Welcome to Tim Zekki at Duende, Wiveliscombe

Tim Zekki is chef patron of Duende restaurant in Wiveliscombe, Somerset. Tim first started to cook at his father’s restaurant in Cyprus, where he inherited a love of foraging, pickling and preserving from his grandmother.
He developed his skills in restaurants in London, and his love of fine ingredients led him to open and run two delis, in Isleworth and Twickenham, appearing on Gary Rhode’s Local Food Hero on UKTV. After a move to the Chilterns he ran pop up restaurants under the name Duende.
Moving to Somerset meant a chance to settle into a permanent place, where Duende was recognised by Taste of The West, and won Somerset Life’s Best Restaurant in its first year.
Tim sources local, sustainable produce, and often includes wild ingredient in his tasting menus. He enjoys pushing the boundaries of food, such as the challenge of inventing a beef-based dessert course for Exmoor Food Fest’s celebration of beef. He’s been a semi-finalist in the Craft Guild of Chef’s National Chef of the Year in 2020, ‘21 and ‘22.
Tim cooks tasting menus in people’s homes for private events and is currently a regular chef for events at William Sitwell’s Supper Clubs.

Exmoor Food Fest:
Chef Tim Zekki is creating a menu for Valentine’s celebration at Duende.

There will be two dates, one on Tuesday February 14th and the other on Saturday 18th February. We know not everyone can celebrate on a school night!

We’ll welcome you with a complimentary glass of bubbly, and there will be a 5 course tasting menu, which will be kept secret until the night as usual, so we’d need to know any allergies and dietary issues when you book.

Places will be very limited. The 5 course tasting menu is £95 per person, and there will be an optional matching wine flight available at £40 per person.

Email bookings@duenderestaurant.co.uk to reserve your table.

PS Tim is one of the chefs cooking at the 2023 Exmoor Food Fest launch at the Farmers Arms in Combe Florey on 25 January 2023. Tickets are £65 per person. (Call the Farmers Arms to book: 01823 432267)

Links: Email booking@duenderestaurant.co.uk
Website: duenderestaurant.co.uk
Facebook: DuendeSomerset
Instagram: duende_somerset

The Exff23 Menu at the Royal Oak in Withypool

This is hot off the press! We have just received the menu from the Royal Oak in Withypool, and it’s looking fab.

So here it is:

Starters 

Seasonal Soup of the Day with Crusty Baguette & Butter 

Saffron Poached Pear, Goats Cheese & Black Onion Seeds

Fish Cakes, Parsley Emulsion, Royal Oak Pickles 

Home Smoked Duck Breast, Melba Toast & Red Onion Chutney 

Mains 

Fish Bouillabaisse (Haddock, Calamari, Prawns & Mussels), Baby Potatoes & Seasonal Vegetables 

Braised Exmoor Venison, Creamy Mash, Buttered Seasonal Vegetables 

Somerset Chicken (Chicken Breast filled with Somerset Brie, wrapped in bacon) served with Sautee Potatoes and Seasonal vegetables 

Forest Mushroom Risotto, Parmesan & Truffle Oil 

Desserts

Clementine Posset, Chantilly Cream & Homemade Shortbread

Sticky Toffee Pudding, Toffee Sauce & Clotted Cream Ice Cream 

Baileys Chocolate Mousse with Whipped Cream & Chocolate Flake

Affogato (Vanilla Ice Cream with Espresso Shot) 

2 Courses £24.50      3 Courses £29.50
Monday – Thursday     Midday – 8pm 

Fancy making the most of your time out? Stay 2 nights at the Royal Oak and receive 20% off 2nd night and subsequent nights when booking on flexi rate. To be booked by 31st Jan 2023. For stays 12/1/2023 until 31/3/2023. Not available online. Book direct only by phone, not in conjunction with any other offer. 

The Royal Oak
Withypool
Somerset TA24 7QP

Tel.01643 831506 
Email: joinus@royaloakwithypool.co.uk

Welcome to the Royal Oak of Luxborough

The Royal Oak Inn has been at the heart of the pretty village of Luxborough for over 600 years and still to this day retains most of the building’s original features. Inside you’ll find the original flagstone and cobblestone flooring, coupled with rugged stone walls and open beams – giving the inn unrivalled character and charm.

