Since buying a cottage in East Devon, Darts Farm – 'Farmshop of the Year 2015 – in Topsham, has become one of my favourite haunts. I love a farm shop at the best of times, but this is a farm shop with knobs on – or as it was once described, 'like finding Selfridges Food Hall dumped in the middle of a field'.
Forget gnarled carrots and misshapen pears, and think luxury, rustic department store, selling a beautifully curated selection of West Country produce and home accessories – everything from artisanal spelt breads to celery chutney.
I'm particularly fond of the AGA shop at Darts, where I can sometimes be found gazing at the Fired Earth tiles and drooling over the macaroon-coloured stoves. ('Pearl Ashes', a delicate pale grey, is currently the most sought-after colour.)
The store holds frequent live cooking demonstrations with David Pengelly. On Friday 15th April, 11.00 - 1.00 pm, he will be doing a demo, Artisan AGA Bread Making. There are limited places for the demo – advance booking is required – but if you happen to live near Exeter, I will be signing copies of my book, The Marie Antoinette Diet, afterwards, at around 1.00 pm.
The AGA Shop, Darts Farm, Topsham, Exeter, EX3 0QH. Tel 01392 878 200
www.dartsfarm.co.uk @dartsfarm
Just saw that you have bought a place back in England. Hope you are planning to chronicle your experiences renovating the house there and returning to England after years in France? would look forward to that.