The Source Trade Show, Exeter Westpoint: Food and Drink

Today I visited the Source Trade Show at Exeter Westpoint.  There were lots of interesting exhibitors.   I was concentrating on the Devon and Cornish foodie ones - there were quite a lot of both.  There were also many visitors.  I really liked these products from the Coast and Country Range from Proctor and Clark.

I know that we have plenty of great food and drink on our doorstep in Devon but apparently Devon has been named as the 'best place to live in the UK' (according to a survey by Country Life).

Devon came top in five categories: the best for green credentials, local food, pubs, heritage and landscape.  I think this helped the attendance of the show.  Devon is a desirable 'market'.

I cannot fault the show - pleasant wardens in the car parks, the door was opened to me as I entered the building, swift ticketing, clean loos, plenty of interesting exhibitors and a good opportunity to look at and sample wares and talk to others.  The place was busy but not overly crowded and the popular stalls had many people around them.  Hopefully, this will prove a successful event for clients, suppliers, the show organisers and Westpoint.

I would like to give a special mention to Jeff at Taste Buds Magazine, Hayley from Food and Drink Devon and Raw PR, Ben at Bird and Wild Coffee ....

....and the people at Devon and Cornwall Food Association who are a charity and give excess food and drink to people in need; and the free pasty courtesy of Proper Cornish.

Exeter Food Festival 2014 April 25th

This morning I visited the Exeter Food Festival.  It's on from today until Sun 27 April 2014.
As ever, the food theatre was packed - standing room only, and that was at the top of a flight of stairs - Michael Caines was appearing - so I had to leave and made the most of the 'quieter' marquees.

There were plenty of familiar faces and products, plus some new items that I haven't tried before.  It was a great opportunity to see all the local produce and try some free samples.   The marquees were huge and there were a lot of exhibitors and the great weather (not wet, not too hot) meant there were a lot of visitors, but not too many.

I enjoyed my chat about Cornish pasties with Chunk of Devon.  Are Devon or Cornish ones better?  I prefer chunks of meat (not mince)....and so do Chunk!

I also chatted to Jennie from Taste Buds magazine - a great source of local foodie info (and I write for it too) and I bumped into Anna Turns, a fellow food writer.

Look at the size of these Rolo cookies from Get Cupcaked....you have to look at the penny for comparison.  My children will love these this evening.  The Get Cupcaked cupcakes looked amazing and for me the 'Best in Show'.

The Frandie Macarons looked and tasted amazing:

 A great array of pies from a North Devon company...

 I was unable to chat to the Camper Coffee guys as the queue was always like this...
.

The festival programme:

I have never been to the evening do, but that should be fun.  I think there is entertainment on the Fri and Sat nights.  Parking was not a problem - there are road signs advising use of the Park and Ride - but we parked in the centre of Exeter.