Having just been on an impromptu visit to Cornwall via Devon, I wanted to share a couple of foodie finds.

Tanners, Plymouth, Devon

En-route on Friday night we stopped in Plymouth.  We dined at Tanners, a restaurant that has been run by brothers Chris and James Tanner for the last 12 years.  The Tanners have an extensive culinary career including working under the Roux brothers in New York State and plenty of TV work.

The food was excellent with some stunning dishes incorporating some understated attention to detail.  As an example, we sampled the Devonshire crab and watermelon (which came with crème fraiche red pepper aioli, garnished with caviar).  I would never have paired them, but the subtle sweetness of the watermelon accentuated the sweetness of the crab, and the tiny garnish of caviar enhancing further with a hit of saltiness.  Chatting to Chris later that evening, I discovered the thought and consideration that goes in to all the dishes – the watermelon cubes aren’t just cut watermelon or simple jellies, but watermelon that is somehow compressed and infused with pepper and olive oil.  This is just one of many touches that goes unannounced on the menu but pushes the dishes up a level.

Topped with an excellent wine recommended selection and friendly service, we had a great evening.

Ann’s Pasties

Visiting family in Saltash, Cornwall, we were told that absolutely had to try Ann’s pasties at Lizard as they are the best Cornwall.  And sure enough, a quick Google for “best pasties in Cornwall” shows Ann’s  at the top of the rankings.

Ann’s is in a residential street in Lizard village (as far south as you can get on the mainland).  She’s built a kitchen and sells out of her converted garage.  She does the traditional pasty made with local beef, turnips (swede to us non-Cornish) and potatoes – which of course we had to have – but many other varieties as well.  The pastry case looked rustic, but I must say it was a pretty excellent pasty.

It was well worth a detour, and I was glad I called ahead to reserve a couple as give we got there mid-afternoon.  Although it doesn’t look like a national enterprise from the premises, she does sell cooked pasties online, but you can also pick-up frozen pasties to cook at home (which we’d have done if we’d had a cool box with us for the 4 hour journey back).