Checking Out our Guest Recommended.

We recently had the opportunity to visit the "Riverford Field Kitchen" for a meal. You have all told us how good it was, heaping loads of praise over the last year about the food, we needed to check it out for ourselves. 

It is indeed a kitchen, a very big one at that with half a dozen cooks working under head chef Jane Baxter, and then eight tables of ten where one sits and shares with strangers. But everybody was very sociable and it worked well.  No starters, just a blackboard listing what you will be served.  No choices!  Like being back at school, but that's where any similarity ends.

The waiting staff then proceeded to bring numerous dishes containing vegetables to share, An amazing selection including steamed purple sprouting broccoli, grilled leeks, chicory & lentils and I would highly recommend the roasted beetroot with caraway & orange. There was a sumptuous potato & Jerusalem artichoke gratin, wonderful creamed parsnips with almond mash, and parsnips are normally not my favourite vegetable.  Not forgetting my all time favourite, braised red cabbage cooked to perfection. The vegetable dishes would have been enjoyable in their own right, even for a carnivore such as myself, by the time I had filled my plate with vegetables there was little room for the Dartmouth pie and venison loin. Absolutely delicious!   Not forgetting a pumpkin pie for the vegetarians amongst us.

And so came the puddings, first the queen of puddings so light and creamy I could feel my diet walking out the door.  School dinners came to mind again when I spotted the other pudding on offer, steamed ginger pudding, but again when I tasted it all such thoughts disappeared immediately, replaced by regret that I had already eaten so much of the vegetables, I had no room left for seconds. The ginger pudding was served with what I suspect was plain yoghurt, the first taste of ginger followed by the cooling tart taste of the yoghurt followed by on explosion of creamy ginger as the pudding melted on the tongue.  A doggy bag of Ginger Pud was required and duly placed in my hand when we were leaving.

So there’s me, having the best meal of my life with five veggie dishes, two helpings of pudding, and barely a scrap of meat. This could be a guide to the future, we purchased the Riverford recipe book immediately.

Bob the Editor!

Cheek to cheek, Saturday 13th February
The alternative Valentine's evening. No cosy tables for two or suggestive menus - just communal dining with food to share. Back by popular demand, they serve braised pig's cheeks in red wine with creamed parsnips and a spread of seasonal vegetables.
7.30pm for 8pm - £22.50 per person for 3 courses

Mardi Gras evening, Tuesday 16th February
A taste of Mardi Gras (most famously celebrated in New Orleans) at the Field Kitchen. 'Fat Tuesday' is heralded as 'the last blow out before Lent' - expect a feast of oyster po'boys, crab cakes with remoulade, oyster rockafella, jambalaya, red beans, rice and hushpuppies and plenty more.
7pm for 7.30pm - £30 for 3 courses

New-look suppers
They have revamped their suppers to offer a 3 course meal at £22.50 per person. Expect the usual array of vegetables and an antipasta plate to start. Lunch will stay the same, with a new price for 2010 of £17.50 per person.

please call to book 01803 762074 or email fieldkitchen@riverford.co.uk

"Action, Exhilarating Rides and Family Fun "

Woodlands Family Theme Park  Sat 13th - Sun 21st February 9.30 - 5.00pm Special winter rate only £6.00 per person Infants under 92cms are Free entry

There’s never a dull day in sight this winter when you can experience a whole day of family fun for £6.00. It’s winter fun time at Woodlands Family Theme Park.

The massive indoor centres with their awesome adventure challenges and brilliant rides are buzzing with action. Five floors of mega indoor play in the Empire - rides, slides & the Trauma Tower – 50ft of fear! The Seascape Mirror Maze is much bigger, better and full of surprises. The Master Blaster involves all ages with the zippiest game in the Universe, volcanoes, blasters and cannons keep families in a firing frenzy of fun. The Ice Palace is the perfect fantasy play centre for under sevens, they also love the Big Top Play centre where they can tumble, jump in ball pools, run up steps and whizz down slides. Paint a pottery present in the China Palette, a small extra charge applies.

On a crisp, clear day, get the blood pumping with a tough challenge on the purpose built Commando Course. Scale Giant Towers, slip across Aerial Runways, disappear over Tree Top Bridges, escape down the Samurai Slide - the Ninja Towers slide complex is a whole new experience. Some water rides are closed but you won’t miss them when there are so many other thrills to enjoy, feel the -2 G force on the Sea Dragon Swing Ship.

