THIS year’s Exmoor Food Fest is launched today Wednesday (January 26) at the Pyne Arms in East Down, kicking off a month-long celebration of the region’s hospitality sector in restaurants across the moor.

Organiser Elke Winzer, who set up the festival in 2015 as an industry-driven initiative, said: "After what has been a very difficult two years for the sector, it is time to enjoy eating out once more, in the knowledge that we are supporting family-run businesses who are doing their best to provide excellent food experiences in difficult circumstances."

She added: "Exmoor has its fair share of outstanding and award-winning chefs who are keen supporters of keeping food miles down, to source as much produce as possible locally and support the local community. 

"Since 2015, chefs across the region have been keen to showcase their food and offer an incentive to locals and visitors, to explore new pubs and restaurants and check out new dishes.

"Special menu deals, tasting menus and guest chef dinners continue to excite long-time fans of the festival, and entice people to plan the four weeks of February around the food fest offers."

On January 26, Ellis Pannell will be joined in his Pyne Arms kitchen by Olivier Certain from the Michelin-starred Masons Arms in Knowstone and Paul and Donna Berry from The Swan and Spelt in Bampton.

Both the Pyne Arms and The Swan have made it into the Top50 Gastropubs and will find out their exact ranking two days before the festival launch.

The Exmoor Food Fest, which is entirely restaurant-based, will run from February 1 to 28. All participating restaurants are listed on www.exmoorfoodfest.com 

Other events will include tasting dinners on Wednesday, February 23, at the Rising Sun in West Bagborough and at the Martlet Inn, Langford Budville, with guest chef Tim Zekki on a date to be confirmed.

tHIS year’s Exmoor Food Fest is launched today (Wednesday, January 26) at the Pyne Arms in East Down, kicking off a month-long celebration of the region’s hospitality sector in restaurants across the moor.

Organiser Elke Winzer, who set up the festival in 2015 as an industry-driven initiative, said: "After what has been a very difficult two years for the sector, it is time to enjoy eating out once more, in the knowledge that we are supporting family-run businesses who are doing their best to provide excellent food experiences in difficult circumstances."

She added: "Exmoor has its fair share of outstanding and award-winning chefs who are keen supporters of keeping food miles down, to source as much produce as possible locally and support the local community. 

"Since 2015, chefs across the region have been keen to showcase their food and offer an incentive to locals and visitors, to explore new pubs and restaurants and check out new dishes.

"Special menu deals, tasting menus and guest chef dinners continue to excite long-time fans of the festival, and entice people to plan the four weeks of February around the food fest offers."

On January 26, Ellis Pannell will be joined in his Pyne Arms kitchen by Olivier Certain from the Michelin-starred Masons Arms in Knowstone and Paul and Donna Berry from The Swan and Spelt in Bampton.

Both the Pyne Arms and The Swan have made it into the Top50 Gastropubs and will find out their exact ranking two days before the festival launch.

The Exmoor Food Fest, which is entirely restaurant-based, will run from February 1 to 28. All participating restaurants are listed on www.exmoorfoodfest.com 

Other events will include tasting dinners on Wednesday, February 23, at the Rising Sun in West Bagborough and at the Martlet Inn, Langford Budville, with guest chef Tim Zekki on a date to be confirmed.