The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, and the City and County of Bristol, while the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
This is true English farm country. It also happens to be on the edge of the sea which us what makes the cuisine here distinct from other areas in the U.K.
A specialty is a Mussels and Onion stew that is a mix of mussels collected from the rocks, dry white wine, parsley and milk. Red Mullet Parcels are also quite common. The whole red fish from the sea is packaged in baking paper with onions, parsley, lemon and salt and pepper and baked.
Soles in Coffins, that is a play on the words “souls in coffins.” This dish features rolled up sole fillets stuffed inside potato shells that are then topped with mashed potatoes. The warmer waters along the coast also support abundant supplies of buttered lobster. The lobster dish that is most popular is called Cornish Butter Lobster and is served with a creamy butter sauce.
Yet another favorite seafood dish is from the Cumberland Area. Herring is stuffed with onion and bread crumbs and then smothered in mustard sauce.
The West Country is also known for it’s mackeral dishes such as Baked Mackeral with Gooseberrry Sauce and Smoked Mackeral Soufflé. All kinds of fish are also poached in the cider that is made from the apples that grow in the area.
Leek pie is another favorite. It is called Likky pie and is made of leeks, boneless pork, cream and puff pastry.
Creamy dishes are a specialty of the area and a favorite savory meal is Cornish Caudle Chicken Pie. Caudle is what Englanders in this area call the egg and cream mixture that is poured over the filling at the very last minute.
A favorite dessert in the Lardy Cake that originates from Wiltshire in the West Country. This is a very sweet cake that has chopped candy peel, sultanas, currants and a load of lard, butter and sugar in it.
Barnstaple Fair Pears refers to pears that come from the pear orchards of Devon. This is a pear dish that features the fruit simmering gently in clove flavored wine. It is then served with natural yogurt or clotted cream.