Top 10 Foodie Must-Do's in Cornwall

We recently visited Cornwall for the second time in a couple of years and enjoyed a fantastic family holiday filled with plenty of delicious offerings.

With x4 under 5's in our number, my sister-in-law and I actually did a lot of the catering - particularly breakfast and a few dinners too, as well as a mean set of packed lunches, but we did find the time to enjoy some really tasty treats out and here is my selection of the top ten must do foodie experiences whilst staying in Cornwall.

1. Crab Sandwiches

Crab Sandwiches overlooking Port Isaac

A crab sandwich with just a hint of mayonnaise a squeeze of lemon and plenty of seasoning is a real thing of beauty when the crab itself is fresh, sweet, juicy and delicious. 

You could get a fancy pants one in any given restaurant around Cornwall, as they appear on many a menu, but you would do just as well in a simple sandwich shop such as Fresh from The Sea in Port Isaac and then if you can find an idyllic spot like the below picnic bench overlooking the view you’ll be hard pushed to beat that food memory.

2. Cream Teas

Cream Teas at The Harbour Hotel, Padstow

The Cornish way of serving a cream tea is always jam first, and then cream on freshly baked fruit or plain scones; and you’ll find these served in bakeries, cafes, restaurants and hotels all over Cornwall - it is after all a speciality. 

If you are staying somewhere and self catering a visit to a bakery such as The Chough Bakery in Padstow will equip you with all you need to prepare them at your designated holiday home - Roddas Cream is mandatory here and they do travel well - last time I brought more than a dozen home for my work team. 

But it is a real treat to enjoy a pot of hot tea and a selection of scones out somewhere nice - The Harbour Hotel in Padstow is a great venue. It offers scenic views over Padstow harbour and if you're lucky to visit on a bright day, those views are exceptional. My sister-in-law and I actually found it a welcome haven during a rainy storm. The scones were fresh and delicious, the staff friendly and the decor modern. Best of both worlds.

I'm also told the cream tea at The Scarlet is exceptional - but sadly we haven't made it there yet - next time.

3. Fish and Chips

Fish and Chips from Stein's Fish and Chips, Padstow

It would be a travesty to visit any seaside hamlet for a length of time and not enjoy fresh fish and chips, and in Cornwall you are spoilt for choice. 

Whilst this is certainly not an ad for Rick Stein, Stein's Fish and Chips at Padstow harbour is a fantastic place to start and you’ll be hard-pushed to find fresher, flakier cod (if that is your fish of choice) with a perfectly crisp batter and the chips are a joy too - crisp on the outside, with fluffy insides. They do a good selection for children too with goujons and smaller cod bites available - these went down amongst our four under 5's.. 

It even travels well as we bought it back to our holiday home in St. Merryn a ten minute drive away.

4. Ice Cream

Me and Bea enjoying the Reeves ice cream at Port Isaac

Driving around Cornwall you’ll be amazed at the number of cows grazing in fields so it isn’t really any wonder that Cornwall is home to some great ice cream farms. We visited Callestick Farm in Truro and can vouch for their rum and raisin, caramel, strawberry and lemon ice creams with passion. The farm also has a pretend cow where the children can learn how to ‘milk’ which provided ample fun for my two, as well as an adventure playground and several farm animals so is well worth a stop. 

We also tried several Roskilly’s ice creams during our stay, although sadly we didn’t make it to the farm in Helston - it is on our list for next time. Their vanilla ice cream is incredible - super creamy, strong with vanilla and just delicious.

Special mention to the super quaint three wheeler ice cream cart, Reeves, at Port Isaac too - Beatrice and I can vouch for their mint chocolate chip and strawberry flavours..

5. The Mariners

Meeting Mr Paul Ainsworth at The Mariners

Beef Burger at The Mariners, Rock

Haddock and Chips at The Mariners, Rock

Whitebait at The Mariners, Rock

Children's Sausage and Mash at The Mariners, Rock

We had the good fortune of visiting Rock - a short boat taxi of £4 per adult from Padstow on the very day that Paul Ainsworth’s latest Cornwall venture, The Mariners, opened; and we couldn’t resist an impromptu lunch. 

We had the luck of Chef being in the kitchen too, and being the fan that I am I couldn’t resist a sneaky selfie with him even though I was a little star-struck. .

