doing so much more than buying a flat white. We’re backing local people, local jobs, local suppliers & helping keep Exeter’s food & coffee scene full of character.

If we want our towns & cities to thrive, it starts with the little choices. Order the coffee. Try the matcha. Pick up the pastry. Sit in the window. Chat to the barista. It all matters.

As an Exeter foodie, I naturally lean towards seasonal, local & independent wherever I can. These cafés are the places where birthdays are celebrated, catch-ups happen, work gets done, books get read & someone having a difficult day can find a warm welcome over a good cup of coffee.

Here are a few of my favourite Exeter cafés for all different reasons... incredible coffee, homemade cakes, warm service, beautiful spaces & the people behind them who make me want to keep coming back.

Which Exeter indie coffee shop deserves more love? I’d genuinely love to discover somewhere new.

#Exeter #ExeterCafe #IndependentCoffeeShop #DevonFoodie #SupportLocal
O N D A - E X E T E R 🪡 I don’t think I’ve O N D A - E X E T E R 🪡

I don’t think I’ve ever owned anything that feels quite as me as this.

Ad A month or so ago I commissioned the wonderful Pam from @ondaexeter to create a bespoke sweatshirt using recycled & reclaimed fabric. Onda is an independent slow fashion studio based in Exeter where every piece is thoughtfully designed & handmade, giving beautiful textiles a second life instead of letting them go to waste. Every piece is rooted in ethical craftsmanship, sustainable fashion & eco-friendly practices. 

It actually all started back in March when a group of us bought our friend Amy one of Pam’s bespoke sweatshirts for her birthday. I’d been following Onda for a while and knew it would make the perfect gift for our dog-walking friend. We chose teal, purple & beige for Amy and when it arrived I instantly knew I wanted one too.

A few DMs later I met Pam at her St Thomas studio in Exeter to design my own. My colour palette is much more neutral, so we settled on black, cream & terracotta with a tiny nod to Amy’s sweatshirt in the soft lilac.

The whole process was such a joy. We played around with colours on Pam’s iPad, held fabrics up to my face to see what suited, chose the perfect fit, length & all those little details you just don’t get when buying something off the peg.

A week or so later my sweatshirt was ready. The quality is incredible & it’s even more stunning than I’d imagined. Pam is unbelievably talented, but she’s also one of those genuinely lovely people you can’t help wanting to support.

The fact that every sweatshirt is handmade using recycled fabrics makes it even more special.

It’s been far too warm to wear it properly but with the hint of rain we had today it seemed appropriate to post & I know come autumn I will be living in it.

If you’ve been looking for sustainable clothing, slow fashion, or a truly unique handmade sweatshirt, I’d really recommend taking a look at Onda. And if you’re not local to Exeter, Pam also posts her pieces across the UK.

Have you ever had a piece of clothing made just for you, or would you? I’d love to know.

#ExeterIndependent #SlowFashionUK #SustainableStyle #handmade
E V E R Y T I M E I H O S T , I get the same Wh E V E R Y  T I M E  I  H O S T , I get the same WhatsApp... “What can I bring?”

I never reply with “just bring yourself” anymore.

Here’s why. I genuinely think people want to help. They want to feel part of the evening, not like they’ve turned up empty handed while one person has spent all day doing everything. And if I’m hosting (which I do a lot), why wouldn’t I let them?

My replies are usually something like...

• Bring your favourite crisps & a dip.

• Can you pick up a bag of ice on the way?

• Fancy being on sourdough duty?

• Would you mind bringing dessert? Ice cream is perfect.

• I forgot the mint for the Pimms!

• Orange juice for mimosas?

• Can you grab some strawberries on your way?

• Bring a bottle of something you’d like to drink.

• Can you arrive 15 minutes early to help me set the table?

• We need someone in charge of the BBQ!

None of it is a huge ask. Nobody is spending hours cooking another meal. It’s just one small thing that helps spread the load and somehow makes everyone feel more part of the evening.

I used to think being a good host meant taking care of absolutely everything. Now I think it’s about creating an evening where everyone feels welcome and included - me too. 

Maybe it’s a Southwest England thing, maybe it’s just my family & friends, but whenever I’m invited somewhere, my first question is always, “Tell me what to bring.”

Do you always tell people to “just bring yourself”, or do you happily give them a little job? I’d love to know what your go-to answer is.

#SouthWestEngland #DevonLife #HostingAtHome #DinnerPartyIdeas #EntertainingAtHome
1 0 D E V O N food spots I genuinely couldn’t s 1 0  D E V O N food spots I genuinely couldn’t stop thinking about this month.

Hi, I’m Tara & I’m what I call a foodie explorer. I spend my free time hunting down the independent places across Devon where you can eat, drink & be merry. Whether it’s browsing beautiful delis, discovering a crazy seasonal latte, sharing pizza with friends or picking up a takeaway sandwich for a picnic with a bottle of English wine, I love finding places that are worth the trip... then sharing them with you.

I know I haven’t ventured far from Exeter this month. If you’re reading this from another part of Devon, don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you! There have just been so many exciting openings, new menus & events happening close to home that I’ve been making the most of my own patch.

These are the places I’ve loved this month...

• Rosso, Totnes for brilliant wine & a buzzing Friday night atmosphere.

• Albatross, Totnes for incredible pizza, unforgettable tiramisu & one of the best restaurant vibes around.

• Hyde & Seek, Exeter for homemade caramel banana iced lattes & their coffee, walnut & pecan cake.

• Magdalen Cheese & Provisions, Exeter for Thursday Magdalen Lates. Small plates & great wine.

