Miller & Carter - 'Experts in Steak' are cooking up a storm

With social networks awash with positivity about Miller & Carter Steakhouse, I felt the time was right to see what all the hype was about.

The Brookmans Park site has been open just over four weeks when my partner I decided to pay a visit. We booked for a Saturday night, to get a real feel for the atmosphere of the place.

We were greeted at the front desk by the general manager, Derrick Fiddes, and promptly shown to our table, despite it being a hive of activity.

The sizeable chicken wings starter

Our server for the evening was Claire, our first impressions being that she was warm and friendly, while also being passionate about her job and all that Miller & Carter stand for.

For my first drink, I chose the Pilsner Urquell, appealing as it is rare to find on draft in restaurants and pubs in the UK. It was crisp, refreshing and importantly, served chilled in Pilsner Urquell-branded glass (a bug bearer when beer is served in inappropriate sized/styled glass). 

The food menu threw up no surprises - different meat dishes all sounding equally appealing. For starter we decided to share the Chargrilled Chicken Wings (in the knowledge that we had a sizeable main of meat to come), served in a Chipotle glaze. We were told that these 'weren't your normal wings', and so this proved.

The fillet steak was cooked perfectly and supplemented well

The ribeye was recommended ahead of my visit, and I wasn't disappointed

Four bumper-size chicken wings arrived, supplemented with a creamy and cooling blue cheese dip.
The glaze made the skin just as edible as the juicy, slide-off-the-bone chicken.

When selecting our main courses, I wanted some inspiration, and believed our server Claire would be able to provide that. Listening to her favourites from the menu, as well as advice as to how to have the steak cooked and what to have as a side led me into selecting the 12oz Ribeye, cooked medium with a peppercorn sauce.

My dining partner plumped for the 8oz Fillet with a bordelaise sauce, and after Claire's advice, deviated away from medium to go for medium-rare. We also decided to sample a half-rick of ribs, promised by Claire that they would be the perfect accompaniment.

The Rioja was a perfect accompaniment to my steak

A quirk of Miller & Carter is that you also select you 'lettuce wedge' which will be delivered prior to the steak. I went for the wedge served with bacon and honey mustard, my partner chose the blue cheese and Stilton option.

As with any review, it's important to be brutally honest. I would say that a negative review makes much better reading.

Sadly there are no negatives here. Both our steaks were perfectly cooked, served with a generous helping of seasoned fries and Miller & Carter's renowned onion loaf.

The ribeye was flawless - the fat cooked off and invigorating the meat which was juicy and tender with a very unique after-taste. The fillet was smooth to cut through and easy to chew through. What impressed me was not only the flavour of the meat before any of the side-sauces were added, but the lack of those 'gritty bits' that have to be pulled out in secret and into a tissue.

And let's not forget about the half rack of ribs! It is the first time I have not felt as though it was a battle, me against the rib, a fight till the death (or at least until I had shaved the bones of all the meat).

My partner rushed in at this before I took the picture!

The meat literally slid off the bone with one fell swoop of my knife. And similar to the chicken wings, there was more meat than bone, cooked in a tingly barbecue sauce.

The thought of being too full was lost on me, as I carved my way through this meat feast. Supplemented with a small glass of Rioja, oaky and vanilla in taste, it was a good night.

Sadly dessert was out of the equation for me as I had most certainly had my fill.

I say out of the equation, but maybe the delicious After Eight-Thirty cocktail I finished off with 'could' be classed as dessert.

My partner was feeling braver, and her selection of the vanilla  Beechdean Farmhouse Dairy Ice Cream and Cookie was a good one - I admit I squeezed in a spoonful and it was rich and creamy and generous in portion.

I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. And now I know why. The interior of the restaurant is welcoming, lively, and atmospheric, with a happy buzz prevalent in customers as well as in staff.

My 'dessert' After Eight-Thirty cocktail

The Brookmans Park site is vast catering for different group-sizes as well as offering a 'private' room for those who want a more personal experience (call general manager Derek Fiddes for more information, 01707 647429).

The food is evidently 'cared for' at every stage of the process - from the preparation, to the cooking to the serving, and this feeling of 'pride' is similarly displayed by the members of staff.

All this added together made us, as the customer, feel cared for, and left us reflecting on all the positives from our first ever visit to a restaurant who label themselves as 'experts in steak' - and I'm not disagreeing.

Scores on the doors (out of 10)

Setting -9
Service -9
Quality of food -10
Cleanliness and decor -9

Total score  - 37/40

To view the Miller & Carter menu, click here

To make a booking at Miller & Carter Brookmans Park, click here

Beer and crisps – a Corking night in!

