Otter Valley Ice Cream & Field Kitchen, Monkton, Honiton, Devon
The Devon countryside might not be where you'd expect to find award winning gelato style ice cream, but here it is, artisan made and going down a treat at Otter Valley Ice Cream & Field Kitchen. The back story is rather sweet - the same family have been running a busy dairy farm for four generations and about 10 years ago they started selling homemade ice cream from a little hut at the end of the farm lane; since then it's grown and grown to become what it is today, but that's no surprise because the ice cream they make is lipsmackingly good.
They make it all from scratch in small batches and besides the favourites like Madagascan vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry they come up with creative flavours like Lemon curd, Salted caramel with chocolate brownie, and Strawberry and balsamic vinegar; then there's the seasonal delights, like Cream tea, Ginger & butternut squash and Seabuckthorn. Milk comes from their own cows so it must surely be one of the shortest journeys ever from dairy to kitchen!
It's not all about the ice creams though, good as they are; they also serve light lunches and sweet treats at Otter Valley Ice Cream & Field Kitchen, with mouthwatering cakes, and something that's a big hit, stone baked pizzas, made on site using their own sourdough, their own toppings and baked in a proper pizza oven. Try the Carnivore (homecooked honey and mustard roast ham, sausage, chorizo, chicken, cheese, tomato, chilli), the Wilderness (mushrooms, cheese, white sauce, garlic butter, cherry tomato, rocket) or Far East Devon (spiced lamb, pickled pink onions, feta, green herb dressing, harissa yoghurt)... In the summer they stay open a bit later on a Friday for pizza night (07544 800619).
If the sun has come out to play you can sit outside in the fresh air and admire the views over the beautiful Otter Valley; if not, sit inside - with the huge glass walls beneath the soaring oak beams, you still get the views.
Open: 7 days a week 10.00am-6.00pm in the summer
E: info@ottervalleydairy.co.uk All information correct at the time of writing