TWO West Devon establishments have been recognised in the recent Taste of the West Food and Drink Awards 2006. The Prince Hall Hotel in Princetown received a bronze award in the restaurant category and Lifton Strawberry Fields Farm Shop at Lifton a silver award in the local retail outlet category. Only nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze awards were given in the whole of Devon to hospitality and local retail outlets. An anonymous panel of industry experts visited premises looking for quality of food, cooking and service, ambience, evidence of local sourcing and knowledgeable staff. Jo Mounce from the farm shop said the comments from the judges had been very encouraging and they had also learnt a lot from them. ?They said we were full of local produce, which you would expect, and thought the things we were doing with publicity and the scarecrows were really good.? Anne and John Grove, owners of Prince Hall Hotel, said they were ?absolutely delighted? with their bronze award, as the Taste of the West awards were ?highly regarded both by the industry and those who eat in the area?. ?The judges said we used good quality ingredients, simply cooked and well executed and the staff were praised for their efficient service,? they said. The kitchen at the hotel is led by newly-appointed head chef Marc Slater. Anne and John said such an achievement so soon after Marc had joined them was ?tremendously exciting?. They had always believed in using local produce, and Marc himself was a ?local product?, they said, as he had been born and raised in Cornwall.