Bringing their fine-dining prowess to Chatham Green in Essex, Tom Clarke and Nancy Witte are a dream team. Their successful restaurant, The Windmill, is located off the A131, down a charming lane surrounded by gorgeous countryside. This summer, The Windmill found itself officially on the Michelin Guide (the Michelin Stars for 2023 were revealed in March) – the only Essex establishment to make the cut out of 11 other venues.
The couple got the keys for The Windmill in September last year and officially opened a month later. Both have worked at some of the best restaurants in England and France: Tom at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and Jean Andre Charial in France at Le Strato hotel in Courchevel, as well as the legendary L’Oustau de Baumanière, both two Michelin starred.
In 2015, Tom took the helm at L’Ortolan and was awarded and retained one Michelin star and three AA rosettes for five years.
Nancy Witte, born near Berlin, has worked at the Michelin-starred restaurant L’'Ortolan in Reading, as well as the private members club Mosimann in the centre of London.
It is not surprising to see why the pair have chosen to make Essex the location for their venture when you realise that family roots run deep here for Tom. His Uncle John and his grandparents ran The Bakery in nearby Great Waltham selling baked goods to the locals.
Walking into the restaurant, it has the cosy feel of a country pub with chic, rustic interiors, lots of original features and a well-stocked bar (Nancy is a whizz with bespoke cocktails).
They serve modern British cuisine with Asian influences, with both a tasting menu and an à la carte menu. We arrived on a Sunday where they serve one course for £23, two courses for £29 and three courses for £35. The menu is deceptively simple and does not reveal the complex cookery that goes on in the kitchen until the dish has arrived.
Nancy is the perfect example of an attentive host; she seamlessly glides from table to table with a light touch, making each guest feel special with her expert service.
We came to the table hungry and decided to get something to nibble while making our choices. We were clearly hungrier than we first thought and ended up devouring the oven-hot rosemary and sage focaccia with its salty crust, slavered with marmite butter.
The starter of goat cheese mousse, heritage tomatoes and tomato essence was delicate and yet incredibly flavoursome. It was clear a huge amount of skill had gone into the refined dish.
We also enjoyed the citrus-cured salmon with cucumber and horseradish. This went down a treat and we ate it slowly, savouring every bite.
For main I opted for the torched halibut with asparagus and seaweed. The moist fish was almost buttery in its softness. My dining partner had the roast dry aged beef with a mammoth Yorkshire pudding and red wine gravy. The portions were generous and the food was perfectly cooked.
To finish, the cherry tart with chocolate and chicory root was a celebration of this sweet fruit and the pastry was thin and had just the right amount of crisp against the soft layers of the tart.
My dining partner savoured the wild strawberry with coconut and tarragon dessert, which was a well-crafted creation inspired by the beautiful produce.
With such well executed food, great service and ample portions, it comes as no surprise that The Windmill is on the Michelin Guide.
For guests who want to make a mini break out of the experience, there are suites available in The Millers Room, where there is a private dining room and room above, as well as a suite, just off the kitchen garden.
01245 379 545
thewindmillchathamgreen.co.uk
