There’s nothing like a fast food treat during a football match - a hot hit to warm the soul during those tense highs and lows of a game.
Now Aston Villa has elevated traditional footie favourites to a whole new level in an exciting collaboration with Michelin-starred chef and lifelong villan, Brad Carter.
Brad rose to prominence with his popular restaurant, Carters of Moseley, which is where he got his Michelin star. His cleverly masterful approach to modern British food using locally sourced ingredients is credited with helping to put Birmingham’s food scene on the global map.
And guests at the 150 Club at Villa Park are being wowed by his latest definitively delicious dishes featuring the best produce served with high attention to detail once more. And we were invited to try them out during the Go Ahead Eagles game recently.
Fried chicken with Exmoor caviar from chef Brad Carter at Aston Villa's 150 Club
Fried chicken with Exmoor caviar from chef Brad Carter at Aston Villa's 150 Club
The exclusive menu includes Fried Chicken topped with Exmoor Caviar. And I am happy to report that this was an absolute winner. Crunchy, spicy flavours surrounded a juicy hunk of meat topped with a generous helping of that salty, fresh caviar - a speciality from the UK’s only sturgeon caviar farm used by Michelin starred restaurants across the UK.
This is the fried chicken that Villa fans deserve - quality all the way.
Next up we tried Lamb Kebabs served with Lobster and Prawn Toast. I thought I knew what to expect from a lamb kebab, but I was mistaken.
These were no ordinary kebabs. Melt in your mouth meat glistened with goodness as it arrived on our table. Smokey more-ish flavours oozed across the plate.
Lamb kebabs from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
Lamb kebabs from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
This is the dish that Brad mentioned he would be pleased to serve to the players when he was interviewed about the menu by Villa legend Alan McInally at the launch.
It was served alongside my second favourite dish of the evening - Lobster and Prawn Toast. The lobster was just gorgeous. Delicate textures with the meaty fish flavours so nourishing and tasty. Savoury perfection.
Lobster and prawn toast from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
Lobster and prawn toast from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
You may wonder how that could be beaten.
But it was the third dish on the menu that was my most favourite of all - Devon White Chicken served with Chicken Fat Potatoes, Crunchy Noodle Salad and Citrus Hot Sauce.
I love eating in fancy restaurants, but you can’t beat roast chicken and this creation of the traditional classic was incredible.
Roast chicken with chicken fat potatoes from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
Roast chicken with chicken fat potatoes from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
Brad’s detailed menu design shone through with the juiciest meat slathered in a bold and beautiful sauce.The potatoes were the ultimate comfort food shining with flavour, beautifully buttery with a salty edge. The crunchy noodle salad was a gorgeous contrast to the hot chicken and soft potatoes - a dream of a dish.
Who knew road chicken could be this good!
There were sweet courses to enjoy too. A cute Cherry and Woodruff Smiley tea cake - served on the finest Aston Villa china was a delight.
We also received the sweetest Lion Bar Cookies to take home - of enjoy in the lounge. Perfect with a cuppa.
And that’s still not all we encountered during our 150 Club football feast. I haven’t gotten to the cocktail pairing yet!
Cocktails from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
Cocktails from chef Brad Carter served at Aston Villa's 150 Club
With food as good as this, it’s fabulous to see some drinks created especially to go alongside the dishes, adding another fun layer to the experience.
There were four cocktails to choose from. The Holte Ender was my top tipple - it was gorgeously luxurious with vodka, cherry woodruff, chocolate bitters and a generous helping of double cream.
The menu also featured a Brad Carter Colada - spiced rum, pineapple juice, burnt pineapple bitters, coconut cream puree and prickly pear syrup.
There was also a French 82 in honour of Villa’s European Cup win featuring brandy, lemon, cucumber bitters and sparkling wine.
There was also a Villa Vice made with spiced rum, Aperol, Cocchi Americano and rosemary.
It really is a wonderful way to enjoy a football match.
Villa legend Alan McInally interviews chef Brad Carter at Aston Villa's 150 Club
Villa legend Alan McInally interviews chef Brad Carter at Aston Villa's 150 Club
The 150 Club is stylishly welcoming. A long space with a bar featuring plenty of screens to watch the action on the pitch is at one end and an area best suited to dining at the other.
Those who book this experience can relax in the space for up to three hours before kick-off and there’s post match access for 1.5 hours to enjoy a few beers, wines, cocktails and soft drinks.
You can watch all the live action on pitch from halfway-line padded seating within the Doug Ellis stand.
The Villa hospitality staff are among the most welcoming you could meet, ensuring guests enjoy every aspect of their visit.
As I mentioned earlier, Brad was interviewed about his Villa venture by former Claret & Blue player Alan McInally during the launch.
Aston Villa has launched a new partnership with Michelin starred chef Brad Carter to offer the ultimate football feast for home games at Villa Park
Aston Villa has launched a new partnership with Michelin starred chef Brad Carter to offer the ultimate football feast for home games at Villa Park
‘A dream come true,’ is how the proud chef summed up the collaboration.
He has certainly enjoyed an impressive career since he graduated from University College Birmingham and went on to work in Menorca and Marseille. He also did a spell at former Solihull restaurant Toyk (anyone else remember Toyk?!) before opening Carters and going on to win acclaim from Michelin inspectors.
Carters is currently closed as Brad concentrates on keeping his fellow Villa fans entertained.
At the launch he said: “For me, the job will be done if they can to eat and then when they get outside of the ground, realised they'd been at the football, because I know then that the restaurant has done the job exactly what we want it to do - and people can escape for a few hours, you know, aside from the football.
“I want to give supporters and guests a true taste of Birmingham, playful, rooted in the seasons and served with the passion only Villa can inspire.”
The Brad Carter menu is served at the 150 Club during home matches. For more information and to book, visit: https://www.avfc.co.uk/hospitality/michelinmoments/