I adore Derbyshire pub’s elite Sunday lunch where giant Yorkshire pudding steals the show
Discover the Sunday lunch experience at Derbyshire's The Malt, where the Yorkshire pudding is a true star
A good Sunday lunch is one of the things I am evangelical about.
Dipping temperatures and darker evenings herald ‘official pie weather’.
I visited The Malt in Aston on Trent for a Sunday lunch and despite being a regular patron, my most recent trip blew my mind.
The gastropub is around 15 minutes’ away from Derby city centre.
We dined from the Sunday menu which offers traditional roasts including Lincolnshire pork loin, butter basted turkey and hot roast cobs.
Smaller portions of Kids Roast and Mini Roast are also available for those who love all the flavours of a roast but can’t quite manage a full portion.
Vegan quarter pounder burgers, teriyaki chicken and brownies means there is something for all palates.
I had the spicy vegetable pie as the Sunday lunch option, served with roasties, Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, seasonal greens, buttered carrots and rich red wine gravy.
The pie’s chunky vegetable filling was subtly spiced and the pastry nice and short.
I’m not a huge fan of cauliflower cheese but the creamy sauce made me want to lick the plate clean.
It was the Yorkshire pudding that made me want to take a photo and frame it.
You know how some Yorkies look great but have a soggy bottom?
Not so at The Malt, whose Yorkshire pudding creation boasted a burnished, golden, beautifully crisp underside.
It is one of those rare moments where I felt like standing up and giving the Yorkshire pudding a standing ovation, it was that gorgeous. (I didn’t actually applaud the pudding out loud, because alarming fellow diners is not my jam.)
Others in my dining party enjoyed their Sunday lunches too.
One diner had the leek and cheese gratin Sunday lunch option, which also happens to be vegan.
Another diner had the steak and ale pie which was also very good.
The Malt is more than just a gastropub.
It has a real sense of pride and community, a place where you rock up, enjoy a roast and feel tempted to stick around for way longer than you expected thanks to cosy, welcoming vibes.
A giant hat-tip to Laura and her team for creating an amazing dining experience, I cannot wait to return and hopefully leave some room next time for dessert.
What we ate The Malt Aston, Derbyshire
Spicy vegetable pie roast (with full Sunday lunch trimmings) £16
Leek and cheese gratin (with full Sunday lunch trimmings) £16
Steak and ale pie (with chips or mash, seasonal greens, gravy) £16
Neck Oil £5.90
Courvoisier £3.75
Coca Cola £1.80
Total £59.45
Location: The Malt, 14 The Green, Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire DE72 2AA
For more information about The Malt click here.