• Herbies, Exeter for creative vegetarian & vegan small plates. My biggest surprise of the month. Ad Pr

• The Galley, Topsham for their £8.50 takeaway fish finger sandwich. Grab one, a picnic blanket & a bottle of English rosé & head to the quay. Ad Pr

• Kiln, Topsham for excellent coffee, lovely service & irresistible cakes.

• The Birdhouse, Exeter for their seasonal lunch menu. The tomatoes on toast with tahini dressing are worth the trip.

• Circle, Topsham because the coffee was so good I had to order another.

• Pop Kitchen, Exeter for outrageous seasonal coffees & matcha, plus the most satisfying Detroit-style pizzas. Go hungry.

If you’re looking for the best independent cafés, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops & wine bars in Devon, I’d happily recommend every one.

Which one are you trying first? Or which Devon gem should I visit next? Tag someone you’d spend a weekend eating your way around Devon with.

#DevonFoodGuide #ExeterFood #TopshamFood #TotnesFood #DevonFoodie
H E R B I E S - E X E T E R 🍃 Ad I am excited H E R B I E S - E X E T E R 🍃

Ad I am excited about this one ... I wasn’t expecting to love it quite this much.

Yesterday I went to @herbies_exeter for lunch with my friend Viki, and it completely surpassed my expectations.

I hadn’t been for years. I used to come here regularly with my nan before she passed away, and somehow I just got out of the habit. Back then it was always somewhere we loved, and thinking about it, Herbies was probably one of the original independent restaurants in Exeter. It’s stood the test of time for a reason.

It’s now owned by the lovely team behind Calvo Loco on Magdalen Road, and they’ve created a menu of seasonal small plates that are packed with flavour.

We shared six dishes between us. The recommendation is three small plates each, but for lunch I’d actually say five between two would have been plenty because the portions are really quite generous.

Everything we ordered was delicious. The corn ribs, banana blossom tacos, smashed triple-cooked potatoes with the lemon and herb dip, za’atar broccoli with romanesco sauce, pickled watermelon and feta salad and the buffalo cauliflower were all genuinely excellent. 

Every single dish felt exciting. Nothing felt like it was trying to replace meat or prove a point. It was simply brilliant food, full stop.

The restaurant itself feels calm and welcoming, with a beautiful hand-drawn mural running the length of the space and across the front windows. The service was warm and friendly too, which always makes such a difference.

I think Herbies might just have become my favourite vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Exeter. Even if you usually eat meat, I honestly don’t think you’d miss it here. The food is so full of flavour that it never feels like it’s lacking anything. It feels fresh, seasonal and nourishing without ever feeling worthy.

Safe to say it gets my seal of approval, and I already can’t wait to go back.

Have you been to Herbies recently, or is there another independent Exeter restaurant you think I should add to my list?

#ExeterFood #ExeterRestaurants #VeganExeter #IndependentExeter #SouthWestFoodie
I D O N ‘ T S A Y this lightly, but I genuinel I  D O N ‘ T  S A Y this lightly, but I genuinely think this might be the best value lunch in Topsham.

Ad The @galleytopsham have started serving their fish finger sandwiches to take away for just £8.50, and they’re every bit as good as you’d hope. Fresh bread (we had sourdough, although focaccia is usually the norm), chunky breaded fish, homemade tartare sauce, homemade pickled cucumber sriracha, served with a generous handful of salted fancy crisps.

Place your order with Patrick and the team, have a wander around Topsham while it’s freshly made, (I recommend the best charity shop ever next door. It’s all vintage and it’s  full of amazing things to look at) and around 10 minutes later you’ll be walking away with a piping hot sandwich.

Here’s why I’d do it this way every time...

Take it down to the quayside, lay out a picnic blanket, open a chilled bottle of English rosé and spend an hour watching the boats, birds and the River Exe drift by. It’s such a simple way to turn an £8.50 lunch into something that feels really special.

If you’re looking for a food spot in Topsham that won’t break the bank but still feels like a treat, this is one I’d happily recommend.

Have you discovered any other brilliant value food spots in Topsham? I’d love to add them to my list.

#Topsham #TopshamFood #DevonFood #VisitTopsham #FoodieDevon
T H E R E W A S A T I M E when someone told me T H E R E  W A S  A  T I M E when someone told me that nobody would be interested in what I had to say or do.

I’m so glad I didn’t let their voice become my own.

I’ve been sharing here on my little corner of insta for more than ten years now. It hasn’t been an overnight success as you can see and I’m still not sitting at 10k followers, but that’s never really been the point.

Because here’s the thing...
This account has given me experiences I never imagined. It’s introduced me to incredible independent businesses across Devon, Dorset, Somerset and the wider South West. It’s taken me to restaurants, cafés, pubs, vineyards, bakeries and farm shops that I might never have found otherwise.

More importantly, it’s introduced me to people.
One of those people is Alex. We met through this app over a decade ago and last year I had the privilege of standing beside her as one of her bridesmaids. That alone is worth every photo, every caption and every hour I’ve spent creating.

People have told me my “little account” takes up too much time. But when you genuinely love something, how much time is too much? This has always been a hobby rooted in curiosity, good food and supporting passionate independent businesses.

This year my community has doubled in size and I’m incredibly grateful to every single person who follows along, leaves a comment, sends a recommendation or shares one of my posts with a friend. You’ve made this feel like a proper little community, and I wouldn’t change that for anything.

So if you’re worried about starting something because of what someone else might think, don’t let their opinion become your voice.

Slow growth is still growth. Authenticity lasts longer than trends. And the people who are meant to find you usually do.

For those of you who are landing here for the first time -  i’m Tara. A South West foodie championing independent cafés, restaurants, pubs, vineyards and the people behind them.

I’d love to know... has someone ever doubted you, only for you to prove them wrong?

#devonfoodie #southwestfood #independentbusiness #devoncafes #foodiesofinstagram
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© Tara Smith 2022