Updated: Italian restaurateur apologises over insulting Malta comments

Joe Fenech

Nov 12th 2012, 07:58

Grow up people! You're not the centre of the world.

Mr C Galea

Nov 7th 2012, 23:19

Simple Go back to Italy and no Maltese nationals should ever enter his restaurant. That is a nice way to say Goodbye,or rather Ciao.

R. Borg

Oct 21st 2012, 20:08

"I believe this is not right, I only wanted to joke on a football match" ...The only thing which is not right here is the fact that you're still here. We arab beduins, as you already might have noticed, can determine wether you and your family have food in your plate or not. Think about it

T Mifsud

Oct 18th 2012, 07:58

Hopefully he has to do justice to the Maltese and make a free Maltese night for everyone. Before that he has to film himself picking potatoes at a local farm, for the Maltese. I would be happy then that he learnt his lesson not to mess with the Maltese!

Mike Hunt

Oct 14th 2012, 14:31

638 Comments and counting ... wonder if it will peak at 666 ...

Sandro Galea

Oct 14th 2012, 13:05

With all the potatoes that have been collected the restaurateur now has no option but to change the menu to a Northern European one ! Bangers and mash anyone?

Peter spiteri

Oct 14th 2012, 12:40

Mr.Abbot,try going anywhere else in the world and make fun of their nation.I sure you'll get more than just comments back!

Charles Sammut

Oct 13th 2012, 16:28

is this restaurant still doing business?

Christian Sciberras

Oct 11th 2012, 13:01

It's what they say, truth hurts.

If the Maltese were slightly smarter, they'd have sided with a different nation instead of one that habitually bombarded us during WW2.

But he's right, Malta's been trying to copy Italy for too long, especially the worst parts of Italian culture (such as the absolute neglect of responsible driving), only to make it a point in getting it even worse.

Brian Farrugia

Sep 30th 2012, 09:33

I will go and collect some potatoes, just like the fellow said, I don`t have time to eat at his place.

Mike Abbot

Sep 16th 2012, 13:47

600 plus comments here and still going strong and a facebook page turned sour..

well done guys, you make the Maltese look like they just can't handle a bad comment (yes, that's actually ALL IT WAS. For crying out loud, the guy is a restaurant owner, not a politician or ambassador). An initial reaction and a boycott is one thing but drawing it out like this? piling insult on top of insult fuelling what amounts to nothing less than hate.

well done. I'm so proud to be Maltese... so proud.

Joe Xuereb

Sep 16th 2012, 08:16

@Joe Fenech (Sep 14th, 09:06).


Quote: It is very sad for a man in his 80s to see the Maltese people getting more savage and brutal. Fenech, you make anger, managed or not, sound like a crime. The Maltese have a lot on their plate with immigration (and the fact that, according to a poll which found that most Maltese do NOT see a problem with this, does nothing to bring out the cool in them) without being insulted the way they have been by mere football banter. Comparisons are odious as we say but according to you a hierarchy of insults is in order with the more grievous on top and the rest ignored/forgotten/forgiven. Just so as to appear cool and un-Arab (uncool Arabs are a minority, remember!). Equating, never mind inferring, low-life (linguistically and culturally) with Arab-ness is insulting to the Maltese and the Arabs whatever your shallow take on the matter.

Here's the proof, if any were needed, of the seriousness of what you said but cannot see. Quote: 'Someone made a silly comment.... GET OVER IT !!! It's confirming that your are not Europeans but Arabs. You may not like it but culturally your are. This hysteria is a living proof of this'. If only it were something to get over just like that!

@Joe Fenech (Sep 14th, 17:27). It gets better. Quote: This was silly football banter and teasing. Is this so?! The only connection this has with football is that the offender feels hard-done by because his country's footballing prowess is lacking so he boosts his ego by denigrating Maltese footballers. The Calabrian paesaggio and cuisine may be excellent but the temperament of some of its peoples is remarkably similar to Maltese; but not those who live abroad and play it cool to a degree. The insult - you concede it's an insult but comparatively mere banter according to you - was aired on Facebook for the world to see. Football banter?! I think not.

Some Maltese may be sensitive to the Arabic connection to their language, unnecessarily as it happens as Maltese is Arabic (I spent the best part of the afternoon speaking to a Christian Lebanese friend of mine and teasing out the myriad Maltese words that are as pure Arabic as souk spices - easy when my grasp of the language harks back fifty years when the language was still fairly intact and remains so in spite of the long absence (not for this one the poor show of Ingliżati(pseudo, pretend-Englishness) to appear emancipated into what, exactly? Cool Britannia a` la Last Night at the Proms for instance, when the enemy is not so much at the door but wedged deeply inside it?

@Joe Fenech (Yesterday, 17:16). Quote:....but I still don't understand this over-reaction which reminds me of Arabs (see what's happening at the moment because of the Mohammed film)! A massive rationalisation if ever there was one! At a time of massive illegal immigration, economic and ecological disaster, is this really what the Maltese should be worrying about? unquote. As I said, many Maltese are not unduly worried about these impending catastrophes, sorry! disasters: I must not overdramatise so as not to unruffle the cool Mr. Fenech, and choose to worry, and react, about being called potato-picking, crap-Arabic gibberish that passes for their language, hissing it out like a dementing Fury.


Freedom of thought is desirable (if nothing else because it cannot be policed). But a free-for-all from the rooftops is inadvisable as stepping on someone's toes happens all too easily. And the Calabrese, like the Maltese here under scrutiny, failed to respect the sensitivity of his own Community back in wherever it is he comes from in Calabria, never mind the hosting Community. The so-called joke may have been no more than football banter - did Mr. Fenech call it a joke?! - but it backfired something terrible.

Joe Xuereb

Sep 15th 2012, 01:50

@ Joe Fenech (Yesterday, 09:06). Sur Fenech, jgħidu li tagħmel żball l-ewwel darba jirrifletti ħażin. Imma li tirrepeti l-istess żball darbtejn, dak mhux ta' min wieħed jaħfer (u maħfra mingħajr kundizzjonijiet ma tiswa xejn). Ma niskantax li qiegħed turi simpatija lejn sid dan ir-ristorant medjokru. U dan għaliex int qiegħed iġġib ruħek eżatt kif ġab ruħu dan il-Kalabriż. Inżilt għall-livell tiegħu. Minn Malti mgħobbi biż-żmien u li jgħix barra kont nistenna xi ħaġa anqas provinċjali. F'ħaġa waħda mintix sejjer żball. Il-ponta ta' l-Italja t'isfel veru li toffri ġmiel immens. U b'daqshekk?! X'għandu x'jaqsam il-ġmiel (mingħajr dubju) ma' aġir pastaż ta' dan il-bniedem li jiddefendi s-sentimenti tiegħu fejn jaqbillu u jkasbar dawk ta' nies li minn fuqhom qiegħed jaqla' ħobżu. Nittama li għadek taf taqra l-ilsien selvaġġ tagħna sur Fenech. And just in the likely event that you don't get my drift, I think you owe an apology to Arabs generally. It seems that you and the Italian deserve each other.

A tough life and that is exactly why many leave for pastures green elsewhere. They should be grateful for these pastures especially those found outside Italian borders.

@ Samuel Cali' (Sep 12th, 11:41). Mr. Cali', quote: ' xi trid tghid fuq is-South??jekk ma tahmilx lil tas-south ta malta problema tieghek!! and just four you information, Calabria is an island, it's neither in the north nor in the south of italy. So do some research before you speak!' Is this so Mr. Cali'. I think you owe m.borg (slm) Sept.12, 11:22) an apology.

Adrian Ciantar

Sep 14th 2012, 14:01

Maybe the general public over-reacted, but he should not have spoken like he did.

mario galea

Sep 14th 2012, 11:54

.....ahfrilna bhal ma nahfru lil min hu hati ghalina.....

Joe Fenech

Sep 14th 2012, 09:06

It is very sad for a man in his 80s to see the Maltese people getting more savage and brutal.

Someone made a silly comment.... GET OVER IT !!! It's confirming that your are not Europeans but Arabs. You may not like it but culturally your are. This hysteria is a living proof of this.

