BBC Good Food - 04.2020

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eat like a local

APRIL 2020 bbcgoodfood.com 133

How to do it
Flights are around £70 per person from London
to Malta with Ryanair or EasyJet.

where you can sample

full-bodied Mediterranean

reds and delicate vermentino

whites. The estate also produces

delicacies like sundried tomatoes,

prickly pear liqueur and traditional cheeselets,

or ‘bejniet’ (little rounds of fresh or dried cheese).

For a t r ad it ion a l Ma ltese lu nch , t r yGozo Picnic

(facebook.com/yourgozopicnic) for local bread, dips,

pastries and fresh salads (from £21 per person).

Be sure to sample the almond biscuits and imqaret

(d ate -fi l led pa st r ies) to fi n i sh.

Where to stay

Make your base at theCugó Gran Macinahotel,

positioned on the Grand Harbour at Senglea – a

room with a harbour view would make the most of it.

Back in the 16th century, the Macina was a military

fortress built by the Knights of St John, but today,

it’s a relaxing getaway with clean-cut, Scandi-style

furnishings set against striking historical features,

including high-vaulted ceilings. Sunseekers will

appreciate the rooftop pool and, for sightseeing,

you’re only a 10-minute ferry ride from the bustling

hub of Valetta (ferry from £2 per person). Rooms at

the Cugó Gran Macina start from £150 per night.

cugogranmalta.com

Cae CordinaDrop in for an

espresso at this local icon

and try a Maltese cannoli

(or kannol), brimming with

sweet ricotta and pistachios

(£3).caecordina.com

Harbour ClubBook a table

outside, overlooking the

port, and eat local red prawn

carpaccio (£12), rabbit

liver parfait (£11) or

the fish of the day.

theharbourclub

malta.com.

Noni

For something

less traditional,

try Noni – its

rich history

contrasts with

innovative cuisine.

Traditional Maltese and

Mediterranean dishes are

reinvented here, from the local

IPA-battered salt cod (£11)

to a sensational slow cooker

octopus tagine (£20).

noni.com.mt

Café SocietyOn warm summer

nights, this popular hangout is

crowded with thirsty locals

sipping

top-notch

cocktails. Try

‘thyme is of the

essence’ – a blend

of gin, raspberry, thyme

and ginger beer – or an old

fashioned (cocktails from £6).

facebook.com/cafesocietyuptown

Hammett’sHere, the tasting

menu’s beautifully plated

dishes aim to showcase local

produce, and traditions are

given a twist. Try smoked

burrata or cured mackerel to

start, but leave room for the

melt-in-the-mouth lamb with

baba ganoush, or a veggie

risotto made with gbejna

(peppered sheep’s

milk cheese)

with rosemary

shallots

(starters from

around £9,

mains from

around £10).

hammettsmacina.

com/menus

Trip provided by the Malta Tourist Board.

Learn to make cannelloni

at The Mediterranean

Culinary Academy

Sample imqaret

at Gozo Picnic

Make a trip to Ta’ Mena
Estate for wine tastings
and local cheeses

X

X

Take a coee and pastry

break at Cae Cordina

Innovative

eats at Noni

5 places to eat & drink

Smoked burrata

at Hammett’s

Enjoy freshly caught

ish and seasonal

produce at portside

spot Harbour Club