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Located in High Street, Totnes, is La Fourchette - a café cum brasserie that's passionate about offering full-flavoured authentic continental food and a great selection of drinks to go with it, in a lively, no-fuss atmosphere. Drawing from the most authentic café and brasserie experiences from around, La Fourchette seeks to offer the best of two worlds to its guests with cakes, pastries and light bites throughout the day and full menus for lunch and dinner.

The décor and food are continental with thick French accents. Begin with the chef's orange and brandy duck paté, followed by the prime local rib-eye steak. Have a dauphinoise potato for sides and conclude with a real vanilla crème brulée and the recommended glass of coteaux du layon with dessert. The drinks list is extensive and well thought out, leaving the guests spoilt for choice. The proprietors of La Fourchette deserve a special mention for importing bracing beer flavours from Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic. Ideal for any occasion including solitary lunches - just grab a seat by the window and do some people watching with honest French-inspired cuisine.

The Durant Arms is a 16th century country inn that can be found in the quiet and well preserved South-Hams village of Ashprington, three miles from the historic market town of Totnes.

If you decide to stay the night there, you will be pleased to know that all eight ensuite bedrooms have a four star rating from the AA.

The bar is well-stocked with champagne and wines that are available locally and from around the world; spirits, real ale, organic drinks and cider.

When it comes to the food, the chef ensures the dishes are homemade, and created, whenever possible, from locally sourced produce. An à la carte menu offers a good choice of British cuisine; lighter bar meals, snacks, and sandwiches are always available.

Events such as curry and dessert nights are organised at the Durant Arms on a regular basis, and special days are celebrated with a tempting choice of tasty food and drink that could include Devonshire cream teas accompanied by a range of mouth watering snacks.

My associations with Dartington Hall have not hitherto included finding a good meal. Imagine my delight to discover that hidden in the warren of handsome buildings so beloved by students of architecture, both 14th century and emulated, is the White Hart.

Depending on your point of view, to call it a gastropub may not be entirely fair, but either way it certainly deserves the good things I intend to say about it. One of the first of which is the use consistently made of local produce throughout an attractive and compelling menu that creates complexities of choice in the minds of many.

Starters might consist of local mussels steamed with white wine, shallots and parsley, finished with double cream, gravad lax with smoked prawns and smoked garlic mayonnaise or a terrine made from local game, smoked bacon and pistachio nuts, served with fruit chutney. All starters can be purchased as main courses, amongst which can also be found Devon lamb casserole, with Moroccan overtones and a light cumin, cinnamon and apricot sauce, Cornish smoked haddock with spinach and a light cheese sauce, or the local speciality sausages served with mashed potato and deliciously substantial red wine and onion gravy.

Helpings are not exactly for the faint-hearted, but let's assume you have been fasting for this day in which case the range of desserts will be of interest. Think bitter chocolate tart served with clotted cream or a classic cream brulee with a crisp topping and guardian shortbread biscuit, not to mention cheese from the Ticklemore Cheese shop at Totnes.

The wine list is as travelled as the architecture and there is always a fine selection of local ales, including their own White Hart variety.

The Sea Trout Inn is a peaceful, traditional Devon Inn dating back to the fifteenth century and is known for its Modern British and Thai Cuisine. The fact that it is nested amidst beautiful surroundings in the Dart Valley adds to its popularity.

During summer slow roast belly pork with pan fried bubble and squeak and apple and ginger relish, and a soothing vanilla crème brûlee with spiced plums and Viennese fingers at the fine dining conservatory restaurant which extends to a pretty patio could be to your liking. During winter you may prefer to order pan-fried crevettes in garlic butter, crisp salad and cheesy ciabatta toast and Thai red seafood curry with coriander and jasmine rice at one of the cosy bar areas with their welcoming open log fires.

To complete the experience you can visit the Stags Bar which recreates the ambience of a friendly and noisy local pub.