S. Calleja

Sep 14th 2012, 09:01

Oh my how sensitive you lot are. If you really believed there was no truth in what this man said, then you wouldn't have taken offense and made such a fuss about it, and simply shrugged it off. On the other hand, such an overreaction only indicates a fragile complex that is easily cracked by a few words. You guys have no idea how much this reaction speaks about yourselves. And what's wrong with collecting potatoes? Personally, I'd take more offense if I was a potato farmer... without such people, you wouldn't have any potatoes or their derivatives on your plates.

Joe Xuereb

Sep 14th 2012, 01:48

Wow! 620 comments (unfortunately some of them are utter rubbish written by people with lacking self-esteem), and counting.

I am sure that many Maltese do not necessarily come up smelling of roses when it comes to insults, among themselves and when dealing/thinking of foreigners. But there are insults, and there are insults!

@ E Gatt (13th Sept. 11:39). E. Gatt, in the heat of a temperamental Italian moment, he insulted Maltese football. Maltese fans reacted.

The restaurateur's paranoid sensitivity then took over, felt his family was 'dishonoured' when he is not in a position to talk about honour. And he became vindictive (hence his stupid decision to publicise his reaction on Facebook). The rest of your comment, E. Gatt, is a shallow sop. He did not intend to write on Facebook?! Who typed in the letters and the words? His wife while she was bursting with laughter?

Come on, Gatt. Show some insight for your own sake. The rest of your comment is not worth the 'paper it's written on'. Are you there Ann Welch (Sept.13. 13:02).

@ Joe Fenech (13th Sept., 11:07). Mr. Fenech, you are showing your age dear, when you don't have to. It was not a private conversation. And it gets better in your next comment, Mr. Fenech. As in, 'a Maltese would never insult another by calling him/her a potato picker and a spouter of crap Arabic. Especially if the person he is insulting happens also to provide him with a living. More than a subtle difference, don't you see?! Congratulations my old fellow!

@ Kevin Wain (13th Sept. 11:45). Mr. Wain, you reckon you have more rational sense?! You don't say!

@ Andrew Agius (13th Sept. 15:26). Mr. Agius, this is not about football and you know it. Unless of course you are one of those who live through and for a score or so guys kicking a ball. And it wouldn't surpise me if you waved the tricolor to give colour and strength to you identity. And you tell people to get over themselves and get a life?! Now THAT is a joke worthy of Facebook!

@ John L Galea (13th Sept. 07:46). Communication. That's a separate issue. But I can imagine text in crap English never mind Maltese. Maybe the restaurateur has a point here. By default as he does not sound capable of the finer points of any language, including his own.

@ Antoine Zammit (13th Sept. 09:07). Confused tunnel-vision at its best I'm afraid. Of course Malta needs to safeguard its interest as far as tourism is concerned. But does it have to come down to the level of a common street prostitute?! And be cautious with the word 'hypocrites'; it tends to boomerang something terrible.

@ Julian Formosa (13th Sept. 02:15). Mr. Formosa, with fellow-countrymen like you who needs enemies? This is how I view apologists. They are insecure in their identity so when something awful happens, instead of dealing with it to prove their mettle (which they do not have) they choose to play down the seriousness of the matter. Of course this does nothing for their self-esteem.

This man (not particularly intelligent by the sounds of it) exercised his right to freedom of speech but with that comes responsibility. It is sad if his family suffer as a consequence of his stupidty but what is one supposed to do? play down the insult and its implications?! I do not think so.

One does not share a joke with anyone and feel the need to post it on Facebook. He had a vindictive, Italian temperament tantrum and he wanted to show who is boss. Rage and anger and a sense of superiority that he felt he had to exercise. Vindictive, as I said. He made a big mistake. He has to pay the price. Seen in this light, his apology means less than nothing.

Formosa, bil-Malti ngħidu, sakemm tkabbarha tikber (let the dog sleep otherwise it will continue barking, loosely translated). Qiegħed tara? kważi Malti ħmieġ Għarbi mija fil-mija. U dan wara ħamsin sena li ili nieqes minn arti. Fhimtni?! It's often said that two wrongs don't make a right. Maybe? But what is at issue here is closure so that someone's self-esteem remains intact and enhanced. Write it off as just a joke (so as not to make it akbar) is proving this restaurateur right about what he said. And one's self-esteem so low it's gone underground. Just simple food for thought, Formosa. Are you there Antoine Zammit (13th Sept. 09:07)?

Maria Camilleri

Sep 13th 2012, 18:55

Reply to Kevin Wain. It is definetely not my intention to enter into a correspondence with you, but let me make myself very clear. You are definetely OFF THE MARK!! I love Italy, the Italians and ALL foreigners but NOBODY insults me or my country. Full stop!!!!

S. Bonello

Sep 13th 2012, 17:59

To the restaurant owner.....
I have visited your restaurant several times..........never again GBIN !!!
I have many Italian friends and I love Italy and the Italians.....except you that is.

Here's hoping you get lost..... We don't need YOU and the likes of YOU!!!!


ADDIO !!!

Alex Buds

Sep 13th 2012, 17:21

@M Burns. Your last name sounds foreign. Why are you in Malta if you don't like the Maltese?

phyllis butler

Sep 13th 2012, 16:40

Mr. Fenech who posted a comment at 12:24 - I am not a friend of this Italian guy nor intend to be a patron at his restaurant. I am just proud to be Maltese and my football team, hence why I wrote the comment. I got to know about this issue from the Newspaper and not Facebook, therefore, do not call people peeping toms. You or someone with the same name and surname definitely hasn't stopped writing comments about this subject so who is the 'peeping tom' now?

Andrew Agius

Sep 13th 2012, 16:13

None of you ever went to his establishment anyway. Did you?
It's an Italian restaurant not a Spud-U-Like!

P. Ciantar

Sep 13th 2012, 15:45

Get lost and thanks for telling me and others never to go and spend my money at your restaurant. from a potato picker
-Vai a casa tua!!!!

Andrew Agius

Sep 13th 2012, 15:26

Oh GET OVER YOURSELVES!
For pity's sake the man was having a laugh, it was football banter. It's hardly Abu Hamza having a go at the West is it?
Try to be a bit bigger than that.
Have none of you ever been to a football match?
The only person who should be remotely offended by this is a Bedouin potato picker.

Ann Vella

Sep 13th 2012, 14:53

So why doesn't this 'Italian' go back to his country of origin!!?
Why is he in Malta?
Our money seems good for him though.
I say to the restauranter 'Go back home, we don't need people like yourself living on our beautiful island.'
Good riddance

Albert Zammit

Sep 13th 2012, 14:45

well for those who knows history, our language its a semetic language. now the words that are arabic in it its closer to the lebanese language because of the pheonicians. if you take arabic language like all other languages it has got dialects, ours its closer to lebanese. now if u are in italy, even the italians classify themselves , so this calabrian comes from the lowest class of the so called italians, same like Arab Bedouins. they are the lowest class of arabs. we ve got the right to feel insulted. if you are in england and you call a native of pakistan paki its an offence, but i dont see why. can you call a pakistan native , a german

fred sammut

Sep 13th 2012, 14:06

Forza Malta !!!!

So this guy married a potatoe picker : ) ?

W. Scicluna

Sep 13th 2012, 13:51

How To Self-Destruct for Dummies

Brian Camilleri

Sep 13th 2012, 13:18

599 comments?? Is this a record for the most posts for 1 article?

Emmanuel Scicluna

Sep 13th 2012, 13:17

What's wrong in being an arab bedouin?

Joe Fenech

Sep 13th 2012, 12:52

Remember that 'Maltese is Arabic in Roman form' and 'the language forges the nation'

Simon Ciantar

Sep 13th 2012, 12:52

just dont go to eat in his restuarant and he ll have to leave to the wonderland that is his homeland.