Regarding the food, what you will find here, are absolute pub classics, just executed incredibly well. My sister-in-law enjoyed a delightful Ploughman's, I a juicy beef burger, with crispy bacon, cheese and all of the trimmings, served in a toasted brioche bun and with addictive thin and delicious French fries. Glen and my brother-in-law had the fish and chips, haddock this time, and Paul declared it 'the best fish and chips I've ever had' - praise indeed. The children devoured sausage and mash - which arrived so appetising, that I almost regretted my own choice. We also enjoyed an appetiser or salty, flavoursome fried whitebait which were eaten in moments by our table.

Beautifully adorned with a splendid dark wood and well stocked bar; with well informed, polite staff, Mariners is very reasonably priced for the quality of food on offer and well worth a visit to the Rock. If and when we return - we will undoubtedly be trying to book for Sunday lunch.

6. The Cornish Arms

Goan Cod Curry at The Cornish Arms, St Merryn

Children's Ham, Egg and Chips at The Cornish Arms, St Merryn

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Stewed Rhubarb

The Cornish Arms is a long-standing favourite with tourists and locals alike and is another Rick Stein venue. It is casual inside and you do get the occasional dog in the restaurant so be warned if like me, you're not very dog friendly. There is also a beautiful garden area and this backs onto a field full of sheep which is great when you have children with you like we did for keeping them entertained.

One again, you will find pub classics on the menu at The Cornish Arms - done really well. Ham, egg and chips, scampi, hearty pies with mash potato but alongside the well executed classics you’ll also find inspiring little dishes such as my Goan Cod Curry which was delicately spiced but packed a punch and was served with rice and roti and went down a treat. We made it to pudding and mine was to die for. A sweet vanilla panna cotta with the perfect wobble and served with my favourite fruit, rhubarb stewed and delicious with just the perfect amount of tart. Fantastic.

7. Fudge

Roly's Fudge Pantry, Padstow

Roly's Fudge Pantry, Padstow

My brother-in-law and I were probably the worst instigators of the fudge buying during our week-long stay, both guilty of a sweet tooth and our usual place of purchase was Roly’s Fudge Pantry in Padstow. 

Their sea salt fudge and vanilla fudge is exceptional and the great thing at Roly’s is you fan see them actually preparing the fudge on site from the window and when in-store which intrigued my eldest daughter no end. We had to bring some home as gifts and we enjoyed our own haul on the 5 hour car journey home.

8. Cook with local seafood

My Seafood Spaghetti with Saffron and Chilli

In any good fishing or seaside town, there is always good quality, fresh seafood to be found and if you enjoy cooking as I do, or if your budget doesn't quite stretch to eating out every lunch and dinner - then it is a great opportunity to experiment with the local produce.

There are tons of simple enough dishes you could do at home - pan fried mackerel perhaps, sardines cooked in a little garlic butter and coated in parsley and sea salt, or perhaps a seafood supper of fresh, cold seafood with bread and butter - lovely.

I cooked one of my favourite dishes for the family - my Seafood Spaghetti with Saffron and Chilli with increased quantities, utilising fresh and juicy prawns, squid and mussels all purchased locally to where we were staying just outside of Padstow. 

9. Rick Stein's Cafe Breakfast

Avocado on Toast at Rick Stein's Cafe, Padstow

Chocolate Waffle at Rick Stein's Cafe, Padstow

Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Egg at Rick Stein's Cafe, Padstow

Cornwall is a place where a lot of exploring, often on foot is necessary and so a good, hearty breakfast is advisable. Most days, my sister-in-law and I shared breakfast responsibilities at our glorious holiday home (Blue Seas Container - St Merryn). But we decided to have one day where we had a treat breakfast for us both to enjoy and our venue of choice was Rick Stein's Cafe - in Middle Street, Padstow. 

They have a plentiful menu including a full Cornish breakfast, egg's Benedict and an array of delightful pastries to name a few. I enjoyed avocado on toast which was sublime, my sister-in-law the eggs with smoked salmon which she enjoyed immensely and Bridget had a real treat breakfast a waffle topped with rich chocolate sauce, nuts and marshmallows. A welcome treat and definitely worth a visit.

10. Picnics on the beach

Easy Sausage Rolls for Beach Picnics

Frankly my summer childhood memories are mostly of beach days either here in the UK, or abroad and they inevitably, always involve a picnic of sorts. I'm trying to ensure this tradition continues into the next generation. There is something just wonderful about picnics over the sand with the sound of the sea as a back drop. 

We mostly packed arrays of sandwiches (crab of course) and a few other fillings, as well as sausage rolls, salads and plenty of snack items for the children. 

