Mothers' Day 2013 in Exmouth... Treat your Mum with a day off!

WE LOVE our Mums in Exmouth, and with Mother's Day on Sunday 10 March, there's no better way to show your Mum how much she means to you than by spoiling her rotten for the day!

Traditionally celebrated a week before Palm Sunday, Mothers' Day (or Mothering Sunday) used to be the one day in the year when servant girls were allowed to go home to see their mothers. As a gift for her mother, a girl would bake a Simnel cake, a rich fruit cake with a marzipan filling and topping. It's a charming tradition, and one you can copy, with Simnel cakes available in local bakeries and supermarkets.

Flowers and chocolates are popular Mothers' Day gifts, too, but if you really want to treat your Mum, why not give her a day off from the housework and cooking? It's sure to be appreciated! And since Mothers' Day is a Sunday, what could be nicer than a traditional Sunday lunch?

The Puffing Billy at Exton is offering a special Mothers' Day menu, featuring tempting main courses such as roast sirloin of beef, braised shoulder of lamb and pan fried cod – and there's plenty of choice for veggies, too, with delights like Portabella mushroom souffle with truffle tagliatelle and roasted baby beetroot with saffron risotto on offer. Desserts include lavender and white chocolate creme brulee, orange and passion fruit tart and mint chocolate brownie. Yum! Two courses cost £19.95 and three courses £24.95.

In town, Michael's Restaurant in Tower Street is also offering a tempting Mothers' Day menu at £16.95 for two courses and £19.95 for three. There's a variety of imaginative starters to choose from, including confit duck terrine, crispy ham hock bonbons and saffron and leek risotto with mussels and peas. Mains include a choice of roasts, plus fish and vegetarian options, and as you'd expect there's a range of tempting desserts like lemon posset and sticky toffee pudding. And round the corner, The Chronicle has an equally mouthwatering menu with starters like chicken liver parfait and fig and goats' cheese tartlet, mains including panfried cod and roast breast of chicken in a Parmesan crust, and a choice of lovely desserts. Three courses plus coffee costs just £22.50. FutureExmouth praises The Chronicle for 'Excellent high-quality cuisine in a delightful atmosphere', while soulman1 adds: 'The Chronicle is a fabulous place to spend time enjoying locally sourced food and wines.'

For something different, how about a truly decadent afternoon tea with The Hidden Treasure Tearoom? They're popping up at The Globe in Newton, with a spectacular Mothers' Day menu featuring sandwiches, cakes, scones and petit fours, all served on finest bone china with plenty of doilies and a nostalgic nod to all things vintage!

If you're looking for a day out for the whole family, many local attractions have special offers for Mothers' Day. For example, at Escot, Mums not only get free entrance when accompanied by a child, but also free tea and cake in the Coach House restaurant! For details, click here. But the most unusual Mothers' Day experience has to be at the Donkey Sanctuary, where as well as Mothers' Day breakfasts and cream teas, they're offering Mums an 'Unforgettable Mothers' Day Experience' with the opportunity to cuddle a donkey! For details, click here.

We hope these ideas help you decide how to spoil your Mum this year – have a great Mothers' Day!