pork chop Archives - Time for a coffee

September 22, 2026

Dart’s Farm Pork Chop

This was another pork chop from Dart’s Farm. When visiting Devon I often stop off at Dart’s Farm in Topsham, near Exeter to charge my electric vehicle. While it is charging I usually grab a coffee from the cafe and then browse the farm shop. There is an amazing butcher counter at the farm shop and recently I have been buying a few things to take home.

On a recent trip I bought one of their pork chops. Price wise it was similar or cheaper than a supermarket equivalent.

The first thing I did was use my chef’s blow torch on the rind, to make it crispy. The oven could do this, but then I find the pork will be overcooked. So after crisping up the crackling, I then sear and seal the pork chop in a frying pan. I then put the chop in the oven for about 15-20 minutes to finish cooking. Meanwhile in the pan I make a sauce, this time it was mushrooms and cream. Last time I did a cider sauce.

I get the chop out of the oven and let it rest. I then put the sauce on the plate, rice on the side, and the pork chop on top of the sauce.

The pork was lovely and tender and was full of flavour. So very different to the pork chops I can buy in the supermarket.

June 22, 2026

Pork Chop in a Cider Sauce

When venturing down to Exeter or South Devon, one of my usual places to stop, mainly to charge the car, but also for a refreshment break, is Darts Farm, which also has a quite incredible farm shop.

I was there charging the car, so first I stopped to have an iced coffee (it was one of those really hot days) I then took a wander around the farm shop. One of the items I did buy that day was a pork chop from their butcher counter.

To cook the pork chop, I got a hot frying pan, and added a splash of olive oil. I seared both sides of the pork chop and also cooked the pork chop side to render the fat and crisp up the crackling. I then added some salt and pepper, butter, herbs and garlic and basted the chop for a few minutes before placing in a hot oven to finish cooked. I poured the butter onto the chop.

While the chop was finishing off in the oven, in the hot pan, I added some pancetta, once that was nearly cooked, I added some finely chopped onion. When the onion was softened I added some chopped mushrooms.

I then added some cider to the pan, which I then reduced. I took the pork chop out of the oven and let it rest. With the cider sauce reduced, I added some crème fraîche and freshly chopping parsley.

I added the sauce to a plate, and then placed the pork chop on top.

The sauce was really nice, full of flavour. The pork chop was excellent. Tender, moist and full of flavour. I would certainly get the chop again from Darts.

November 1, 2021November 5, 2021

Down at the Harbourside

It was a warm sunny day in August when I found myself with some colleagues at the Harbour House for a leaving do.

I was a little later than planned as I was trying to find somewhere to park. The party I was with were sitting outside on the decking in the sun.

Having looked online for the menu, I did quite fancy the Barnsley Chop, but this was not on the paper menu we had been given.

So in the end I decided against the steak or fish and went with the pork chop.

The grilled pork chop was served with French fries and a light green salad.

The chop was cooked well and was full of flavour and very tender.

For my second course I went with the cheese, I do like cheese and biscuits.

Personally I would have liked more cheese and less grapes. There were only oatcakes and these are my least favourite biscuits when it comes to cheese and biscuits. I did however enjoy the chutney that came alongside.

Overall it was a very nice meal and I enjoyed eating outside.