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Lympstone Manor's Michael Caines on why Devon is foodie heaven

Exeter chef Michael Caines recommends The Exmouth Mussels Company and Greendale Farm Shop for local fish and shellfish - Alamy/Greendale Farm Shop
Exeter chef Michael Caines recommends The Exmouth Mussels Company and Greendale Farm Shop for local fish and shellfish - Alamy/Greendale Farm Shop

Celebrated two-Michelin-star recipient Michael Caines MBE is the chef-turned-hotelier of Lympstone Manor, set in 28 acres of Devon countryside overlooking the Exe estuary.

But well-known as he is for celebrating the seasonal bounty of the south west, where does he go to buy his own food and wine, and to eat out?

Fruits de mer

As well as The Exmouth Mussels Company, where he sources his River Exe mussels, Caines is a big fan of the fish counter at Greendale Farm Shop.

“The owners, the Carter family, have one of the UK’s biggest fishing quotas, and they have one of the most phenomenal fish counters with magnificent scallops, lobsters from Lyme Bay, and all different kinds of fish from the Devon coastline,” he says.

Pub grub

“For Sunday lunch I always go to The Dartmoor Inn near Lydford. I love it because it’s got a reasonable wine list, a couple of good local ales and wholesome food of a standard I would be happy to travel for 30-45 minutes to get to. The kids like it too.

"Otherwise, there’s The Masons Arms outside Tiverton and The Elephant in Torquay.”

Wine and cheese

“The Sharpham Estate vineyard is one of the oldest in Devon. You can buy their cheese and wine in Totnes: Sharpham Brie, sparkling wines and a great red wine called Beenleigh Red.”

Dairy-wise, Caines also recommends The West Country Cheese Co, and Quicke’s Traditional Cheese.

Meat and poultry

Darts Farm has an award-winning farm shop just outside Topsham. We use venison from the Powderham Estate through the fantastic butcher at Darts, and they have an amazing array of produce in their food hall and on their deli counters.”