The Real Food Store in the Media

October 10, 2011
Guardian Travel: Exeter and Topsham's 10 best budget eats

October 10, 2011 Guardian Travel, Tony Naylor

Guardian Travel: Exeter and Topsham's 10 best budget eats
Exeter is easily overlooked by passing foodies but, like its quaint neighbour, Topsham, it has its share of first-rate budget food hubs. Tony Naylor picks the best
• Food blog: what do you make of our top 10?
• Interactive map: Britain's best budget restaurants

A novel community project, Real Food is owned by 300 local shareholders. Collectively, they wanted to create a showcase for Devonian produce in Exeter city centre. The shop fulfils that brief, and how. Its shelves are stacked with everything from clotted cream fudge and Ashridge organic cider to handmade pork pies by Chunk of Devon and locally smoked duck. Upstairs, a colourful, airy utilitarian cafe continues the theme across simple breakfast dishes, gourmet sandwiches and specials, such as smoked trout and salmon fishcakes with salad and sweet chilli dipping sauce (£6.45). The star of the Real Food show is on-site artisan bakery Emma's Bread, whose creations are available to eat in or take away. Its lightly cheesy spelt scones are nice, but Emma Parkin's savoury flapjacks are unmissable. A moreish mix of mushrooms, for umami depth, carrots, onions, cheese, oats and sesame seeds, they are grand and, for £1.95 (takeaway), you get a substantial slice.
• Takeaway snacks and sandwiches £1-£3.75, eat in £1.25-£6.45, 11-13 Paris Street,

Tel 01392 681234, www.realfoodexeter.co.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/oct/10/exeter-top-10-budget-cafes-restaurants?intcmp=239