Michael Scicluna, St Paul’s Bay
Promoting Maltese cuisine
Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco is right to urge hotels and catering establishments to promote Maltese cuisine, but it seems he is not aware that in the 1970s and 80s, hotels were obliged to include a choice of Maltese dishes on their set menus, while restaurants had to feature Maltese dishes on their menus.
A benchmark should also be set for Maltese dishes. Why is it that whenever I decide to have a fenkata, the texture of the fried rabbit varies from one place to another?
The last time I tried it in a Gozo restaurant, I am pretty sure the ‘fried rabbit in garlic’ was cooked in the oven and not fried at all.
Also, vegetables accompanying the main course should be upgraded from the concept of French fries and salad with everything, while silver service needs to be brought back in the higher class establishments.
My experience with wine lists most times is that they lack consistency on what is in stock and the brands and country of origin.
As for service, this leaves much to be desired. It is unacceptable, in a five-star restaurant, to wait for 40 minutes between the first course and the main course. Clearly, the standard of restaurant service needs to be raised.
Why not start by setting an example and serve traditional Maltese food on the national airline, such as Maltese bread, rikotta, Maltese sausage, galletti, ġbejniet and bigilla?
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Joseph Calleja
Dec 19th 2010, 15:12
" Why not start by setting an example and serve traditional Maltese food on the national airline, such as Maltese bread, rikotta, Maltese sausage, galletti, ġbejniet and bigilla? That looks like a very appetizing menu but does that sound like what the doctor ordered? Last month there was a report that Malta has the most obese people in the EU. Does that tell you anything? Could it be that Maltese Cuisine is fattening? The Maltese bread alone is full of calories. Bon Apetit.
Mario Skinder
Dec 19th 2010, 12:51
Are we going to serve birds and rodents know as rabbits to the tourists?
AFabri
Dec 19th 2010, 12:27
i would also ban kiosks to sell junk food i mean burgers, hotdogs & turkish kebabs in our so proudly called TRADITIONAL VILLAGE FEASTS,
Go to Sicily and experience their traditional feasts,,,,,,they are still so proud in their cuisine !!!!
Joe Bugelli
Dec 19th 2010, 16:34
AFabri I agree with you. These stalls should be banned and only healthy Maltese food sold.