Sarah Borg

Sep 13th 2012, 12:34

not that i say it is ok from the italian restaurant, but
did anybody read the insults, done from maltese hunters, over the german ppl while they are trying safe protected species
insulting on the lowest level others, thats looks like is ok for maltese ppl

Morana Axisa

Sep 13th 2012, 11:46

Sincerament, x'jinteressani jekk xi hadd joqghod iparla fil vojt? I think we as a nation have larger and more important issues to tackle and be worried about than one puny comment from one puny individual!! Please get a life!!

phyllis butler

Sep 13th 2012, 11:40

Private conversations on Facebook are done via messaging! Once you post insults they then become general domain. I am very proud of my Maltese heritage and all that we stand for - 7000 years of history - can the foreigners who are posting adverse comments say the same? To the Maltese who agree with this gentleman, perhaps they should move to Calabria and open a Restaurant there offering Patata al forn (pure Maltese style)

E Gatt

Sep 13th 2012, 11:39

The restaurant owner’s biggest mistake was that he (mis)used Facebook.
I don’t agree with what he said, but the fact is that he probably didn’t mean to cause such a commotion. Even if he meant his comments to be debated publically (I doubt it), he has every right to express his opinion, and everyone else is entitled to disagree with him.

I think the reaction to the restaurant owner’s comments has been exaggerated. Calls to go home, verbal attacks on Italy, the Italians and Calabria, reflects a small island mentality, as well as the high level of intolerance and xenophobia that is sadly so ingrained in Maltese society.

Elaine Spiteri

Sep 13th 2012, 11:21

Apology accepted but insult not forgotten!

Lance Anthony

Sep 13th 2012, 11:13

If it was a Joke between him and his wife Why Did he put it on a social network where the world can see it?
Why is he is in Malta if Italy is so wonderful?

Joe Fenech

Sep 13th 2012, 11:07

The Maltese again showed how low they are. First for intruding in what was 'a private conversation', secondly 'they take very opportunity to show their hate and spite'. That makes them shallower than this guy.

Charles Caruana

Sep 13th 2012, 10:36

There has been a upsurge investment in southern Italian (Calabrian and Sicilian) cuisine restaurants recently most probably for the fact that in Malta these people can fleece their customers more than in their home country.

Whoever has been to these two regions can compare the cost of anti pasti, primi & secondi piatti here and in most of Italy..

The going has been good so far so why spoil it with such rubbish.

The Calabrian can thank God he did not insult Mohammed...............

Maria Camilleri

Sep 13th 2012, 10:22

Apology simply not accepted Mr 'Calabria'. We will only be happy when you pack your bags and leave our beautiful island. Anyway it shouldn't be a problem for you to go back to your 'perfect' Calabria where I understand that there is abundance of work! I urge everyone to keep the name of this place in mind. This is definetely a NO NO restaurant. We have so many to choose from -restaurants where we are treated with respect and dignity!! This person should be held responsible for his degrading remarks!!

Matthew Croker

Sep 13th 2012, 09:55

safrattant shabu t-taljani ghall-patata maltija jigu fis-sajf

Jude Taddeo Portelli

Sep 13th 2012, 09:52

Wonder why this guy came to Malta to do Business? Understand that he mistrust his own country and his 'brothers' and ran away from them. He decided to do business in a genuine country - Malta (lucky him!!). One cannot be "full of hate" against a country which inspired him to get richer!!! This is nonsense. What are you going to tell the Maltese who come over to your restaurant??? JTP

S S. Warren

Sep 13th 2012, 09:46

Dear Mr Calabria,

We'll make sure that next weekend and all that follows, we will indulge arab style as you precisely stated.

At least I don't have to purchase and wear pink trousers and yellow shirts no more since I will not be coming to your restaurant.

Next weekend we will head to our ghalqa at siggiewi and we make a majjalata kif tmis il ligi tal arabs.

Don't feel down.. I'll make sure that we have plenty of patata on our table to honour and comply with your comments.

And I'll make sure that the patata is bought locally since our products are very good.... maybe you do use our patata as well.... maybe you should import your own since the arabs are cultivating it.

m. borg (slm)

Sep 13th 2012, 09:33

I will accept his apology only if he's man enough to wear a bill-board stating:

I am a Calabrese who insulted the Maltese because I am stupid and would like to apologise to all the Maltese.

This for a whole week from 7 am to 7 pm at Valletta's entrance.

Nothing less.

Alfred Vassallo

Sep 13th 2012, 09:28

This italian guy shamelessly/boldly/blantantly (take your pick) insulted us in public. Imagine what his attitude would be when in private surroundings.
No sir your apologies is not accepted!!.

Steve Mizzi

Sep 13th 2012, 09:15

So let me see if I got this right, this low life decided to safeguard his MALTESE Wife's and Children's honour by public stating that they and their co-nationals are Arab Bedouins only fit to pick potatoes.

He also stated that they (Italians) brought us money and intelligence; the only thing that Italy gave us was bombs, almost forgot, they also gave us their entire Navy when it surrendered at Mistra.

At this stage he is most probably following the great Italian tradition of "Coraggio Fuggiamo" all the way back to Calabria.

What an idiot, this guy should be nominated for the Darwin Awards for terminal stupidity and while he's at it he should apply for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records under the heading "Quickest way to destroy a business".

Joseph Spiteri

Sep 13th 2012, 09:11

Mr Calabrese, I suggest that you change the name of your restaurant to 'Piccolo Cervello' , so that you will always remember how intelligent you are.

Antoine Zammit

Sep 13th 2012, 09:07

yes hypocrites.. up until a few years ago.. many maltese would have joined him in denigrating fellow maltese, no matter if the foreign country in question is Italy, britain, germany.... sufficient its foreign.

Lip Service and Hypocrisy at its best... If you are a patriot you don't show your sentiments by denigrating people from foreign countries, especially those who bring investment in.

I am in favour of such immigration call it 'cultural immigration' where and when Malta stands to win... which is a far cry from 'economic' illegal immigration where and when Malta with its limited resources has to sustain these individuals, provide food, medical care in abundancy, mobile telephony, branded clothing, at the detriment of our ever ailing public finances. This Italian fellow here, only contributes in taxes, economic activity etc, and is being denigrated and does not deserve so. Since it was a joke wih his wife lets keep the matter private, and not interfere in private family matters.... The joys of facebook!!!

Maroa borg-Olivier

Sep 13th 2012, 09:06

I have no doubt this gentleman is sorry, but not because he's remorseful about insulting the Maltese, rather because his asinine comments will have a negative effect on his business. Not very bright I must say!

Joe Azzopardi

Sep 13th 2012, 08:58

You should have stayed there if you think that Italians are so much better then the Maltese. I never had the pleasure to visit your restaurant and after this would not come even if it was the last place left in Malta. BTW I love Italy, it’s art, and it’s cuisine. But Malta is my country and she comes first.

Mr Clive Aquilina Spagnol

Sep 13th 2012, 08:52

Galantom minn Galabria - I advise you to take a history course as Malta is much more influenced by the British than by your country. God forbid if our administration works on the lines of that Italian as otherwise Malta would come at a standstill, same as happens in Italy. Lest you do not know, in WWII the Italians were very bad losers. The cowards they were, made a mockery of the Axis Powers and they feared the Brits and us Maltese, with the Allied Forces crushing the Italians to nothing.

Michael Camileri

Sep 13th 2012, 08:50

This is just a typical Mediterranean emotional outburst... The Maltese shouldn't be getting angry at him, most of you say this kind of stuff about the Gozitans and foreigners.

Hypocrites at best!

Gordon Sacco

Sep 13th 2012, 08:38

Kumbinazzjoni nhar is sibt kont gej niekol ghandek ma tax xol.. Issa fuq din l-anqas jekk immorru nieklu bicca hobz biz zejt minghand l-ghar restaurant li hawn Malta..X tahseb li int..COLGIONE... Irringrazja l Alla li kont qed taqla x tiekol barra min pajjizek.. Issa il pagell u l ispnott kulhom int!!!! ISTHI!!!

Jeremy Cordina

Sep 13th 2012, 08:19

A Typical Italian. Bhal dak li qallu mhux il-Maltin qed jigu ghandek. PACK UP AND LEAVE. WE MALTESE CITIZENS SHOULD BOYCOTT THIS IDIOT.

Albert Farrugia

Sep 13th 2012, 08:09

Funnily enough, no Arab has come forward to complain that his ethnicity is being used as an insult!

