This week’s Restaurant of the Week is The Queens at Belbroughton, West Midlands and courtesy of Great British Chefs
Andy Waters helped put the Midlands on the gastronomic map when he won a Michelin star in 2003 for Edmunds. In March 2012, Andy became head chef of The Queens at Belbroughton, a 16th century pub in Worcestershire and has recently been awarded the prestigious Robert J Smith Award by the British Culinary Federation, for professionalism and dedication to the hospitality industry. The Birmingham Mail described the food as ‘serious cooking by a top-notch craftsman’ while Eat The Midlands singled out the Sunday lunch and ‘an angelically light Yorkshire pudding’ for particular praise.
Long term fans of Waters may recognise signature dishes updated from the original Edmunds restaurant such as tian of crab with prawns, peas shoots, peas and turmeric cream, but the lengthy a la carte won’t just please the gastronerds.
With everything from a cheffy tasting of pork that includes belly, pastry and black pudding served with a confit of cabbage, apple puree and crackling to an inventive and playful gammon with smoked bacon, chilli pineapple and fried egg, there’s something for everyone. And in a ‘rustic’ village pub, that’s just how it should be.
Stir-fried crab claws with spring onion, chilli and garlic – Andy Waters
Find out more about The Queens at Belbroughton on Great British Chefs website. You can also subscribe to Great British Chefs’ bi-monthly newsletter for competitions, recipes and more from Britain’s greatest chefs.