Steve Carter, former head chef of London restaurant Ché, has taken on a consultancy role with a pub and retail operating company which aims to revitalise dining in neighbourhood pubs in the Home Counties.
Ideal Selections started trading in May, having been set up by businessmen Barry Hilton and Utkarsh Patel, previously in the music and retail businesses respectively. It has bought the leases on two pubs in Hertfordshire and wants to make them focal points of good food in the area.
Carter has been involved in putting in new kitchens and developing menus for the Three Horseshoes in Harpenden and the Bull in Gosmore, near Hitchin, both of which seat between 50 and 60 diners.
"My brief is to put out really good pub food, not to make them into gastropubs," said Carter. He added that "good stews and great sandwiches" would form the backbone of the food offered at the establishments.
Carter, who left Ché when it was bought by Steamroller Restaurants in May, also confirmed that he was still looking for a suitable London site at which to open his own restaurant.