Easter amongst the Grahamslaw clan is a rather coveted tradition. We are not religious but the public holiday brings a chance to come together and raise a glass, bolstered by the prospect of brighter nights, warmer days and the impending promise of Summer.
Easter Sunday typically brings mornings with the papers followed by live sport and the aromas of home cooking.
However, while leafing through the sports section, disaster struck. Lisa came running into the living room: the oven seemed to have conked out before she even had the chance to load it up with her famous leg of lamb and roast potatoes. A family conference ensued and soon became a hell of a lot more heated than our oven. It was my daughter Holly who reminded us of a great Sunday lunch we had previously had at the Grain and Grill – the Maldron Hotel Newcastle’s very own, in-house eatery.
Upon arrival, the charming staff of the Maldron took all of the stress of mid morning off our shoulders, ushering us to comfortable seating and immediately providing drinks menus. They say that waiting staff develop an antenna for this kind of thing but for the Maldron team it seemed instinctive. After ten minutes sipping a nice vino verde in the bright and buzzy Grain and Grill, all of our oven worries dissolved into nothing.
Sunday Lunch at Maldron Newcastle is a generous and decidedly regal affair. Expert chefs champion only the freshest, seasonal ingredients with portions hearty and abundant. Good value is available too with two courses available for £22 pound and three for £26.
In the rare absence of my son Jack, daughter Holly selected the pick of the starters; a sumptuous caesar salad, leafy, verdant and boasting all the crispness of an early spring day. Lisa, ever the traditionalist, picked out a tomato and roasted red pepper soup (croutons et al) to inject the warmth that an early spring is sometimes lacking. Meanwhile yours truly tucked into chicken gyozas, once again underlining the international inflections of the Maldron menu.
After a satisfying selection of starters and a couple of enjoyable vinos , the oven debacle was now far from our minds. However, a moment of tension descended as mains of beef and chicken supreme arrived: were they going to live up to the lofty standards of Lisa’s usual Easter offering?
A first slice into the daube of beef cut through any lingering worries. Cooked to a gratifying, flavourful tenderness, the meat was perfectly paired with potatoes of both mashed and roasted variety. Topped off with a yorkshire pudding and surrounded with a moat of vegetables, we soon realised that this was going to be a meal to remember rather than forget. Holly’s chicken supreme confirmed that there was no greater stage for an Easter resurrection than The Maldron.
This had been the most remarkable comeback. Totally replete, we sat contented, in the Grain and Grill’s cosy embrace. Conversation flowed, wine did too. We were reminded about the important things in life: food, family, and (with a nudge from the waiter) sticky toffee pudding.
Bellies full, we bade goodbye to our genial hosts. It was at this moment that Lisa dropped the bombshell news: there had been nothing wrong with the oven in the first place! Holly then revealed that she had also been in on it. They had tempted me out of my slippers and peeled me away from my throne to the Maldron Hotel to remind me how Easter Sunday should be done: with the fun, family and fresh cooking that the Maldron provided so exquisitely today.
An Easter Sunday to remember!
For more information, visit www.maldronhotels.com/newcastle/dining