The Big Fun Farm and Zoo has a great family appeal, discover amazing night time & day time creatures, insects & birds. Explore the Reptile House, home to a 12 foot Burmese Albino Python and bearded dragons. The Falconry Centre is open to show off the incredible range of Birds of Prey although there are no flying displays in the winter. Looking for ideas for kids’ birthdays? It's party time everyday in our Birthday Party rooms.

Look out for 2 new attractions coming in Spring 2010!

Plenty of exercise, plenty of hot food, so make dark winter days dazzling with a great trip to Woodlands at the special low rate of £6.00 each. Some water features & outdoor play zones closed , all indoor areas Open
13th to 21st February 2010

"Atlantic Waterbabes" 

LATEST BLOG 1st February 2010

The waterbabes have been unable to row west for the past five days. They have not had the huge swells that some of the other crews have suffered. However, the wind and waves are going against their direction of travel and in such conditions they have been unable to row and have been forced to put out their sea anchor; this stops them drifting too far backwards.

Followers of their blue dot will see from their progress on atlantic rowing race 09.com that they have been pushed Northeast and just done a small loop. Because of their earlier decision to row further south before heading west they have fared better than most of the crews to the north, who are suffering more from the effects of the storm.

During their enforced period of idleness the crew have celebrated Sarah's birthday which was on Friday. On Sunday they decided to celebrate a belated Christmas on board, as they had saved their Christmas pre-packed goodies to open at sea. Other crews had delayed Christmas for a month and most celebrated Christmas on board on 25th January, but the girls decided to keep their Christmas afloat for an occasion when they were unable to row.

The crew have been under the boat to clean barnacles and weed off the bottom. This is necessary to prevent drag which would make rowing harder and slow them down. This was a job previously allocated to Jo as the best swimmer on board, but we don't know at the moment if Jo was able to get in the water herself because of her knee.

You can track their progress on the Race Control Web site and we have found the news page on the same site quite useful as it gives an overall picture of the race and explains the terms used.

"What's on "

Pennywell opens for the new season on 13th February 2010 and we can’t wait to see you!
Join the visitors flocking to Pennywell this February for a woolly wonderland experience as our February Lambing Special gets underway. Join us for a truly ewe-nique line up of activities, shows and displays, giving the whole week a very special feel.

It’s a real taste of spring after the long winter and you can enjoy the new born lambs skipping about in the winter sunshine. Don’t be sheepish, there are plenty of lambs to cuddle and bottle feed in the main barn.

more

Valentine Dinner & Dance at Paignton Zoo. Saturday 13th February

Musicians of Bremen19th February

CHILDRENS THEATRE - HALF TERM SHOW - SUITABLE FOR AGES 3+
Bruno, an old donkey, runs away with his friends, Alberta, a fox hound, a pretty cat called Cornelia and Fritz, a magnificent red rooster, to become jazz musicians, The Musicians of Bremen - and what adventures they have, especially when they come across a posse of terrifying robbers - and an abandoned baby! 

A lovely, hilarious and often tender tale about triumph over adversity, ambition, friendship, loyalty, bravery and what it's like to get old. A charming story and live original music.

Tickets: £8 adult, £6 Child, £22 Family (2+2)

The Rocky Horror Show. 1st March - 6th March

Dust of your corsets, strap on your suspenders and fish out those fabulous feather boas as The Rocky Horror Show returns with a bang. Let Frankie rose tint your world all over again as Richard O'Brien's frolickingly fabulous classic returns. It's the original, it's the best, it's the world's favourite rock 'n' roll musical, so jump on board for another rip-roaring ride! The Princess Theatre Torquay, evening performances only. Tickets from £19.00.

"Caroline & Michael's Holiday"

Caroline & Michael have finally taken a well earned Holiday, they planned an adventure, by touring around the British Isles. The planning went well, but a short flight from Exeter to Dublin turned out to be a fifteen hour marathon, fog effected most airports in the UK and Europe delaying their flight and then finally cancelling all flights to Dublin.  They transferred their ticket and finally left Exeter after eleven hours on their way to Belfast. A three hour coach trip and they finally arrived in Dublin at 11.00 am. 

After a few days exploring Dublin (very nice, but expensive was their comment)  they were due to fly to Edinburgh, so the Irish Air Traffic Controllers decided to delay flights by taking four hours off to decide on future strike action.  Edinburgh was followed by a train trip to York (good old British Rail got them there).  A few more days more were spent in the Midlands looking up old friends and family.  A trip to London by train was planned for last Sunday, but, you've guessed it British Rail decided to cancel all trains for Engineering work.  Thank goodness for the car!

Bob the Editors comment;        "They should have gone to Hillfields!!!!! 

We hope to see you all in 2010! 

Michael & Caroline

and the Hillfield Village Team.

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