M Rayner

Sep 13th 2012, 08:04

Proverbju ciniz : Meta cajta titwal, issir serp, troppo tardi, addio,e non torna piu

Adrian Gauci

Sep 13th 2012, 07:46

Pack up and leave. You really meant what you said in view that yor words where carefully chosen before you wrote them. Not only Maltese will not enter your restaurant but even tourists. Have you checked comments on Trip Advisor etc.

John L Galea

Sep 13th 2012, 07:46

This incident shows how mentally retarded people are. People even living in the same house put up a discussion/fight./argument/joke between them on facebook. For what? God gave you a mouth to speak to each other. This facebook thing is becoming so pathetic, people askign what to do, telling what they are doing like (ironing the clothes, watching a downloaded move...very dumb to say that publicly, and whatever crap they come up with). No wonder there are a lot of separations and divorces amongst couples since now the only way of communication between the couple has become facebook and important to make it public...can it be more sad than this? More mentally retarded ones take pictures of their house and expose on their facebook and obviously then put up a picture of their flight ticket giving all the details of their next trip (perhaps to make others jealous)...giving good ideas for burglars to break in. Latest fashion to put up pictures of what they are going to eat.....who cares!!! What's next?

Louis Galea

Sep 13th 2012, 07:45

Very typical for most italians. First they throw mud at you trying to show off with their sarcasm how superior they are, then when they get scolded told off they back up and show their inherited COWARDISE.

CORAGGIO SCAPPIAMO!!!!!!!!

Joseph Fenech

Sep 13th 2012, 07:21

Apologise is a Farse.Close the restaurant and leave our country Now.!!!

Joseph Spiteri

Sep 13th 2012, 04:03

"If someone felt offended, I sincerely apologise from the bottom of my heart. I have lived in Malta for 11 years and this means that I’m happy here and that I have a good relatioship with the Maltese..."

You haven't offended someone but a whole nation. I have never seen so many comments as to this article. In the 11 years you have been living in our beloved island, as a "colto e educato" as you humbly described yourself, you must have learnt that we Maltese may argue amongst ourselves on internal issues but no foreigner, not even a Calabrese who had to leave his country to earn a decent living, can offend us and not pay the price.

Claudia Borg

Sep 13th 2012, 03:46

If you were truly happy in Malta, you would have been able to show more respect to the nation that has hosted you for the past 11 years. Your comments are offensive and racist.

Kevin Cassar

Sep 13th 2012, 02:34

The first part of his comment can be taken as a "joke" or sporting banter, but the second part surely cannot. Apart from being insulting and racist, it was also extremely stupid which is ironic considering he was speaking about "us italians" bringing the maltese, money and intelligence. Well as far as I am concerned, he is now trying to verify if we are indeed a stupid nation, and to see whether we fall for this fake apology from someone who is only concerned about not losing business.

Julian Formosa

Sep 13th 2012, 02:15

Dear fellow countrymen, we over reacting to a comment that was not written for all to see. This guy has clearly made a mistake, not by his comments, as everyone has a right to express themselves, but by posting it in the wrong section of Facebook. "God only knows what I call the Italians when they play football as I can't stand them in Sports, "but that's my opinion. For God sake this guy has a family to feed. Ignorant he may be, but to boycott his establishment is harsh. For those who are deeply offended , don't go there but don't isn't nice to rally up hatred over a silly comment. I have heard worse comments from locals about their own country and on the same not I've heard Italians slag off their own country, it's done all the time. Live and let live... Give the guy a break, you shouldn't condemn his family over his silliness.
Goodnight to all.

Mark Muscat

Sep 13th 2012, 02:00

Haha, spending money and intelligence, definitely not two words Italians can be referred to:)

Kevin gauci

Sep 13th 2012, 01:41

Jekk veru kinet cajta missek amilta fil privat u mhux tiprova tirredikola lmaltin xtahseb li intkom taljani kollox taghkom biss sew. Qijad go pajjiz haddiehor u tghajru sahha qed taqla xtiekol umbad tiprova taffi lferita ax indunajt li ngdimt. Jiddispjacini ghal dawk li jghaddi kollox ghalihom.

John Spiteri Jones

Sep 13th 2012, 01:12

@JOSEPH VELLA, Iva joe u inhallu taljan bhall dan jitmellah bina u jinsolenta go artna, ibbojkottjawh u tersqux lejn ir restorant tighu.

Ms.D. Galea

Sep 13th 2012, 01:06

Question;
What is Calabria famous for?

Answer;
Sausage and sheep shagging.

Pule' Carmel

Sep 13th 2012, 00:19

A true gentleman never offends anybody, unintentially!
Food for thought.

Keith Camilleri

Sep 13th 2012, 00:18

Every time I write a comment anywhere, I make sure that it does not effect any part of my business or my life. That is intelligence Mister. You can put up a for sale sign on your restaurant !!!

Victor Vella

Sep 13th 2012, 00:13

The last sentence said it all. That is what I`m going to do to use common sense . Next time if I decide to go to his restaurant, I`ll take only two potatoes, but he has to give me 10 back, otherwise I`ll find another restaurant.

Johan Grech

Sep 13th 2012, 00:07

Patrons should boycott his restaurant for a minimum of 1 year, in order to see if he can survive with only tourists.

David Vella

Sep 13th 2012, 00:02

From now on he should only specialize in Qassatat!! By an italian will taste good!!!!

alistair scott

Sep 12th 2012, 23:30

The British have had a big say in Malta history not the Italians,if they did your cars would all have 5 reverse gears instead of forward.

David Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 23:29

He forgot to mention that they brought us bombs as well in 1940-1942. Typical italian!!!
Faqawna bil liri!!!!

M Farrugia

Sep 12th 2012, 23:27

This person must know much more better, that Malta rise to the occasion when they are defending their country. I have been told by a friend that this restaurant owner is an ex-italian sailor. If so is the case I would like to remind him that the italian fleet during second world war surrendered only a couple of kilometers away from his restaurant next to St. Paul's Island.

alistair scott

Sep 12th 2012, 23:23

The man is an idiot which ever way you look at it,he said that from his heart and now his mind is in regret so he backtracks in order to save his business,is this the place you want to eat knowing what he thinks about Maltese?

Jim Pickett

Sep 12th 2012, 23:16

All I can say this guy must be nuts as a businessman to critisice the Malteese population - he deserves the loss of his business

Rita D'Amato

Sep 12th 2012, 23:08

Thank God i've never been to this restaurant and if it's still open after his insults to us Maltese, i'm sure i never will!!! How come he's spent 11 years depending on the Maltese to earn a living here?? Why didn't he stay in his beloved country then... maybe he could have been a footballer by now & played for his country instead!!!!!! Well I take this opportunity to congratulate the Maltese team because they sure played a good match & for us it was an HONOUR!!!

A Sammut

Sep 12th 2012, 23:02

Why am I not surprised. I googled his restaurant and sure enough I recognised it as being the one me and my family wen't to once. The little food that is served is WAY overpriced and not even that good. Apart from all that he had the cheek of not giving any VAT receipt, which I always ask for. If anything I have boycotted the place for that reason alone.

As a Maltese citizen I support my country and do not wish to end up like Greece. So please always insist on a VAT receipt when you purchase goods and services.

K Vassallo

Sep 12th 2012, 22:45

This peasant ..... should visit his home town after eleven years to realise;
Italians do not wear dangarees anymore,
The average 'intelligent' Italian cannot earn a decent salary, let alone run a dull restaurant serving ordinary average home made food,
The reason why he concluded that he would be better off opening a restaurant here than in his own beloved Calabria.
Whilst he is away, Mepa should check out his illegal signage, lands department his improper use of the pavement and the parking slot in front and the tax department should look at his declared income ...

Peter Azzopardi

Sep 12th 2012, 22:41

Go Home , We don't need your charity. BELLO....................mangia solo................

mark borg

Sep 12th 2012, 21:58

tajjeb li erba laqa maltin li johorgu jdoqqu il horn u jxejru il bnadar tal barranin .....issa tafu kif jahsbuwa fuqkhom !

J. Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 21:47

One first throws a stone and later hides his hand. These comments are very tough and we should boycott his restaurant.

mona agius

Sep 12th 2012, 21:45

I dont agree with those who said to take it with a pinch of salt... An insult is an insult. I dont think that what he said was funny.. or if it was no one found it amusing....

