Get a real taste of Oxfordshire

Eating out in Oxfordshire is always a treat — because we are positively spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants, pubs, cafes, bistros, delicatessens, and food outlets of all kinds.

And the food scene is an ever-changing one, with new kids on the block at every turn, while others who can't stand the heat do unfortunately have to get out of the kitchen.

Oxfordshire is, of course, the home of Raymond Blanc's two Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, at Great Milton, and Oxford city centre boasts TV chef Jamie Oliver’s first ‘Jamie’s Italian’, serving authentic Italian food in a cosy venue on George Street. You can’t book, so be prepared to queue — but it’s worth it.

Another Italian ‘pasta master’ Antonio Carluccio often drops in at the Oxfordshire outposts of his empire, Carluccio’s, at Oxford Castle and Bicester Village.

In Oxfordshire there's always somewhere new to try out innovative concepts and dishes, or stick to the tried and trusted favourites, where you know you can rely on getting a really good meal.

In Oxford city centre you have a massive choice of places to eat, including a whole host of 'chain' restaurants at the Oxford Castle development such as Tootsies, Pizza Express, La Tasca and The Living Room.

Oxford hotels are a good source of reliably excellent food. The restaurant at The Randolph, in Beaumont Street, is still the epitomy of gracious dining, and there’s fine food too at Malmaison, in the basement of the former Oxford prison, and The Old Parsonage, in Banbury Road.

Every tourist will not want to miss a meal at The Trout at Wolvercote — a favourite haunt of Inspector Morse in the acclaimed TV series, and after a revamp a couple of years ago, the food here is generally good.

If you prefer independent restaurants rather than chains, then Oxford is positively heaving with them — serving every kind of food, from every nation.

Enduring favourites include the Cherwell Boathouse alongside the river just a mile from the city centre, Max Mason’s sausage empire The Big Bang, in Walton Street, and Gee’s restaurant, enticingly accommodated in a huge glass conservatory on Banbury Road.

One of the newest city incumbents is Cafe Coco on the ground floor of the Royal Oxford Hotel, near the train station, which is pulling in the punters with offers such as two pizzas for a tenner (on certain days of the week).

This is the latest outpost of restaurateur Clinton Pugh, who last year finally bid a sad farewell to his famous Oxford eaterie, The Lemon Tree, in Woodstock Road.

Out in the Oxfordshire countryside brilliant foodie pubs and restaurants abound. The Feathers Hotel in Woodstock always provides a very good meal, while The Trout at Tadpole Bridge maintains a fine reputation.

You will find consistently good value tasty food at The Lord Kitchener in Curbridge, near Witney, and I still think the best Sunday lunch in Oxfordshire can be found at The Bay Tree, in Burford.

I’ve never had anything less than an excellent meal at this lovely old Cotswold Hotel. They have some great offers too, so you could extend the pleasure and treat yourself to an overnight stay there too on a Sunday night, for an absolutely knockdown rate.

One of my favourite places is The White Hart at Fyfield, near Kingston Bagpuize, where the husband-and-wife team of Mark and Kay Chandler, (heading up the kitchen team and front of house respectively) serve up local produce in a variety of well-conceived styles.

The excellent Peach Pub Company has three pubs in Oxfordshire — The Fishes, North Hinksey, The Fleece in Witney and The Thatch in Thame. These buzzing pubs serve consistently good food, in a very pleasant atmosphere.

If you don't mind travelling further afield, then just over Oxfordshire's borders are a wealth of great eating spots, often in hotels — so you can splash out and stay overnight too if you wish. My favourites include Lords of the Manor Hotel at Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds, which has just received its first Michelin star, the fabulous cuisine of head chef Adam Simmonds at Danesfield House Hotel, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and, in the same town, the chic dining at Aubergine restaurant within The Compleat Angler.

Near Daventry in Northamptonshire you will find fabulously fine and quirky food within the gothically romantic environment of Equilibrium restaurant at Fawsley Hall Hotel, and at The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury, Berkshire, head chef John Campbell turns out deliciously innovative two Michelin-starred food.

Or why not dine at home — the range of companies offering ready-to-cook, or ready cooked, meals delivered to your door continues to grow.

Tapas in a Box (www.tapasinabox.com) captured my imagination and the wonderful home catering of Suzan Allan’s Croxfords, in Upper Heyford, is enduringly excellent.

I've given you but a taste of what's available — it's all out there for you to seek out, and enjoy!