THERE was gold and silver aplenty for West Devon food establishments in this year's Taste of the West Awards.
The awards provide a guide to the best places to eat, stay and buy quality regional food and drink in the South West.
Jane Osborne, of Food Dreckly, who received the gold award for its Cattle Market Café, said they were 'thrilled'.
'Last year we got a bronze so it is great to have gold this time.
'Local produce is our most important selling point,' she said. 'We source the very best ingredients from local artisan producers, much of it organic, and if we can't get it locally we buy Fairtrade.'
The judges said the café food was 'superb' and a 'brilliant' eating experience, with some items, such as their seasonal salad, labelled as 'exceptional'.
They said that overall, the café had a great menu with some very different options. 'Lovely atmosphere, great home-cooked food!' was the verdict.
In the bed and breakfast section, Percy's Country Hotel in Virginstow received a silver award, but in the restaurant section it has been awarded a gold.
Tina Bricknell-Webb, co-owner of Percy's Country Hotel with husband Tony and also the chef, said they were 'absolutely delighted and thrilled to bits' with the awards. The couple were also awarded gold for their lamb and silver for their bacon and sausages in the produce section.
Tina said: 'I have put a lot of energy into the producing side of it and it is a great feeling not only to breed our own meat but to be accoladed for it.'
Tina said she was not from farming stock, but had been learning as she went along. The awards had given her encouragement and she would now like to go forward with a brand.
'We've now been manically trying to get lambs together to supply for the award ceremony,' she said.
In the dining pubs category, the Harris Arms at Lewdown has been recognised for its quality with a silver award, and Lifton Strawberry Fields received a silver in the local retail outlets section.
Owners of the 16th century Harris Arms, Andy Whiteman and his wife Rowena, said their silver award was great news for all the team at the pub.
'We see this award as a further validation of our philosophy of serving what we call 'Real Food' — food with substance and style — and for the great work done by all our team over the last year,' Andy said.
'This is really the cream on the cake for us all at the Harris Arms, after our entry in the Red Michelin Guide 2008 and the Michelin Dining out in Pubs guide 2008/9.'
Rowena said two people who must take credit were the chef Danny Cornwall, who had worked for stars like Elton John and the Rolling Stones, and his sous chef Charlotte.
The awards ceremony was held at Powderham Castle on Tuesday.
l Andy and Rowena Whiteman of the Harris Arms celebrate their silver Taste of the West award. Picture by James Bird