In its third year, the Exmoor Food Festival is a 10-day event which showcases naturally grown and locally produced foodstuffs. This year has its largest ever number of events taking place across an even larger area of West Somerset and Mid and North Devon. More than 100 food producers and retailers are involved in an area stretching from Watchet to Combe Martin and from Lynton and Lynmouth to Bampton and Dulverton. Here's our pick of the tastiest bits: Taste and try Exmoor (throughout the festival) - Dunster Village Shop and Deli  | | ...to this |
Enjoy free tasting sessions sampling homemade scones, clotted cream with local jam and Exmoor honey, sampling cheeses, West Country chutneys and Somerset ciders. Mmmmmm…nice! Cider making and apple pressing (throughout the festival) - Torre Cider Farm, Washford Join in the harvest of Somerset's most famous product and, more importantly, enjoy a free tasting! Bonkers for conkers (Saturday 9 October) - Dunster Castle Take part in the Exmoor Conker Championships or the National Apple Peel Competition. A conker contest for children will be held every hour, each resulting in a champion being crowned conker king or queen of the castle. Conkers will be supplied by the National Trust - so no worries about children falling from trees! There's also a harvest farmers' market with many of the moor's food producers taking part. Caribbean supper (Saturday 9 October) - Crowcombe Village Hall, booking recommended Get tasty music and tasty food, adding an exotic Jamaican spice or three to a range of fresh Exmoor produce. Hip-shaking live music follows with reggae from Daniel Isokongo and Explosive Nzakomba. In Praise of Beer (Thursday 14 October) – Exford Youth Hostel  | | The Festival food is naturally produced |
This is a tutored beer tasting (we never knew there was such a thing!), together with the mysteries of brewing explained, why beer tastes the way it does, why some beers taste different from others, how the world of beer is as complex as the world of wine, the different beers of the West Country and what foods to choose with beer, all explained by Exmoor-based beer expert and writer Adrian Tierney-Jones. Basically, beer, beer and then some more beer! Exmoor Gourmet Evening (Thursday 14 October) - Dunster Castle, booking required Join Exmoor producers at Dunster Castle for a special evening of Exmoor food and drink to celebrate the 2004 Food Festival. Exmoor Ceilidh (Saturday 16 October) - Washford Mill, Washford Kick up your heels at the Ceildh and enjoy an Exmoor meal safe in the knowledge you've burnt up millions of calories already! Exmoor Food Fair (Sunday 17 October) - Porlock Village Hall The grand finale for the Food Festival sees the best of Exmoor produce for sale all under one roof. Taste, try and buy all kinds of Exmoor food and drink. For information on the full programme and venues, go to the Exmoor Food Festival website by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
| 
