The Cornwall Blog

At Steppes Farm Holiday Cottages and Livery Yard, their new 45m x 25m sand and rubber floodlit Riding Arena is ready for action, and it looks impressive! Steppes Farm is based in beautiful countryside and provide holiday cottages in Camelford. You can see from the photographs of the arena that the views are spectacular. They are based on the edge of Bodmin Moor, and get snowfalls in the Winter months. The Arena can be hired for private use and/or Dressage and Show Jumping Competitions, Training, Showing, Lecture Demos and Dog Training etc.. Lessons for children and adults can also be arranged with their Trainer. Children and adults can join the Sunday Club and come to learn about Stable Management as well as the actual riding. The perfect preparation for owning your own horse or pony! Their philosophy is to give confidence and pleasure, this applies to young and old, beginners or experienced riders. They can be contacted on 01840 212214.

A new exhibition showcasing the work of Falmouth-based photographer Oliver Raymond-Barker will be taking place at The Poly, Falmouth, from 1-7 March 2011. This is his first solo show and has been enabled by a development grant from the arts organisation Creative Skills Cornwall. Through the medium of photography and print Raymond-Barker explores his connection with the natural and built environment. The wild coast of Cornwall provides a wealth of inspiration, as does his work as an architectural photographer. His images seek to transcend the original subject and create a new vision, communicating the energy and essence of locations as he sees them. Raymond-Barker graduated from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design in 2002 with an honours degree in Photography. Following his degree, he worked as studio assistant and later digital manager for Sanctuary Studios in London before deciding to go freelance two years later. He has spent the last five years working in the outdoor adventu

EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE HELP FOR HENRY WALK On the 6th November 2010 a group of family and friends completed a sponsored twenty mile walk from Helland to Padstow and then back to Wadebridge along the Camel Trail. Tweet 7.30AM IN WADEBRIDGE Starting at 8am in Helland, the thirteen walkers set off through the autumnal woods after having been given a pep talk by Henry's granddad, Norman, who had organised the event. BACON BAPS IN WADEBRIDGE There was a short break in Wadebridge for bacon baps, another for goodies in Padstow, and then a massive homemade curry waiting at home in Wadebridge. Henry's grandmother and aunty, along with his mum, made sure that the walkers were well looked after, and there was even champagne waiting at 2.30pm when everyone finished! HENRY'S MUM AND GRANDDAD, WALK ORGANISER, NORMAN Everyone was clearly noticeable thanks to T-shirts provided by Jim O'Gorman of JOG Safety, showing the logo designed by Emma of Pickle Design from Henry's mum's

Hot on the heels of their Falmouth Fish & Chip restaurant being hailed as one of the most exciting UK openings of 2010, Rick and Jill Stein’s Seafood Restaurant has been named as one of the Top 50 UK Restaurants. The Sunday Times launched it’s Food List last week, in conjunction with the prestigious Harden’s Restaurant guide, and named the Padstow restaurant at number 50 in it’s top 100 eateries. The list, based upon diner’s feedback to the Harden’s guide, proclaimed the Seafood to be “better than ever after the refurbishment” and is often applauded by reporters for “the best seafood anywhere”. “I am so pleased about the listing, I think that it is testament to the great work that our Head Chef, Stephane Delourme and Restaurant Manager, Ed Rafferty, and their teams have put in during the last twelve months” says Rick Stein. The Seafood Restaurant was the only Cornish restaurant to be listed in the top 100, although the Devon based restaurateur Michael Caines claimed top spot

The Seafood Restaurant will be marking its 35th anniversary during November and December with a celebratory £28.50 3-course lunch menu. Rick and Jill Stein are marking the anniversary with a special lunch menu built around prime Cornish seafood inclusive of dishes from the original 1975 Seafood Restaurant menu such as seafood thermidor, baked crab, moules marinière and thunder and lightening dessert. The menu will run from Monday 1st November through to Friday 24th December 2010, seven days a week from 12pm until 2.30pm. Rick Stein comments: “Little did Jill and I know when we opened a small seafood bistro on the harbourside in Padstow in 1975 with red checked tablecloths and candles in Verdicchio bottles that the business would grow into six restaurants, 40 bedrooms, four shops, a cookery school and a pub. We didn’t have a masterplan. It just happened.” When the restaurant opened in 1975 it employed just five staff, with Rick leading a kitchen team of two and Jill heading up

One of the culinary highlights of the celebrated Port Eliot Festival is Chris Sherville’s Seafood Restaurant in the Walled Garden. Chris has returned to the Festival each year, serving up fresh crab and lobster, calamari and chips, and cones of whitebait. Such is the popularity of his dishes that on Saturday 16th October, he’ll be running a day-long course in the splendid restored Georgian kitchen at Port Eliot, focusing on seafood. Participants will also have the unique opportunity to enjoy Chris’ cuisine as they dine in the magnificent Port Eliot Round Room and they will be invited to access some of the private areas of Port Eliot House with Lady St Germans. Chris Sherville trained at the prestigious Leith’s School of Food and Wine and has lived, travelled, eaten and cooked in a variety of places around the world, from the Far East to the South West. He’ll be showing his participants how to cook some of the recipes from the Festival, and there will be an opportunity to taste,

Our talented chef and BBC Masterchef winner James Nathan will be hosting a seafood demonstration evening at our Seafood Bar on Events Square in Falmouth on Tuesday 28th September. This informal evening begins at 6pm where you will be greeted with a glass of wine, then relax as you watch James demonstrate two seafood dishes. He'll be talking you through what's in season, tips and techniques, as well as sharing his experiences since winning BBC One's Masterchef in 2008. Stein's Deli in Falmouth will be open until 8.30pm. There will be 10% discount throughout the evening upon presentation of your ticket. Tickets £10. Spaces are limited, please book early to avoid disappointment. For more information and bookings please call Padstow Seafood School on 01841 533466.