In the main bar area there is a beautiful open fire, which is always kept lit throughout the winter months. We have a second ‘back bar’ area which has comfortable seating, a big screen on which we show sports of every variety including all major tournaments and matches, along with a darts board, pool table, record player with a large selection of vintage records and a wood burner. The back bar is the perfect place to spend a few hours with friends. Although the bar itself is small in size, we have a vast selection of local Real ales, lagers, ciders, scrumpy ciders, gins and whiskeys.

Along with dining available in both bar areas, we have a further 3 dining rooms, all are bursting with character and original features. We also have a large courtyard to the rear of the Inn and a large riverside area. Whether you are after a cosy meal for two in a quiet corner, a casual lunch with the dogs after a walk or a big celebration meal for the entire family, we can cater to your every need. The Royal Oak we pride ourselves on our passion for fresh and local produce. Everything is always cooked fresh to order with the emphasis on beautifully cooked and presented, seasonal produce. With our main menu changing regularly to accommodate the freshest produce and our specials board changing daily, we also are able to provide a personalised menu for your own special function. Booking is always advisable, especially over the weekend.

The Royal Oak Inn houses 10 ensuite guestrooms, all with their individual features and character, in keeping with the original buildings which make up the Inn in its entirety today. If you’re after a quick and easy over night stay, a weekend away, a stay in our Royal Oak Suite for a special occasion or staycation, we can accommodate your every requirement. A full continental and cooked breakfast is included with your stay.

The Royal Oak Inn is 100% dog friendly throughout, we welcome your 4 legged friends to come and visit with you. We are surrounded by stunning countryside, perfect for a leg stretch with your dog. We also have a toasty boiler room, perfect for drying your coats off on a rainy day, and plenty of towels and blankets for wet dogs!

The Royal Oak Inn, Luxborough, Watchet, TA23 0SH

Website – https://royaloakinnluxborough.co.uk/

Phone number – 01984 641498

Email address – info@royaloakinnluxborough.co.uk

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Welcome to The Royal Oak Inn, Withypool

For over 300 years, the Royal Oak Inn at Withypool has been renowned for providing comfortable rooms and delicious food.

Located on the beautiful village of Withypool in the heart of Exmoor, it is the ideal base from which to explore the moors.

Under new family management, The Royal Oak was refurbished in May 2019 and reopened on 1st June 2019 and has received excellent reviews.

With 2 traditional bars serving a selection of local ales & ciders, including their own ‘Withy Wanger’ ale & ‘Withy Wurzel’ cider, there is also a very well stocked gin bar and malt bar along with extensive wine menu to cover all drinkers.  There is also a dining room/function room seating up to 40 for private dining or functions along with 8 en-suite bedrooms.

All food is freshly cooked by a team of experienced chefs who pride them themselves on using local ingredients to produce high quality meals.

In the short time of being open The Royal Oak has already been award the AA dining award and also finalist in the Countryside Alliance Awards 2020 in the Pub category.

Exmoor Food Fest deal: tba

The Royal Oak
Withypool
Somerset TA24 7QP

Tel.01643 831506 
Email: joinus@royaloakwithypool.co.uk

Win a foodie retreat on the north Devon coast

The prize:
A three-course meal for two and an overnight stay with breakfast at Sandy Cove Hotel in Berrynarbor

In anticipation of Exmoor Food Fest, we’ve teamed up with the Food Mag to treat one lucky reader to a winter getaway on the coast.

To mark the launch of the event, Sandy Cove Hotel is giving one reader and guest a three-course dining experience at its Seacliff Restaurant, followed by an overnight stay and breakfast. Set on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Bristol Channel, the three AA rosette restaurant is one of the shining lights in the north Devon food scene and is known for its innovative execution of fresh local ingredients.

Enter the competition

Welcome to La Petite Bouchée

2 for £20.00
3 for £25.00
4 for £28.00

Bienvenue à La Petite Bouchée, our multi-Award winning Restaurant and Private Events business. We are delighted to be taking part in the Exmoor Food Fest for the 4th year and will open our doors on 3rd February so that guests can enjoy a taste of France with an Exmoor provenance. 

Originally opening in Sydnenham/Crystal Palace borders in South East London in our converted vintage Citroen HY Camper we were delighted to appear on Channel 4 Hidden Restaurants with Freddy Bird and Michel Roux Jnr and shortly after scooped the prestigious TIME OUT love London award. 