Jason Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 21:33

It's true this guy shot himself in the foot , so to speak , but boycotting his restaurant can mean him not making a living . He probably has a family people.

Mr Kevin Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 21:25

I have a great idea!!

Why dont we set a date and all go to the piccola calabria and order nothing but potatoes?

mona agius

Sep 12th 2012, 21:21

I don't think that what you wrote was fair for us Maltese. That wasn't a joke that was insulting, us. after all, you work in Malta and you feed your clients Maltese potatoes, by the way which we export in Europe so even our potato is excellent. For such a small nation we re all very proud of our country.. It s a shame you have ruined your business and you re fooling your self that it was just a joke..... Not for us Pal.

Mario Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 21:21

So why did you came to Malta??? Go back to Italy.... If you opened a restaurant here at our country that means that Malta is better than Italy no???! I will never ever come to your restaurant for sure :)

Robert Agius

Sep 12th 2012, 21:16

Too little too late.

mark borg

Sep 12th 2012, 21:12

Dear Sir, within a week you should rename your restaurant from Piccola Calabria to Vuoto Calabria !

mark borg

Sep 12th 2012, 21:10

The Northern Italians do not even consider Calabria as part of Italy ...and its easy to understand why, when one looks at this low life.

H. J. Grech

Sep 12th 2012, 21:07

To be honest, I don't know where this restaurant is situated and have no intention to find out!

mark borg

Sep 12th 2012, 21:01

This gentlemen has better excuse himself as well with the arabs, as he is insulting them rather heavily in his text....
I would be rather worried if I was in his shoes.

S.M. Cuschieri

Sep 12th 2012, 21:00

Yeah I bet he is sorry.....All that he is worried about is that they will boycott his restaurant....LOLOL!!! Arab bedouins my bloody eye!!!! The Italians always look down on us..like we are something that smells nasty.....!!!

Joe Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 20:59

by the way ... apology NOT accepted!

Joe Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 20:58

i am happy to pay money to put a billboard infront of this shop, with a screenshot of the comments he made!! your apologies is a cry!! You dont tell Maltese to go and pick potatoes because of a football match!

mark borg

Sep 12th 2012, 20:58

In one of his facebook comments half way through the match yesterday, the restaurateur said: "Italy 1 Malta 0 - Come on champions let us score another 10 goals
Typical Italian mentality ...strong with the weak ! the 10 goales you should score against countries of your same size and population ...like example against Spain and not with a country that its population is a mere 400,000 thousand...and by the way champions of what ? for the trashing against Spain ? or exiting in the first round of world Cup 2010 ?

PS I have never visited your restaurant but of course would make sure that I never will.....wish you best of luck when you return to your miserable debt and criminal ridden country.

Ramon Mangion

Sep 12th 2012, 20:58

This should be used as a case study for business courses. "How to ruin your business reputation in a minute"

Charles Grixti

Sep 12th 2012, 20:51

Well, this incident speaks volumes about the myth of "multiculturalism", when even fellow Southern Europeans cannot get along.

Toni Muscat

Sep 12th 2012, 20:45

Do the Maltese people not have a life. It was a joke for god sake . How many owners of restaurants here complain and make fun of the Italians . My god if only they knew the things that are being said. Just drop it already

Emmanuel Mazzitelli

Sep 12th 2012, 20:45

How foolish of him to insult the Maltese in this manner! My ancestor came from Italy, he settled in Malta and made it his country. This goes on to show that not all Italians are like this restaurateur. If he doesn't like our country then he should pack, go back home, we will bid him addio, wishing him never to return.

Michelle Buhagiar

Sep 12th 2012, 20:44

Go home!!

Adrian Scerri

Sep 12th 2012, 20:35

What has been seen, cannot be unseen....

Alfred Cassar

Sep 12th 2012, 20:31

Calabrians are made of bone, muscle, water and ..... Honour!

: )

A. MICALLEF

Sep 12th 2012, 20:10

My Company lost thousands of euros given to three different Companies who came to Malta
bringing their Mafia inteligence to our country, posing as dottor businessmen and than
vanished from Malta, leaving a mountain of debts. Too many stories of Italian business posers
comitting fraud in Malta.

D Muscat

Sep 12th 2012, 20:10

I think his superior intelligence will be put to good use in the future as an example to all of us. He has a lot to teach us.

I'm sure the University of Malta will, in the future, be using his business model as an example of how not to run a business. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

Good thing I've met other Italians and so know that most Italians and Calabrians are decent people.

Anton Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 20:06

I will boycott this place.......

Manuel Scicluna

Sep 12th 2012, 20:04

Those kind of jokes will never ever be tolerated. A simple apology does not mean that he should get away for his crime.

joseph vella

Sep 12th 2012, 19:57

Kullhadd qed jaghmila ta patrijot Malti u KULLHADD kiteb bl Ingliz.Mhux ahjar tidiskutu fuq l edukazzjoni ,fuq ic child cares, fuq il kontijiet u fuq is sitwazzjoni ta MALTA

John Spiteri Jones

Sep 12th 2012, 19:55

Who does he take us for, idiots! he only apologised becouse he is now afraid of loseing his business,hes shown his true colours, go ahead and boycott him and send him on his bike back to the poor south of italy,and let him start his business there. and let this be an example to others.

Kurt Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 19:52

Pack up and leave asap....no future for you in Malta

C. Bonnici

Sep 12th 2012, 19:42

No one tampers with our pride!!! Many tried but were horribly mistaken! Just to mention a few: the turks, Napoleon Bonaparte, .... Rai presenter Massimo Gilletti (he tried on many occasions actually..as if one humiliation is not enough)... and now the owner of Piccola Calabria!!! What a cheap attitude!!!

B. Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 19:41

Your apology is not accepted, with your ungreatful comments you have upsetted too much the feelings of this small yet proud nation. Especially from you who have been living among us for 11 years. With or without you our nation will still be moving forward and doing far better then other countries. So now is time for you to pick up all your stuff, and leave.

Mr B Busuttil

Sep 12th 2012, 19:39

and he is from Calabria!!! ha ha ha ha should I lough or should I cry??????

H. Galea (NRK)

Sep 12th 2012, 19:36

This gentleman should be declared 'persona non grata' and given 24 hours to leave our country.

In EU citizens are permitted to roam and work in a different EU country from their fatherland - Choosing to insult the Country that is not only hosting you, but allowing you to earn your livelihood, may never be tolerated. Keep all the apologies to yourself, wrap them up and take them along with you ....!

John Spiteri

Sep 12th 2012, 19:27

Its in St pauls bay Not Xemxija!

Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi

Sep 12th 2012, 19:16

And this guy has the audacity to talk about Italian intelligence when he shot himself in the foot while cooking his own goose with his stupid and hateful comments that do not hold water when examined as historical and genetic facts. Close your restaurant and pack your bags to return to Calabria Mr. Hole-in-the-wall restauranteur, as you personally sabotaged your own livelihood with your blind hate.

riccardo riccardo

Sep 12th 2012, 19:16

Surely the owner of the restaurant was wrong and continues to go wrong reacting this way, it is sufficient a simple "sorry" instead of offending the nation who kindly hosts.
as far as I have much to learn from the Italians Maltese people starting with education and civilization.
We are not all the same Italians.

H. Galea (NRK)

Sep 12th 2012, 19:16

Send him and all his family back to his lovely Calabria, where instead of picking potatoes, he will find an over abundance of LEAD SHOT to pick ! Back to your Ndrangheta, Sacra Corona, and all those intelligent criminal groups.

Charles Cremona

Sep 12th 2012, 19:14

When I left Malta for Australia and later the UK 46 years ago they use to refer to us Maltese and Southern Italians as Wogs and Daygoes but as we where far away from home we use to take it and kept our mouths shut. However, I will not be insulted by anyone in my homeland especially an Italian.

stephen balzan

Sep 12th 2012, 19:07

how stupid can he be? he will never see me in his restaurant even for free.

C Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 19:05

Cunningham informed the Admiralty with a telegram; "Please to inform your Lordships that the Italian battle fleet now lies at anchor under the guns of the fortress of Malta."[45]

Alex Buds

Sep 12th 2012, 19:04

Ironic that last time I checked Malta's economy has doing much better than Italy's.