Warsteiner

I hold my hands up, it's been a while since my last post.

But as you will read from this, I had some gorgeous grub to work my way through, as well as some crisp, refreshing beer...

And so, after a few nights of 'posh crisps' and German Pilsner, I thought I would share this experience with you!

With supermarkets now stocking a whole range of international lagers, ales and ciders, it might be difficult to build up a list of favourites. But if it's a lively, refreshing and 'proper' pilsner you're after, I would say go no further than pick up a bottle of Warsteiner.

Warsteiner Premium Verum (4.8%) is available from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, and independent retailers nationwide, with prices starting at £2.00 for 500ml. Warsteiner is also available on draught in various pubs around the country.

Naturally brewed according to the German Purity Law, Warsteiner is made with only three ingredients; hops, barley and extra soft water from the Arnsberg Forest, giving a remarkably smooth, clean taste. It’s this great taste that has seen beer drinkers in the UK make Warsteiner the No. 1 imported German premium pilsner producer among privately owned breweries in the UK.

And unusually for me, I decided to sample the non-alcoholic version too. Very rarely would I choose to drink a non-alcoholic beer – bot because I want to feel light-headed and begin to slur, but because, quite simply, I do not like the taste.

The Warsteiner version, however, has a dry and full taste, while not negating some of the finer ingredients of the full-bodied equivalent.

The super six selection of Corkers crisps

I would say that, given the choice, I wouldn't choose this over the 4.8% alcohol bottle, but if you want something a little more succulent than fruit juice or fizzy pop, it's certainly worth a try.

So with every good beer, snack food goes down a treat – and I was treated to six varieties of Corkers crisps.

The truly British crisp with a crunch like no other, Corkers will satisfy the hungriest of stomachs with their six mouth-watering flavours which include; Sea Salt, Sea Salt and Cider vinegar, Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion, Sweet Thai Chilli, Pork Sausage and English Mustard, Sea Salt and Black Pepper.

And I got to sample them all (obviously not in one session)!

The secret to Corkers' unique great taste is the attention to detail the makers have put into perfecting it. The premium quality Naturalo potato tastes great, but isn't a similar sight on our supermarket shelves because it's just not pretty enough.

However, its flavour is exceptional and once sliced and fried, it outshines other potatoes.

Sustainably farmed in the rich, peaty Cambridgeshire soil, the potatoes are harvested and then stored at a temperature that ensures the starch doesn't turn to sugar. This means that Corkers crisps maintain an authentic potato taste rather than the undertones of burnt sugar, which can often be detected in other brands of crisps.

There are many brands of 'posh' crisps out there at the moment, and pubs, bars and coffee shops are choosing to stock such brands ahead of more mainstream and established ones.

Corkers are now ready to burst into the market, and whether it is for that bar snack, for a pre-BBQ nibble, or like me, you think they would be an excellent accompaniment to a beer, they could, and should, become a family favourite.

Here are my thoughts on each flavour, comments and critique:

Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar

It's a subtle taste – maybe what people like, but could have been a bit stronger on the cider. Salt was at the appropraite level to go with the cider. The crisps were cooked to perfection; there wasn't a 'bad one' in the bag.

Red Leicester and Caramelised Onion

I expected these to be my least favourite, as cheese and onion flavour never really appeal. How wrong I was. These were my FAVOURITE. Both flavours in the title are shown off superbly, leaving a lovely and fresh aftertaste. These were far better than 'cheese and onion' with every crisp perfectly flavoured.

Sausage and Mustard

I really wanted these to be the best. Unfortunately I felt a little let down. I wanted more of a tingle on the tongue from the mustard. The flavour is still prevalent, but could have been stronger, especially to get a real taste of the sausage.

Sea Salt and Black Pepper

Again, the flavour was subtle, so where black pepper is concerned, probably a wise idea for a crisp. And again, it seemed no crisp missed out on its share of flavour.

Sweet Thai Chilli

This kind of flavour is becoming more popular in crisps. And I would say it goes perfectly with a refreshing beer. The chilli does hit the spot on the tongue, and throat, while not being too overpowering.

Sea Salt

A safe option – there is often the tendency for 'simply salt' flavoured crisps to be layered with sodium chloride, but Corkers have got the balance just right with this.

For more information on Warsteiner Pilsner, visit www.warsteiner-uk.com

For more on Corkers crisps, including how to order batch delivery, visit www.corkerscrisps.co.uk