Let’s talk Dinner

The chances are you may have passed Home Farm Café on a stomp around Parke or Dartmoor. Or, you may have stopped off here for brunch, lunch or perhaps cream tea, and experienced its lovely rustic food.

But have you visited for dinner yet? From a buzzing, happy scene filled with chatter and wagging tails and the tempting smell of coffee and bacon during the day, the café steps down a gear in the evenings. “It transforms into a low-lit space but keeps the laid-back vibe and friendly atmosphere. Expect the same attentive service in a relaxed way,” Ben says. It’s warm, understated and tranquil – just the place for winding down and enjoying delicious food.

Dishes vary weekly and the menus include a cocktail. “Our evening menus offer food cooked in a traditional style but with a focus on creativity. We want them to be interesting, colourful and unique,” Ben adds.

And the dishes are indeed interesting – just reading the menu made me smile. Take, for example, this starter: a simple crostini, made with blood orange, whipped mascarpone, lemon and thyme honey, and toasted sunflower seeds. The combination of flavours and textures really elevate the dish.

With a constant focus on showcasing seasonal produce, Home Farm now offers seafood – fresh from Brixham – in the evenings. “Our beef comes from just up the road at Lurcombe Farm, and our menus are designed around what’s in season. Our drinks list also features local wines, spirits and beers,” Ben explains.

Ben shares his favourite recommendations from the menu: “I love the combination of brie and rosemary focaccia with tomato butters and smoked sea salt olive oil. For meat-eaters, our lamb empanadas come with a chimichurri dip – another really tasty flavour pairing. Our fish en papillote (baked hake) with tenderstem broccoli is a traditional dish but we serve it with samphire marjoram butter and aioli to give it an edge.”

Room for one more? Have you ever tried Indian-style bubble & squeak? “Check ours out – with kimchi, labneh, toasted sesame seeds and roasted red pepper jam, it’s a meal in its own right,” Ben enthuses.

Dinner at Home Farm Café is served on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tempted? See you there…

homefarmcafe.co.uk