Holidays are always expensive - but my breakfasting at our holiday home and packing up picnics for our beach days, we saved a few pennies for nicer meals out.

Plain Scones

Cream Tea at Home

If you enjoy a cream tea, and like baking, then a simple scone recipe is a great one to have in your cooking armoury. 

You'll be surprised at how easy these are to make, and if you serve them slightly warm, they are just to die for. Buttery, crumbly and delicious - especially with a cup of tea.

As we are heading to Cornwall very soon, I served these the Cornish way; jam first, then the Roddas Clotted Cream - just perfect.

Plain Scones

Plain Scones

Here's how:

• 375g self raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 95g butter - room temperature, and cut into cubes
• 3.5 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 190ml milk (use full fat)
• 1 drop of lemon juice
• 1 beaten egg to brush over before baking
• Roddas Clotted Cream and some Strawberry Jam to serve

Firstly pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees and get a baking sheet ready - line it if you wish.

In a large bowl tip in the self raising flour, the salt and the baking powder and mix a little.

Now add the butter cubes into the bowl and use your hands to rub the mixture together, until it resembles breadcrumbs.

At this point add the sugar and mix well.

Measure out the milk into a small jug or bowl and add the vanilla then pop into the microwave for twenty seconds to take the chill off of it. 

At this point pop the baking tray into the oven to warm up as you want to place the uncooked scones onto a hot surface.

Now make a hole in the middle of the flour in the large bowl and pour in the liquid as well as the drop of lemon juice.

Use your hands to bring everything together, it will be quite wet to begin but will soon come together as a dough.

Once it is a dough consistency, scatter some more flour over a clean work surface and place the dough onto it. Use your hands to fold over the dough 3-4 times, until it is quite smooth. Be careful not to overwork it here.

Use your hands to then smooth it out into a flat piece of dough, it doesn't need to be perfectly straight or flat, just a similar thickness, about 3-4cm deep.

Now take a round cutter and make 4-6 scones. With any excess dough bring back together and press down and you can make another scone. 

Now quickly beat an egg and then remove the hot baking sheet from the oven. 

Place each scone onto the tray and brush over the beaten egg.

Place into the oven and bake for 10 minutes until they are golden brown and well risen.

Serve warm with your choice of clotted cream, jam or even butter. Enjoy!

If you enjoy simple bakes here are a few other ideas you might enjoy:

Rhubarb & Custard Cake

Guilt Free Apple Cake

Lemon and Honey Yoghurt Cake

Lemon Curd and Blueberry Muffins

Simple Double Chocolate Tray Bake

Chocolate Cornflake and Marshmallow Cakes

Lemon Drizzle Cake

Banana and Berry Breakfast Muffins

Cheese Muffins

The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

Back in March during the coldest spell on record, the girls and I spent a week at my Mum’s newly purchased caravan in Deal, on the Kent coast. We spent the two weekends with Glen, and my friend popped down for a few days but we had a few days on our own too.

I don’t drive, but I never let this hold us back in exploring and so one of the mid-week days, the girls and I (buggy and all) hopped on a Southeastern train from Walmer (the little hamlet of Deal where we were based) to Broadstairs.

I’d long wanted to visit this seaside resort, having heard great things, but I must admit in the cold and slightly drizzly weather it wasn’t quite what it might be at this time of the year, I don’t like to use the word bleak, but having walked around the entire town, on and off the beach, and the few open shops, it wasn’t as inviting as I’d expected. 

I will return over the summer as the sandy beach looked great and I'm sure we'll have a completely different kind of day in the sunshine.

Bridget enjoyed a few of the photographic opportunities – such as climbing in this boat, and posing by the sea, but there wasn’t tons here to do with children in the cold weather. They had a small amusement arcade which we popped into for half an hour. You'll see what the weather was like from these few pictures...

Bridget on the boat at Broadstairs

Trying to keep warm at Broadstairs

Bridget on the beach at Broadstairs

Searching for somewhere to eat, that would be accommodating with a 3 and a 1 year old with buggy in tow, we stumbled upon a few options – Bridget was quite taken with an ice cream parlour on the front, but freezing cold and slightly damp, I was looking for something a little warmer and whilst there were a few fish and chip shops, we’d already enjoyed some that week from Hythe Seafood Bar.

We had a peek in the Royal Albion Hotel, on the sea front, and whilst the children’s menu looked good, we walked in and aside from the fact there were about four wet dogs in there which immediately put me off, nobody approached us to offer a table in five minutes and I got fed up so we retreated back to the high street.

