A local gastro extravaganza in South East Cornwall

Taste South East Cornwall is more than a festival: it is a year-long extravaganza of foodie events, culminating in the festival month itself which kicks off on Saturday November 10th at 12 noon with Grazing on the Quay - four gastronomic hours of munching in the fish market on East Looe harbour!

All the local restaurants display their signature dishes at no more than £2 per portion and they discuss their menus with each other beforehand to ensure there is no repetition. Expect to sample paella, gumbo, shortbread from the Looe deli, canapés from Purely Cornish, and choccy delights such as a chocolate fountain and home-made chocolates from the Chocolate Dream Company of Polperro. “The idea is to graze around,” said Andy Parritt, owner of the Purely Cornish deli in the centre of town.

Trawlers on the Quay, at Buller Quay, East Looe, is holding cookery master classes on how to bake chef Mark Napper’s supreme bread with lunch included. For those with a sweet tooth, Just Desserts will allow you to indulge in coffee with nice but naughty treats – and all before lunch! With a takeaway bread deli counter this will be an elevenses like never before. For more information about Trawlers’ events phone 01503 263593 or log onto www.trawlersrestaurant.co.uk

The Bywater Restaurant is offering a special Sunday Kitchen Menu to brighten up those Sunday nights, on the 2nd and 9th December and pasta demonstrations and fish days on 6th December. Phone 01503 262314.

Purely Cornish is holding a Beer and Banger Night on Friday November 16th with local sausages and beers, and a Pâté and Wine evening on Wednesday November 28th when Plymouth pâté maker Tom Pyman will be talking about his craft and allowing you to sample some of his tasty wares. Wash them down with a glass of Cornish wine produced entirely from Cornish grapes at Lamborne Vineyard (www.lambornevineyard.co.uk). “It is our philosophy at Purely Cornish to try and promote the small man,” said Andy.

To sample some genuine Cornish atmosphere from the past, visit The Old Sail Loft Restaurant in East Looe on Saturday November 17th from 7.30pm where you can enjoy a finger buffet of mini pasties, canapés made with Cornish cheese, fish and much more. Owners Michelle and Dominic Sadler want to add a slice of history to the food festival, and thought their 450-year old restaurant was the perfect venue to listen to old Cornish songs and yarns. Tickets cost £12.50, and booking is essential. For details phone 01503 262131.

Couch's Great House Restaurant in the centre of Polperro is holding three themed gastro nights of seven-course set dinners, called Food of the Modern World, for which local celebrity chefs Nick Barclay and Richard McGeown join forces to devise and cook three superb meals. Celebrate Thanksgiving in the same way as the Americans on Thursday November 22nd with a special Yankee meal which was inspired by Nick’s 20 years in the US. Richard, rated by BBC TV as “one of Cornwall’s hottest young chefs”, takes you Down Under for some genuine Aussie tucker on Friday November 23rd with Kangaroo, quandongs and munties (bush peaches and apricots foraged by the Aboriginals). Finish off with the best of British and Cornish on Saturday November 24th, when Nick and Richard both devise a menu based on top quality local ingredients. Phone 01503 272554 for menu price and booking.

Take a break from eating and work off some of those pounds you might have gained by venturing out on a mushroom ramble in Kilminorth Woods hosted by the National Trust’s Matt Lewis on Sunday November 24th from 10am and learn about the abundant fungi which grow here. This is being organised by The Bywater Restaurant and can be booked on 01503 262314.

The festival ends with a bang on Sunday December 23rd with another bout of Grazing on the Quay which will run in conjunction with the Christmas fair, where you will be entertained with a carol singing choir while sampling mulled apple juice and Christmas-themed food from the restaurants. The kids can put in some last minute orders with Father Christmas. More information on Christmas in Looe in our Christmas feature.

With its Continental atmosphere of boutiques, upmarket restaurants and cafés, Looe is fast turning into a lifestyle resort that stays alive all year round. The food festival is the highlight of the autumn, so if you want a week or two of genuine Cornish indulgence, make sure you come to some of these events. For information on all the events, dates and times, log onto www.taste-southeastcornwall.com.