"devon" news and stories

In an experiment filed for BBC2, nine volunteers were moved in a tented enclosure at Paignton Zoo in Devon, England to live on an ape-like, hunter-gatherer type of diet for two weeks to see what effect a mostly raw, low saturated fat, plant-based diet would have on their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The volunteers ranged in ages from 36-48 and they are up to 5kg of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and honey a day. Typical foods included: Broccoli, carrots, radishes,cabbage, tomatoes, watercress, strawberries, apricots, bananas, mangoes, melons, figs, plums and hazelnuts. Clearly the food was from all over the world and not just one region, but the meal plan did meet the daily nutritional and calorie requirements recommended for adults. Volunteers also drank water and, in the second week, were given "standard portions of cooked oily fish... a nod to a more hunter-gatherer lifestyle" of humans.

Volunteers did not report any loss of energy overall as a result of the diet, although there were "moments unhappiness and grumpiness" due to the living situation and there was a noticeable gas (farting) problem. Aside from that, the participants were in good spirits for most of the experiment and, to top it off, they experienced a number of health benefits. They lost an average of nearly 10 lbs, improved both their blood pressure from an average of 140/83 to 122/76 and decreased their cholesterol levels by 23%.

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Many months ago, we heard about a town in Italy that basically drove McDonald's out of business because the locals were far more interested in the offerings from a local bakery than from the fast food joint. A similar thing is happening in Devon, in the UK.

More than a few of the locals were against the opening of the Tavistock McDonald's to begin with, perhaps worried that it would draw business from the local restaurants and organic cafes. But the residents of the area are so invested in seasonal, fresh foods that the quick service eatery never really stood a chance. A number of the shops and markets in the town have been there for well over 100 years and the traditions of good food and community are well-ingrained in the people who live there. McDonald's, of course, did not admit to being "driven out by the foodies," instead cryptically saying that they have to be in locations that are "relevant" to their customers.

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Historians have recently made a claim that is rather upsetting to the British food community, disputing the origin of the famous Cornish pasty, a handheld pie usually filled with meat, for anyone unlucky enough to have missed out on them). It was long assumed to have originated in Cornwall, from where it takes its name. It turns out, according to Dr. Todd Gray, chairman of the Friends of Devon's Archives, that they actually originated in Devon.

Dr. Gray apparently discovered an historical document that references the making of pasties as early as 1510, while the first recipe of record in Cornwall didn't appear until 1746. As you might expect with any regional icon, emotions run high on the subject, especially for those in Cornwall. Most other experts, including that author of The Official Encyclopedia of the Cornish Pasty and the spokesman for the Cornish Pasty Association, seem to think that it would be nearly impossible to pinpoint the first instance of a pasty being made and, since pastry/bread vessels were fairly common "as early as the 1100s," the fact that there is a dated, "official" recipe for the modern pasty proves little about the actual origin.

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If you are lucky enough to be traveling in the beautiful English county of Devon at the end of the month there is a food festival you should make a detour for.

The Exeter Festival of Food and Drink will showcase the very best produce from the South West of England. Cheese. beer, cakes, meat and wine are all availbale to sample and buy. Cookery demonstartions are also planned.

This is the third year the show has occured. This year it runs over three days from the 31st March to the 2 April. In the week running up to the Festival proper restaurants, pubs and other eateries are participating in a Restaurant Trail giving you the opportunity to savour the experience and taste of local food and drink prepared, cooked and presented by some of the regions finest chefs.

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