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Cornwall Marine Directory

Cornwall and food

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FISH from the net to the plate the same day, cattle reared on lush farmland and the purest of fresh ingredients are just a few of the reasons why this rural, maritime county is filled with such great places to eat.

Add to that the growing number of high quality restaurants in beautiful locations and you have the perfect dining experience to compliment your on-the-water activities. The only problem you will have is coping with decisions.

Today there are more restaurants and shops than ever specialising in high-value, locally-sourced and produced food and there is more understanding of the need to reduce the "food miles" your meal travels before it gets to your plate. The Cornish food product goes far beyond pasties and cream teas. Bounded by sea on three sides, Cornwall has more than 300 miles of coastline and fish are landed at 49 harbours around the county ranging from commercial Newlyn to tiny coves such as Portloe. See www.tasteofthewest.co.uk for more information on specific food suppliers.

Newlyn is not only impressive by Cornish standards, it is the largest port by value of landings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It sees the lion's share of around £30million-worth of fish that are brought ashore in Cornwall every year.

With such a great natural resource, and 4,000 people working in the fishing industry in Cornwall, it can be landed, cooked to your liking and on your plate within hours. Cornish fish producers also pride themselves on landing the highest quality fish for a market that appreciates excellence.

As world food markets grow Cornwall has claimed its niche as a provider not of quantity of quality food. The realisation of the benefits this brings has ignited a food revolution which has smouldered through recent years. Today there are more restaurants and shops than ever specialising in high-value, locally-sourced and produced food and there is more understanding of the need to reduce the "food miles" your meal travels before it gets to your plate.

This increased quality is now being recognised by the likes of TV chefs who have long appreciated the quality of the food originated in Cornwall. Now the big guns of the food industry are investing more in this rural setting as they work to showcase their work.

Rick Stein who set up his award winning Seafood Restaurant at Padstow 25 years ago, has now also got a seaside bistro, a seafood delicatessen and two smaller restaurants - St Petroc's Bistro and Rick Stein's Café. The most recent addition is the Padstow Seafood School overlooking the Camel estuary and his fish and chips take away.

In the meantime Jamie Oliver realised that Cornwall was ripe for the launch of his newest 15 restaurant. The boy from Essex, who visits Cornwall on surfing holidays, chose Watergate Bay as the location for 15 Cornwall which not only promises excellent food, but is also giving training opportunities for generations of young people interested in the food industry.

However good Cornwall's meats, sausages, cheeses, fresh fish and shellfish are, there is one thing you mustn't forget. This county is the spiritual home of some of the world's most popular, if humble, dishes.

So don't come to Cornwall without at least sampling a 'proper' Cornish pasty made the way the Cornish do, bought from a local pasty shop. Indeed, a hunt through a Cornish bakery will reveal all sorts of delights you may never encounter elsewhere - check out our hevva buns and saffron cake. Go on, you know you want to...
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