Steak to be proud of (From Ealing Times)

Steak to be proud of

12:00pm Friday 25th May 2007 in

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THEY say feed a cold, starve a fever, so with my cold in full swing, I headed to the newly revamped Blacksmith's Arms in High Wycombe for a slap up dinner.

With juicy steaks, Texas ribs, fresh fish, and ten ounce burgers on offer at the Miller and Carter steakhouse, I was sure I would be able to feed my May cold.

The restaurant, previously a Beefeater, has been taken over by Mitchell and Butler, who gave it a £300,000 makeover. And it shows. Although I had never dined at the restaurant in its previous incarnation, the leather banquettes, timber panelling, open kitchen and low lighting give it an air of somewhere special.

General manager Rosie Horn has managed The Blacksmith's Arms for almost two years. She says: "I am delighted to be part of the new Miller and Carter concept at The Blacksmith's Arms. I look forward to welcoming back our regulars and meeting lots of new faces too."

The menu is a mix of good old fashioned meat dishes, fish, salads and sandwiches, all at reasonable prices.

For starters, the coconut king prawns with spicy marmalade are delicious. Being a prawn lover, I am always disappointed when they are not juicy, but these were cooked to perfection, and the coconut added a unique taste. The chicken and chorizo skewers were also beautifully cooked, and combined with a smoked tomato dressing, made a treat for the taste buds. Also on the starter menu were soup, baked cheddar mushrooms, prawn cocktail, and smoked salmon - like the food you would find in a Beefeater or traditional steakhouse, but with an added twist to give them a unique stamp.

Moving on to the main course, and I felt it would be rude to visit a steakhouse and not try the speciality dish.

There are a range of steaks, from rump to ribeye, sirloin to fillet, all of which come with salad, chips or jacket potato, and Miller and Carter's signature onion loaf.

Like I am fussy with prawns, I also like my steak done a certain way. Too well done, and it is like cutting an old shoe. Too underdone, and the blood makes me feel queasy. Asking for a medium rare sirloin, the meat was tender, soft and absolutely delicious.

The fish of the day was a tasty dish of salmon skewers, which again came accompanied with fries or jacket potatoes.

Despite feeling more than a little stuffed after pretty much devouring the whole main course, the temptation of a chocolate dirt pie - chocolate cake with warm chocolate sauce, marshmallows and mini Oreo cookies, proved too much. For non chocoholics, the New York vanilla cheesecake with fresh fruit is also delicious, and the addition of the fruit makes you feel just that little bit virtuous. The entire dessert menu sounds perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, with Bramley Apple pie, ice cream sundae with profiteroles, and grilled pineapple with caramel sauce and ice cream.

All washed down with a bottle of Pinot Grigio rose, it was a perfect way to spend an evening, and I certainly did feed my cold.

Miller and Carter's Blacksmith's Arms, on Old Marlow Road, Handy Cross, High Wycombe is open every day from 11am to 11pm.

For more details on food serving times, telephone 01494 525323.