Food Shopping

Food shopping is important! When we holiday in North Cornwall food and cooking is a big part of the week. We don’t want to spend too long getting the food in. And we want to make sure the food we buy is good and (sometimes!!) is good value.

So where to start?

Before you arrive

There are some options before you arrive. Raintree will be ‘road-testing’ some extra services over the 2010 summer in the food area. One is local vegetable boxes. We now can supply wonderful, fresh and local vegetable and sald boxes, delivered to your house ready for your stay.

Also, we can now offer ‘breakfast packs‘ and providing local farm eggs, thick cut bacon, sausages, mushrooms and tomatoes ready in the fridge for your arrival. If there are 6 of you, order a breakfast pack for 6. Or 12, even if you are only 6! The first morning breakfast is quite a special time! Make sure you order in good time for your arrival – click here to see more details and order.

We also want to offer simple but quality meals for your first night and maybe ongoing. We are thinking Shepherd’s Pie, or Lasagne, or Fish Pie – all made with high quality ingredients. Very basic, very good and very easy! This is a little further off – but we are interested in your comments and views.

But perhaps more important is what to do right now?

Local supermarket delivery for the basics is often a very good move (much as it might sometimes be nice to avoid altogether!!). Tesco’s deliver to all our houses – you should have the postcode of your house, if not just ask. Only book early, this service is becoming increasingly popular and the best slots get booked early. At the moment it is not possible for us to ‘meet’ the groceries for you.

Beach shops

So what can you buy close by your house?

Right in the centre of our area is Constantine Bay Stores. It can be found in the centre of Constantine on the corner of the road down to the beach. It is next door to the Constantine Bay Surf Store. Here you can buy a good range of bread and vegetables. There is also a small range of fresh meat. You will also find plenty of higher quality staple foods, wine and beer. If you are early, pasties and croissant are good. Constantine Bay Stores may well be a frequent stop whichever beach you are staying at. But particularly so if you are staying at Constantine or Treyarnon – its worth noting that you can walk up through the campsite from Treyarnon in less than 10 minutes.

At Treyarnon itself, Gary’s shop in the car park sells more than you might imagine. A real tardis-like shop, fresh bread and croissant are available. Newspapers and milk in the morning are a regular stop – with children often being sent across the beach from houses such as The Buck, from where you can watch the children all the way! Always try here first. Gary opens the busier 7 months of the year.

At Porthcothan, Porthcothan Stores is open every day of the year. Even in deepest winter, the shop on the path to the beach is open for an hour or 2 in the morning. Basic groceries can be bought here. A real joy to have somewhere to sell you bread and papers every morning of your holiday.

Trevone has its local village shop on the road down to the beach. It provides a range of pasties as well as daily basics.

At Harlyn, the beach shop in the Harlyn Inn building sells mainly beach stuff. A few basics may be available, but if not a trip to St Merryn or Padstow is required.

At Booby’s Bay, basics can be bought at a small shop on the caravan park on the way back down Trevose Head. Its the 2nd entrance on the way back.

Bread

As well as plenty of good bread at some of the beach shops mentioned above, Barnecutts in St Merryn is a good stop. This is a good quality local baker providing everything you would expect.

For artisan breads at a price, Rick Stein’s deli at the quay in Padstow supplies amazing sourdoughs and tiger breads. Some bread may also be sold at Rick Stein’s small shop in the centre of Padstow.

Or, try the Padstow Farm shop which supplies Vicky’s great bread – baked with love in Helston. Great sourdough!

Meat

Head for Padstow Farm Shop. It can be found just outside Padstow. If coming from St Merryn, where the road forks left into Padstow, take a sharp left towards Hawker’s Cove. It can be found on the left after a few hundred yards. Also, if staying at Trevone, the back road that runs around the top of the beach will take you on the back roads to the Farm Shop. Good fun. A full butchers can be found here (as well as much else!).

Rickj Stein’s deli at the quay in Padstow also sells meat, although this may change. Other current options are the butchers in St Columb. We will also be adding in details of other small farmshops that supply meat.

Vegetables

Again the Farmshop excels. The vegetables are fresh and tasty and much are produced on farm. At the farm shop there is also a good cheese counter and other good quality foods.

Fish and seafood

Unfortunately buying fish off the beach is a rarity. More likely a drive to Padstow is needed. On the way in, turn right at the hairpin just below the Metropole Hotel to go to Padstow’s South Quay area. Here there are 2 options for fish and seafood: Rick Stein’s deli itself, and Padstow fisheries next door. Check the prices and the queues and take you pick. If you are after something special (perhaps an octopus) or wnat to make sure that some squid will be left over, then give either of these shops a ring in advance.

Other stores

St Merryn has a good range of shops for last minute food supplies. As well as the Newsagent, the petrol station (which sells a huge range of hardware) and the Post Office, there are two general groceries. Again, take your pick between the teow, both of which are yards form the main cross-roads.

We are always interested to hear your favourites and your experiences – so please just add some comments below.