Maybe that is why this ungrateful person is doing business in Malta not his financially ruined home country?

Maybe the Italians need some Maltese intelligence to rescue them.

Alex Buds

Sep 12th 2012, 19:01

With a long and detailed insult like that, no apology can fix it.. He has shown his true feelings.

He should pack up and go home.

Joseph Mifsud

Sep 12th 2012, 18:59

May I tell this restorant of Piccola Calabria that the Italians of Northern Italy say the same thing to the Italians of the South. May he be Informed that all settlers who came to Malta came from Sicily except the British. We Maltese speak a mixture of 3 Arabic dialects Classical, North African, and Levantine. Also he must know that in the 13th century King Fredrick of Sicily exiled the Muslims and brought Arabic speaking Christians from Syria and Palestine who were escaping the Muslims who won the last crusade to southern Italy. There are various monastries in Italy one of them near Folignio which is still functioning that was build by Syrian monks.
In Malta we have surnames like Busietta and Izzo of Muslim Arab origin and others like Sacco and Gatt(o) which are common to this day among Arab Christians and are also common in Southern Italy.
We happen to speak a Semitic language because of our small dimentions not like Sicily, when the Phoenicians came to Malta they overtook the small late bronze age population while in Sicily the Phoenicians and the Greeks didn't penetrate the interior.
All people of the world are of common dissent.

Anthony Formosa

Sep 12th 2012, 18:57

Aren't these classified as Racist comments? Shouldn't the Police take action on such comments?

C. Bonnici

Sep 12th 2012, 18:57

On second thought, this might end up boosting his business :) He should organise a Maltese night. Free food for everyone :)

Joseph Cini

Sep 12th 2012, 18:55

I SUPPORT ITALIAN FOOTBALL BESIDES THE MALTESE BUT SURE ENOUGH THESE COMMENTS THAT THIS ITALIAN SAID WERE VERY INSULTING. IT WAS NOT A JOKE . MALTA AND THE MALTESE COME FIRST AND AND FOREMOST. WELL DONE MALTA FOR A POSITIVE RESULT.

Susan Cassar

Sep 12th 2012, 18:50

Wow the internet can destroy you in seconds...i would forgive him only if He spends three days picking potatoes ...

Peter Roberts

Sep 12th 2012, 18:50

Never bite the hand that feeds you....... Old English proverb

Ms ANNA GRECH

Sep 12th 2012, 18:43

Perhaps he should return to his country, take a crash course in history and return to Malta. Strangely enough he came here to work and earn a living. how come he didn't in his beloved paesino?

John Borg (mlh)

Sep 12th 2012, 18:39

Troppo tardi caro mio........
Criticism related to football we can take, but blatant racism with a huge dose of patronisation is simply is way beyond a joke. had you been in public office, you would have resigned. Being a restaurateur in your case is a huge PR nightmare for all of the wrong reasons. I have spoken to many Italians today who are equally disgusted by your comments. I personally will forgive and forget, as will many like me, but I'm afraid the damage to your reputation has been done. Again, had it been just a sarcastic football remark, one can take it with a pinch of salt. Racism (I guess many Arabs living in Malta are equally offended by your remarks) and the choice of words you used has given you much more publicity than you could ever get with a paid for media blitz! You may consider taking up a job in PR after this.

Charles Micallef

Sep 12th 2012, 18:39

Pack your bags, bird brain of Calabria...! I hope that your food is better than your common sense!

moira palmqvist

Sep 12th 2012, 18:33

How appalling of this restauranteur to insult the Maltese and still gets his bread and butter from us. The Italians did not bring their money or knowledge to us - it was the British! He should pack his bags and go back to his bankrupt ITALY. Out of all the European countries - Malta is performing brilliantly!

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 18:32

One good thing is going to come out of all this - when Malta plays Italy in Ta'Qali, all of Malta wil be there to support our boys! I remember something similar happened when Malta played Turkey on the 8th September -great atmosphere. Thank you stupid Calabrese for uniting the Maltese and increasing their support for their national team.

Mike Burns

Sep 12th 2012, 18:30

This whole story irrefutably proves that the Maltese public severely lack a sense of humour. I appreciate that you're a proud nation but the man has simply made a few comment in jest and he's getting the typical Maltese reaction of an aggressive over-reaction. Give the guy a break because lets face it, you're terrible at football and I'm not expert but I'm pretty sure Malta has some Arabic heritage, both in genetics and your 'crap arabic' as he so eloquently put.

Stop taking yourselves so seriously.

I know where I'm having dinner tonight.

V Mercieca

Sep 12th 2012, 18:30

The Maltese language is a Semitic language. The cultured Italian gentleman called us Arabs. Well like the Maltese language, there are also Arabic, Hebrew and Aramaic languages that are Semitic languages.

Does the cultured Italian gentleman also refer to Hebrews / Jews as being Arabs?

Can we call the Italians as Spanish or French because these three languages are of the Latin family? I am sure the cultured Italian gentleman is proud to be Italian and he would be offended if we call him a Spaniard.

And what is wrong with Arabs? They are people who have their culture and history like any other nation. The cultured Italian gentleman having lived here for the past 11 years should know that our culture is more European, and in many respects British and not Arabic. I wonder how cultured he is!

stephen koludrovic

Sep 12th 2012, 18:23

Strangely enough for northern Italians, Calabria together with the Siciliy are considered to be Arabia, and the inhabitants known as Saracens.

The true Italy starts from Florence upwards.

Gustav Svensson

Sep 12th 2012, 18:10

Seems that the comments was a little bit too direct to be appreciated as a joke:).

S. Azzopardi

Sep 12th 2012, 18:08

I do not believe that the apologies of this person are sincere. He simply realised that his business is going to suffer and tried to prevent it but I think it is too late for that. The comments on this page are proof enough.

In Maltese we have a saying which you should have learned by now "iddardarx l ghajn li trid tixrob minnha" and you have done exactly that now you have to live with it.

N. Agius

Sep 12th 2012, 18:07

I think this guy underestimated the power of social media. Any way I have never and will never go to this mini-restaurant.

Joseph Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 18:00

He then made a full apology in the afternoon ...... yes?, but isnt Calabrian , an Italian?, So then we believe him. Everybody believes an Italian , right?

tonio grima

Sep 12th 2012, 17:56

I will never ever set foot in this restaurant,not even if it is the last left in the whole of Malta.As for its owner just pack up your bags and leave!!We do not need you in our country.

John Cole Smith

Sep 12th 2012, 17:54

Pity the Tomato war was put off, maybe its a sign, who knows when it could be held again , maybe our friend could come along?

J Debrincat

Sep 12th 2012, 17:45

Some worrying elements of a pack mentality here in these comments. Some of you are just as bad as this guy was with your comments, insulting and generalising Italians who, like it or not are the hand that feeds you (via tourism, commerce etc). Too much ignorance and do not even get me started on some of the historical inaccuracies in some of the statements. Not defending this guy as he is clearly guilty of passing stupid comments and generalising against Maltese in his Facebook posts but if you think about the level of football banter nowadays it is clearly not as bad as all that and we should be careful not to take it out of context when we decide to ruin this guy’s livelihood. Football banter has a tendency to generalise so perhaps calm down some of the vitriol!!

John Cole Smith

Sep 12th 2012, 17:45

Let me remind this cheerful Cambrian, when in Malta we had the Plague, probably brought on a ship from Calabria, Many Maltese migrated to Italy, mainly in Magna Grecia, and of course Calabria. So, as the story goes, he could even possibly, be Maltese, himself. The other saying, goes in Maltese: Min imaqdar irid jixtri, and another Hmar tajjeb jinbieh Pajjizu, need I say more. Hehehehehehehe

Braden Galea

Sep 12th 2012, 17:43

Those who love Malta would never set foot in his restaurant. Going about insulting a nation and its people, after it has provided you with your livelihood for 11 years is not the way to thank Malta and the Maltese. Us Maltese may argue about countless things, but when it comes to defending our country and its interest, we always pull on the same rope.