By sheer chance we stumbled upon The OldBakehouse – I saw the bakery first and thought worst case, I can grab us some sausage rolls, but then spotted the little tea room which is an annex of the bakery, I enquired if there was room for the buggy and couldn’t have been more welcomed.

Quaint and comfortably furnished, with meme signs (my Mum is obsessed with these so we felt right at home) and little nods to Kent, The Old Bakehouse was also a warm and welcome retreat from the cold. 

The staff were super friendly with the children too, which is always the most reassuring, especially if you’re eating out alone with them and they were in possession of a high chair too.

We quickly ordered some Welsh rarebit (cheese on toast) and juice for the girls and a cheese ploughman’s for me with a latte.

Hearty, comforting fare indeed and served with a smile, I really couldn’t fault it at all. 

My cheese ploughman’s came with a generous wedge of Cheddar and Brie, salad, coleslaw, pickle, chutney and a basket full of bread which the girls helped me with. For the £4.95 it was reasonably priced for great food – not fancy or refined, but exactly what you’d want in a tea room and I really enjoyed it.

Plougman's at The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

As a treat and to allay Bridget’s requests for ice cream in the aftermath of the ‘beast from the East’, I ordered us some homemade scones with clotted cream and jam as a dessert. They were exquisite. 

Scones at The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

Bridget loves a scone anyway from a few afternoon teas she’s been to with me, but this was Beatrice’s first ever cream tea, and she 100% approved, you can see the jam all over her in these pics.

Bridget's cream tea, The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

Jam face Beatrice, The Old Bakehouse, Broadstairs

I had change from £20 from our little jaunt here and warm, fuzzy memories of an hour spent happily in the warm during our cold little holiday.

The Old Bakehouse is an absolute gem of a find and I’m sure I’ll return with my Mum when we visit over the summer months. I’d thoroughly recommend.

Cream Tea at Home

Home-made Raspberry Jam and Plain Scones

After my fruit picking experience last week I was left with a rather large quantity of raspberries and decided I would make some jam.

Tying in with my ambition to bake more, what better opportunity than to bake some plain scones, a firm favourite served with lashings of cream and a generous spreading of jam.

After all no afternoon tea would be complete without deliciously buttery cream scones with jam.

Raspberry Jam

800g Caster Sugar
800g Raspberries, washed
1 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
2 Tbsp Lime Juice

This makes enough to fill two 400g jam jars - which will need to be sterilised.

Pre-heat oven to 180C and place a small plate or saucer into the fridge to cool.

Place sugar on a baking tray and place in the oven for 8-12 minutes till it's warmed right through.

In the meantime pop the raspberries in a large saucepan and put on a low heat till the fruit has softened.

Once the sugar is warm pour into the fruit and add the vanilla extract and freshly squeezed lime juice.

Cook up to a boil and then simmer quite vigorously for 30-40 minutes.

To sterilise the jam jars remove the lids and place upside down in the hot oven for 15 minutes or until the jam is ready.

To test if the jam is ready, take the cold saucer from the fridge and get half a teaspoon of the mixture and pop onto the plate. This will be very, very hot, so leave for two-three minutes to cool, then press against it with your finger. If it starts to wrinkle up and feel firm, then it's ready. If not, keep on the heat for a further five minutes and test again. Repeat until ready.

Once ready pour into the jam jars and place a round of baking paper over the top and an elastic band. Once this has completely cooled down you can put the proper lid on.

This makes for a gorgeously sweet jam and is perfect for spreading on toast, crumpets, scones or for use in baking such as jam roly poly or jam tarts.

Plain Scones

225g Plain Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
30g Caster Sugar
150ml Milk
50g Butter

In a bowl mix the sugar, flour, baking powder and salt and then use the rubbing in method to mix the butter in. Using only your fingertips after a few minutes you should be left with a breadcrumb mix - similar to that of a crumble topping.

Slowly add the milk, bit by bit till this forms a firm and pliable dough.

Turn out onto a floured side, making sure your hands are floured too and flatten out into a circle, which should be over 1cm thick.

Cut out the scones. (Traditionally these are made round, but I made heart-shaped ones).

Put onto a tray lined with greaseproof paper which has also been greased.

Brush the tops with a little reserved milk and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

Place on a wire cooling rack and allow to cool.

To serve cut in half and layer on some extra thick double cream or some clotted cream and a generous helping of the raspberry jam. Not mandatory to have tea with your scones however from my point of view - advisable.

Cream tea in the comfort of your own home - wonderful.