BBC Good Food - 04.2020

132 bbcgoodfood.com APRIL 2020

Photographs MING TANG

EVANS, ZGPHOTOGRAPHY

ALAMY STOCK PHOTO,

DADO DANIELA

GETTY IMAGES, PHOTOLIBRARY

GETTY IMAGES PLUS, BRIAN GRECH

W

ith its ancient limestone

buildings, towering cathedrals

and sand-coloured piazzas,

it’s no wonder Malta has hosted multiple

film crews looking for epic landscapes

• thinkGladiatorandThe Da Vinci Code.
  The country has an eclectic mix of
  French, British, Arabic and Italian
  influences, reflected in the culture and
  cuisine, and after Valletta was named
  European Capital of Culture in 2018, it
  became a go-to destination for food lovers.
  With burgeoning vineyards nestled among its
  pretty hillsides, cosy neighbourhood bars in the
  city, and bustling harbour towns serving up their
  catch of the day, there’s plenty to see, do and eat.

Valletta

Begin your trip in Valletta, Malta’s baroque capital

and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are

multiple points of historical interest in the city,

and at every corner, you’re greeted by multicoloured

balconies designed in the

traditional style.

For a true taste of Maltese

cuisine (and a fun group

activity), book a cooking

class at The Mediterranean

Culinary Academy (£55 per

person, mcamalta.com/classes).

You’ll learn how to make

hand-rolled cannelloni filled

with ricotta and local herbs,

and you can also opt to book a family class

to get the kids making their own ‘figolli’

biscuits – an Easter tradition (£40 for a

guardian and child). Walk o your lunch

at the Upper Barrakka Gardens – the

highest point of the city walls – for

panoramic views over the Grand Harbour.

Visit the area’s unprepossessing churches

to marvel at their impressively ornate,

golden interiors, then take in a harbourside

aperitif followed by dinner.

Mdina

For a scenic day trip, take the 25-minute drive to

Mdina, the medieval ‘silent city’ surrounded by

enormous fortified walls. It ’s a fairy tale town that

oers breathtaking views over the surrounding

countryside, and its narrow cobbled streets are filled

with cathedrals and palazzos. Be sure to stop at

Crystal Palace (Triq San Pawl), a hole-in-the-

wall café where you can pick up delectable

flaky pastries called pastizzi to keep you

going – you’ll be able to spot it by the length

of the queue outside. Filo pastry encases a

range of fillings, including well-spiced chicken,

creamy ricotta and curried mushy peas.

Gozo

Set aside a day to explore Malta’s more rural sister

island, where the locals say they live permanently on

‘holiday time’. Catch the ferry from Malta for £3.90

per person. If you’re a wine lover, book a tasting at

the Ta’ Mena Estate (tamena-gozo.com/agritourism),

Go sland hopp ng around t is sunny archipelago and take in stunning

architecture, beautifully craggy coastlines and eclectic cuisine

wordsGEORGINA KIELY

Malta

Valletta’s historic

streets are lined

with colour

Pastizzi are

a must-try

Visit the medieval

walled city, Mdina

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