His restaurant's Tripadvisor page may need a few words about the insolence of the owner: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g608946-d1795577-Reviews-La_Piccola_Calabria-St_Paul_s_Bay_Island_of_Malta.html

N Chetcuti

Sep 12th 2012, 17:39

Dak li qatt m'ghamlu l-gvernijiet kollha ta' qabel u presenti irnexxielu jaghmlu Taljan fi ftit hin. Ghaqqadna!!!!!

paul camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 17:32

one thing is for sure so far 386 comments means the possibility of 386 x maybe 2 ( couples) are not going to be eating at this persons resturant

A Bezzina

Sep 12th 2012, 17:32

Please please let's boycott this restaurant!! Let's show this guy some Maltese collective power! Think it would be a good idea to set up a Facebook Page ... make this boycott go viral!!

Alex Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 17:31

Calm down guys. I have an Italian mother, have lived in Italy many years and have an Italian wife. I often find that sometimes Italian sense of humour gets misunderstood in Malta, especially by people who take themselves too seriously. Italians have a habit of insulting each other, even across regions and dialects, in a joking way which is evident when done in a face-to-face context where you also take into account tone, body language, non-verbals, etc. but when you put them down in writing you are stripping the words of all their context, and what you're left is the lean words. After many years here I have learnt how to be very careful, but this kind of banter happens all the time within my family and in-laws and we trade "friendly insults". I grew up in this when my dad used to insult my mum about Mussolini and my mum would do the same about Maltese being sycophants of the British.
Personally I take things with a pinch of salt and laugh it off rather than be hypersensitive about it. For example when a well-known German magazine said "the Maltese are Southern Italians, who speak Arabic and think they are English", I thought it was hilarious. Let's stop taking ourselves too seriously, otherwise we will end up burning flags like certain radical extremists do in lands not too far off from hours!

Simon Abela

Sep 12th 2012, 17:18

This Italian man should not be in Malta. Even tough i believe in free speach.
He does not know history well. I dont know how a person can say souch things. By the way If you think Malta as Bedoiuns you need to include Sicily and Calabria as well.

We the Maltese stood for the Ottoman Empire, with very little help from the Europeans.

Simon Abela
TX USA

P Bonello

Sep 12th 2012, 17:14

How ironic. This man clearly does not know that the "Arab Bedouins" who introduced the basis of our language were, in fact, Southern Italians, "Arabic-speaking people from neighbouring Sicily and Calabria", as proven by genetic studies
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20070805/opinion/genetic-origin-of-contemporary-maltese.9032
Hence, he too must be a reformed Arab Bedouin.

Joseph Agius

Sep 12th 2012, 17:08

Not so easy Signor. Donate a pizza to each of the kiddos at and ophanage (located in Malta!) and we might try your pizza again!

Michelle Abela

Sep 12th 2012, 17:05

VIVA MALTA

Joe Fenech

Sep 12th 2012, 17:04

He had declared that he can afford not to work. So, good, you won't have to worry!

Mr robert micallef

Sep 12th 2012, 17:01

anyway he does have a point the football is not for us.

Joe Fenech

Sep 12th 2012, 16:56

What is funny is that he described himself as 'colto e educato'.

Your comments for us are small potatoes. Now learn one things from us Arabs: when you're running a business you're mouth cannot go faster then your brain.

Addio!

Norman Grech

Sep 12th 2012, 16:55

We Maltese do not need your money we have won the Turks managed to rid the French and peacefully managed the British so if you think we are not intelligent think again.......................Oh welcome to malta.... why did you come here in the first place then ...being here for 11 years seems you are doing well with the potato people.......... mela id dardax l'ghajn li tixrob minna (being here 11 years you should know what it means).

James Attard

Sep 12th 2012, 16:53

Pure italian, they thnik they know it all. i just want to know why did he marry a Maltese women and is living here if he has alll this hatered towards Malta.

Please pack your bags and go to Italy.

Bernard Pollacco

Sep 12th 2012, 16:50

so im never going to the restaurant which the owner said to go pick potatoes instead of playing football...so im going to boycott a restaurant cause of a little BANTER...jokes like this happen all the time between countries and teams !!! wth is wrong with us maltese ??? always serious all the time and never joking with one another...RIP to football banter !!!

Joseph N. Attard

Sep 12th 2012, 16:48

The Italians say; "In vino veritas". But the true measure of a man is often also evident when he is angry. And when he was angry, this gentleman discarded discretion and exposed his true feelings towards his host country. No, I would not be comfortable dining in his restaurant, however much damage control he now exercises.

Ivan Calleja

Sep 12th 2012, 16:48

Do you think we believe that this was a joke???? We are an intelligent nation!!! Keep you apolgies to yourself!!!

Josef Cristiano

Sep 12th 2012, 16:47

Dear Italian freind, you wish your country was as good as ours because otherwise you would have stayed there. I will never come to your restaurant and i hope other Maltese do the same. You regret it now? of course, you realised how stupid you were and that you would lose business. Too late! Yesterday's match? I am an Italian football supporter (first Malta) and yesterday should have ended 0-0 as both goals should not have been awarded. Next time try and think before you act...the excuses you got after the fact are as pathetic as the fact itself.

leo briffa

Sep 12th 2012, 16:45

this guy is just reflecting what the majority of foreigners, who come to Malta, think about us when we speak against our own mother land.
we need to be more patriotic- this guy is using Malta to make money and cannot even find a job in his homeland which is sinking in its own problems....He is angry and no amount of apologies can suffice this rude behavior.

John Edwards

Sep 12th 2012, 16:45

Own goal I think, Italy 0 - Malta 1

Manuel Mangani

Sep 12th 2012, 16:44

Highly deplorable comments and all that, but Mr. Piccola Calabria can't be all that prejudiced against the Maltese, if his wife is a local.

A. Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 16:43

The apology, although a bit late in the day and probably very much in attempt to save his business, is appreciated. It is a good first step, but by no means does that means I am heading to his restaurant!

Ray Spiteri

Sep 12th 2012, 16:36

when it comes to politics we are divided as a nation, but when someone like this Italian gentlemen insults we are united.

Wilfred Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 16:36

Can I add one suggestion - Seeing all the interest this got - when there is the game Malta vs Italy in TaQali - can we all go up to watch the game and support these Maltese boys?

I honestly don't follow football - but guess this should bring all together that for once the pitch is jam packed with people wearing the Maltese colours (Please Maltese-Italy fans - refrain from wearing italian gears and for one game be Maltese :) Also - At least ALL WEAR WHITE so there are no political connotations :)

Andrew Camenzuli

Sep 12th 2012, 16:34

He managed to make the promotion that he wanted!!!!!!! Lets not make a huge fuss out of this.............Can you start thinking what Nationalist and Labour party fans will start saying to each other during election time, politicians mocking each other, offending via private body parts ;) At the end of the day he said we Maltese need intelligent Italians ....................................... We have the proof that we do not need him here cause he is not intelligent at all as he clearly showed us!

Charlie Formosa

Sep 12th 2012, 16:32

I will never step inside this restaurant.

Mr Mark-Anthony Falzon

Sep 12th 2012, 16:23

Cuban missile crisis over.

c. saliba

Sep 12th 2012, 16:23

missu jekk ridt jiccajta ma martu missu qalla fil-privat mhux fuq fb fejn jaraha kullhadd. too late issa

carlos ellul

Sep 12th 2012, 16:17

Would it be possible for the authorities to check if this guy has menus with prices on it? I dont recall being given one the last time i went eating there (maybe im wrong). Is that even legal to do?

Michael Mercieca

Sep 12th 2012, 16:17

Too late for apologies, the guy have shown his true colors. Pack your bags and get lost.

Joann Bugeja

Sep 12th 2012, 16:15

Are we Maltese crap !??!?!?!?! We are so cultured, that compared to our small population & small size we are so rich in history & culturally...eg.we even know the Italian language fluently...the majority of the Italians don't even know to utter one single word in English !!!

Joe Xuereb

Sep 12th 2012, 16:12

@ s maria bonnici (Today, 15:30). Ms. Bonnici,you still think this is only about football, Maria?! As for his Maltese employees - as likely as not they are co-nationals - so what if they lose their job?! Would you work for a boss who as much as said (if his waiters are Maltese they would have heard of this disgraceful behaviour) to you that you a a bidwija taqla' l-patata u titkellem b'dak li jgħaddi bħala lsien

Għarbi?

