Last week we had the pleasure of visiting the Sir Walter Raleigh Pub in East Budleigh - a massive thank you to the whole team for a lovely evening. The Sir Walter Raleigh is a community pub, it's been here in one way or another since the 14th Century - it has been the beating heart of the community for many years. Recently it became the home of award-winning Head Chef Dan Kavanagh who is elevating the food to a new level with a seasonal menu using the amazing produce nearby. With the trend in pubs closing, it was heartening to see a one with such love and support. Our menu looked like this: Tori Beetroot Carpaccio (£8.00) 10oz Pork Chop 🥩(£16.95) Chocolate Brownie (£8.95) Me Cured Salmon (£7.50) Steamed Plaice (£19) Passion Fruit and Pineapple Sundae (£8.50) Our starters: Dan really took the essence of summer with this light and fresh starter. The salmon was delicately cured, balanced with the beetroot, salad leaves and lime yoghurt - it played with the sharpness of the lime and the smoothness of the fish and was light on the palette and sincerely enjoyable. Tori chose the Beetroot Carpaccio, which was a creative dish which crafted a varied range of flavours together. The use of Devon blue cheese worked really well with the other ingredients. For mains it was Steamed Plaice with a summer salsa, courgettes and Jersey new potatoes. This really was fresh, well cooked fish with a buttery summery salad with fresh beans and peas, combined with a good sprinkle of sea salt on the potatoes and garnished with samphire. It was a fitting tribute to the beautiful produce Devon is known for; those tastes resonated through the dish. My wife had to go for the 10oz Pork Chop - a sumptuous, skilfully cooked piece of tender meat, matched with creamy mashed potato, roasted onions and a peppercorn sauce. Dan has created a thoughtful, seasonal menu which effortlessly celebrates the provenance of the ingredients that goes into each dish. It covers scope and taste and caters to a wide range of palettes. It is thoroughly worth a visit. The pub benefits the community and by visiting you are supporting it as well. Reservations are recommended. I will see you again soon Walter.