La Petite Bouchée landed in Devon in 2017 and hit the ground running scooping 6 Taste of the West Gold awards in its time here as well as several other high profile awards. Our ethos is simple, flavour packed, no fuss meals where the key ingredient sings. We also have a zero waste policy which means that we’ll ask you for your food order in advance so we only ever order what we need each service. 

This year we’re offering you a quintessential French Brasserie menu including all the restaurant favourites. There is lemon sole, Steak Frites and of course Crème Brûlée amongst other restaurant favourites. You can be assured as ever that our food is sourced locally and cooked from scratch. 

We look forward to welcoming you all. The food fest sold out by the end of December last year and so we’d advise an early booking. 

Exmoor Food Fest Deal: 2 courses £20.00/ 3 courses £25.00 4 courses £28.00

Available Friday and Saturday evening ( Bookings Only )

Reservations: http://www.lapetiteboucheebrasserie.co.uk/reservations

Quanticks House
19 The Square
Witheridge
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 8AE

Welcome to Croydon Hall

We’re excited to welcome Croydon Hall in Somerset to the 2023 Exmoor Food Fest!

Surrounded by beautiful Somerset countryside, the views from the restaurant at Croydon Hall are spectacular, the setting tranquil, the pace relaxed. 

Stay over and make a night of it. Each of the 15 bedrooms has been individually designed and appointed and with a combination of double rooms, family rooms and apartments, there’s accommodation to suit everyone.  

Use promo code FOODFEST for discounted accommodation.

For restaurant and room bookings please visit www.croydonhall.co.uk or call 01984 642200

Croydon Hall, Rodhuish, Somerset, TA24 6QT
info@croydonhall.co.uk

Social Media:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CroydonHall.Minehead/
Instagram – @croydonhall.minehead
TikTok – @croydonhall.minehead
Pinterest – @croydonhall

Welcome to the Seacliff Restaurant at Sandy Cove Hotel

The Seacliff Restaurant at Sandy Cove Hotel was opened 2 years ago and is a small intimate restaurant with a stunning sea view.

Sandy Cove Hotel is a family run business which has been in the family for 44 years.  Food has always been at the forefront of everything we have done as we believe it to be one of the main elements in a guest’s experience.  We gained our first AA Rosette approximately 12 years ago and continued to develop the menu, gaining our second AA rosette 4 years later.  Over the years we have tried to refine the dining but because the nature of the hotel & catering for all tastes and large numbers we were always held back which is why we decided to open a separate restaurant.  Since opening The Seacliff we have been able to refine the menu using the amazing produce that our location offers – the food along with the great wine, ambiance of the restaurant and the more relaxed fine dining experience has gained us great feedback and comments from both residents and non-residents.  We have recently been awarded our 3rd AA rosette and have also been listed in The Michelin Guide

The hotel offers great accommodation with 3 standards of Seaview bedrooms offering breath taking sea views across the Bristol Channel. We are offering a 50% discount off the standard bed and breakfast rates plus a complementary upgrade where available for any Exmoor Food Fest diners.

Contact Details:

Sandy Cove Hotel, Berrynarbor, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9SR

01271 882243

www.sandycove-hotel.co.ukl

info@sandycove-hotel.co.uk

Facebook – @hotelsandycove

Instagram- @hotelsandycove and @restaurant_seacliff 

Twitter – @hotelsandycove

Amuse Bouche

amuse-bouche

 noun

\ ə-ˈmyüz-ˈbüsh  , ˈä-ˌmüz-ˈbüsh  , -ˌmᵫz- \

plural amuse-bouches also amuses-bouches\ ə-​ˈmyüz-​büsh  , -​ˈbü-​shəz , ˈä-​ˌmüz-​ˈbüsh  , -​ˈbü-​shəz , -​ˌmᵫz-​ \

Definition of amuse-bouche

: a small complimentary appetiser offered at some restaurants

In French, “amuse bouche” means literally “it amuses the mouth.” The French were using “amuse-bouche” as a word for appetisers when English speakers embraced the culinary term almost a quarter of a century ago.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

The amuse bouche served by Werner Hartholt from the Butlins Chef Academy and his students Ginny Zdanevičiūtė and Jessica Simmons most definitely amused the mouths of all our guests at the 2023 Exmoor Food Fest Media Launch last week at Knowle Manor. Here are some pictures of the preparation and presentation of the scallops with pancetta & beetroot with goats cheese and walnut.

Photos by Jessica Davies.