The Cornwalls in Devon

Duke and Duchess drop in on Honiton food event

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall carried out their last engagement on their annual summer trip to the south west at a new food event in Honiton on Wednesday.

Charles and Camilla nibbled on samples at the town's inaugural Gate to Plate festival. Sixty food and drink providers lined the High Street to present their wares. Local baker Cathryn McCollum's knocked up a cake for Prince Charles' 70th birthday, whilst Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall received a local gin and tonic for her birthday last Tuesday.

Honiton Town Band, Honiton Youth Orchestra and the children’s choir from Honiton’s Littletown Primary Academy School entertained crowds at Gate to Plate. The event was organised by East Devon District Council’s Economic Development team, with support from Honiton Town Council and Taste of the West, a regional independent food group.

The Duchess tried a beef dumpling from Rupert Moon of The Earl of Gravy Dumpling House, based in Exmouth. Mr Moon said: “I heard her murmur ‘delicious’ and that made my day! This has been a fantastic event and everyone has been so upbeat and we’ve sold out.”

HRH also tried out a rhubarb and ginger ice cream from Otter Valley. Kellie Cornish who served her, said: “There’s been a great atmosphere here today and we’ve loved the variety of stallholders and so have the public. They haven’t stopped telling us all day how much they’ve enjoyed it.”

Dr Heather Gibbard of GreenBee Entomology said the Prince was fascinated by their stall, which sold baked treats made from edible insects. Dr Gibbard who runs her bug farm for darkling beetles, offered an insect cake to the Prince. “We’ve had a fantastic day here today and we’ve almost sold out with a few hours to go. It’s been a great way of promoting our business.”

John Sheaves, CEO Taste of the West, said: “We were very proud to be part of this event and to showcase the very best of what East Devon had to offer to their Royal Highnesses. HRH the Duchess of Cornwall visited at least 25 stalls, speaking to every trader and tasted a wide variety of food and drink, from steamed pudding to gin, but the star of the tastings appeared to be The Earl of Gravy’s dumpling, which she particularly asked to sample!”