Cofton Holidays scoops Silver Taste of the West Award for commitment to local suppliers and seasonal produce

Award-winning South Devon café Amelia’s Pantry, based at Cofton Holidays near Dawlish Warren, has been recognised at the prestigious Taste of the West awards for its use of local produce, extensive seasonal menu and welcoming atmosphere.

The highly-regarded café picked up the Silver Taste of the West Award following a rigorous mystery shopper assessment, during which the judge was particularly impressed by the quality of the food and the menu food map, which pinpoints exactly where each element of Cofton’s dishes comes from.   

Amelia’s list of over 25 suppliers, all based in Devon and Cornwall, really stood out for the judge, particularly as many are proud Taste of the West award winners themselves. Providing Amelia’s with the region’s finest produce enables Amelia’s skilled chefs to create the freshest and tastiest of seasonal dishes, many of which are gluten free.

The anonymous Taste of the West judge commented: “Overall, my experience at Amelia’s Pantry was very enjoyable. It was great to see good commitment to using local suppliers, the general atmosphere was lovely, and the service was professional yet welcoming.

“The menu was extensive and offered plenty of choice. It was nice to see a seasonal dish on the menu, a local venison burger, which was well presented, a good size and had plenty of additional fillings, coleslaw, and chips. The sticky toffee pudding was delicious and overall, the menu was reasonable value for money.”

Amelia’s Pantry is no stranger to prestigious food awards having won Silver at the Taste of the West Awards 2017 and having been Commended in the Café/Tearoom of the Year category at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2021/22.

Chris Jeffery, Director at Cofton Holidays, commented: “We’re delighted that the Taste of the West Awards have once again recognised Amelia’s Pantry with a Silver accolade. It’s testament to our hardworking team, creative chefs, and the time we dedicate to sourcing the finest produce from the region’s top suppliers. It’s something that we are truly passionate about.

“The South West has a rich larder of food and drink, so why wouldn’t we fly the flag for Devon and Cornwall incorporating premium, delicious local ingredients on our menu? For us, championing local businesses and keeping food miles to a minimum is core to what we do. We know there’s an appetite for locally sourced produce and that is why we introduced our informative food map on the back of our menus. We’re so pleased that the judge highlighted this for special mention. It’s what sets us apart.”

Chris continued: “We’re always developing our menu, adding new dishes, and responding to customer requests. As veganism becomes ever more popular, we’re expanding our vegan offering and we’re constantly introducing new dishes that are full of flavour, providing a tantalising adventure for visitors’ taste buds, whatever their dietary preference. This includes offering gluten free menu alternatives to most dishes including a gluten-free batter created by our chef that is so good, we’re using to replace our regular batter. Our sausages and burgers are also gluten free, a rarity amongst other dining establishments, and we have an array of gluten free breads available upon request.”

Amelia’s Pantry is open 363 days a year to both day visitors and guests staying on site for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cofton’s current spring gastro menu is available until 8th April 2022 and includes locally-sourced dishes such as Dawlish Shiitake Mushroom Gnocchi and Whole Plaice Meuniere.

For more information, visit www.coftonholidays.co.uk or call 01626 890111.