Attenta kif twieġeb għax impjegat li jaċċetta l-insulti mingħand min iħaddmu jkun qiegħed jipprostitwixxi ruħu.


Update: He apologised?! Too late mate!


I am amazed at the number of commenters here who are so totally lacking in insight and self-esteem. L-aqwa li nilbsu qmis tricolor meta jilgħabu! Ċissssss!!

carlos ellul

Sep 12th 2012, 16:08

Let us not generalize on the italians. To be fair they are not particularly proud of that region known fo organized crime and poverty. No wonder why this guy has left his homeland and seeked fortune here.

Ronald Bowman

Sep 12th 2012, 16:07

How many Goals could Italy score against a team of bedouin potato pickers? Only Two? Yes, the first from a marginally offside position and the second in stoppage time from a corner which should never have been awarded because an Italian player had deliberately handled the ball in a attempt to score ala Maradona.

The restauranteur should employ the Italian players to peel his potatoes in his kitchen if he still has any clients. I, for one, will never set foot in his restaurant again.

Julian Tonna

Sep 12th 2012, 16:07

we dont go there we go where we can eat maltese patatose

Rachel Williams

Sep 12th 2012, 16:03

The guy should have not spoken thus granted. But the comments here are unbelievable! I wonder if some comments here were given in the same vein on FB, etc during the Euros. Better show him how a mature person acts - much more humbling in my opinion.

A Tonna

Sep 12th 2012, 16:02

We are Maltese !! We take no sh** !!

Mr Omar Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 16:01

I do not accept your apologies!!! You don`t insult me and then apologise because your apology is not sincere. You just apologised because your business is in the middle now..

Call your italian friends to come to eat in your restaurant now because I will never come there even if it's the only restaurant open in Malta. Hope the other Maltese will do the same!!

Sammy Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 15:59

No need for apologies now.. words had been said

James Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 15:54

Spare all your words for someone more intelligent than this Italian.

All I need to do is remember the the of his restaurant LA PICCOLA CALABRIA so that when I'm dining out I'll simply go somewhere else

John J Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 15:54

this is how hunters feel when CABS are `policing` our countryside ..............they are welcomed by the few, invent lies and exaggerate minor events.......that end up in international media....without the possibility of rebutting their claims......like what happened with RAI

Mr Daniel Jones

Sep 12th 2012, 15:51

Strange how he only apologised late in the afternoon, and not at the first opportunity. This to me suggests that he has been advised to apologise and after realising the harm he has done to his business.

Too little too late.

I would also ask the police commissioner to examine his comments for racist content and press charges if necessary.

JC Sullivan

Sep 12th 2012, 15:48

As far as I'm concerned, this individual went way too far. Insult an individual not a nation.

Pack up and leave. You shamed other Italians and should be boycotted by ALL.

And as a footnote: those who are taking this out on the rest of the Italians are no better and ought to be ashamed of themselves - it wasn't the Italian peoples who made the comments - it was ONE individual.

Go ahead, be patriotic, but not at the cost of denigrating other peoples.

j brincat

Sep 12th 2012, 15:42

"If you still have a voice left, continue to sing in your crap Arabic."

I love to listen to Calleja, Ira, Moods etc singing. But I don't think then that they sing in crap Arabic!

Why doesn't he give it a try in his home 'Calabrese' tongue?

You never know but we could be delighted!

NB: What are you doing here in this 'crap' country of ours - which in spite of our political differences we love so much ?





(jb)

Mr Aldo Grech

Sep 12th 2012, 15:42

Doesn't surprise me such rude behavior when so many of us still think with a GB or IT hat. When we still end up in fists for a match between IT and EN. When we still have such a striking tattoo of our colonial past on your white and red. Whilst hanqa ta' hmar qatt ma telghet is-sema (and good luck to you Mr. Calabria), after a weekend basking in nationalistic pride, what really worries me is the attitude and comments I hear all time, of my fellow countrymen.

Philip Mizzi

Sep 12th 2012, 15:41

Dardart l-ilma li ridt tixrob minnhu!

Li kien ghalih ikasbarna taht saqajh u jinsulentana, wara li ghamilnih nies. Bilkemm ma jahsibx li l-italja hija xi superpower!

Tangentopoli, totopoli u mafjuzi huma il-kredenzjali taghhom. Ha naraw meta jigu jilghabu Malta ikunx hemm xi cuc Malti jissaportjom! Wara kollox, jekk tilghab Malta ma nazzjon iehor, qatt ma ghanna nissaportjaw il-pajjiz l-iehor.

A.Felex Busuttil

Sep 12th 2012, 15:41

pack and go.........................

Brendon Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 15:39

It's surprising that such comments came from a Calabrian, a region ignored by many Italians. However this 'intelligent' Calabrian is truly missed in his country because being so intelligent he might save his country from their current shamefull situation, but our potatoes and arabic culture brought him here, and it seems he liked it...........until yesterday.

But we can't generalise, I know a lot of Italians which speaks very well of us, and being a frequent traveller to Italy I can say that those speaking bad of us are the exception.

GL Calleja

Sep 12th 2012, 15:38

The man made a stupid and insulting error, he was totally out of line. Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut and look stupid than to open your mouth and prove it. Maybe somebody can interpret this line in Italian so he can understand how demeaning his comment was. Grazzi. I think he should offer a free glass of Maltese wine with each meal he serves for the next month.

Mario Cassar

Sep 12th 2012, 15:37

Now it's too late!

Emmanuel Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 15:34

Listen my friend you shoot your own foot and you must know this because if you go to Rome and tell them that you are Italian when you are a Sicilian they kick you in the butt so hard that you finish up landing in Calabria. Mea Culpa, e Mea maxima Culpa.

j brincat

Sep 12th 2012, 15:32

@John Williams

"kullhadd jaghmel fuss kbir!!!!!

issa naraw meta nilabu MALTA vs ITALY, kemm se jkun hawn bravi MALTIN li jitilaw ta qali u jilbsu flok ta taljani!!!!"

How right you are, unfortunately!




(jb)

Karl Consiglio

Sep 12th 2012, 15:31

I'm not boycotting, I've never been and now I want to go.

B. Cachia

Sep 12th 2012, 15:30

We really should be ashamed of ourselves for this aggressive reaction. Is this really Malta? Are we really a Western country that cherishes freedom of speech? A boycott against someone for a conversation about football? I can't believe I'm reading these things.

renato mantovani

Sep 12th 2012, 15:30

SOME ITALIANS MAY BE REALLY, REALLY STUPID.
SORRY FOR HIM.
(FROM AN ITALIAN WHO LOVES A LOT MALTA AND ITS POPULATION)

Ms maria bonnici

Sep 12th 2012, 15:30

fuq naqra loghba.........dal plejtu kollu...........wara kollox ir risposta hemm qeghda 1 -0. kemm hawn affarijiet aktar importanti fil hajja, minn jaf hux ihaddem xi 2 maltin u jitilfu hobzhom?

Adrian Borg Cardona

Sep 12th 2012, 15:30

Jiena zgur li qatt ma inmur niekol ghandu. Issa jekk huwa daqshekk intelligenti u kulturat, ghandu jkun jaf x'qed nghid. Jekk le, jiddspjacini ghalih.

Josephine Muscat

Sep 12th 2012, 15:28

He should be ashamed of himself for treating Malta and the Maltese in this way.... After all for his living he is depending from us and to open his restaurant he came to Malta and did not open his business in his home town.... Shame on you.

Richard Mifsud

Sep 12th 2012, 15:27

Too late mate... should have thought it out before!!

Seforah Axiak

Sep 12th 2012, 15:27

Face book has an option to insult who ever you want in this case a nationality and make it private between a group of friends or in this case between his wife. If it really was a joke between his wife than he should have considered this option instead of making this stupid move public where the proud citizens of this country provide job and food on his table. Intelligent I don’t think so!! He insulted the Maltese joke or not that’s a very serious thing to do when he has a business here and the largest income he gets is from us the Arabic talking freaks.

Pls make sure you don’t use Air Malta when going back home it is manufactured and generally driven by us the potatoes pickers.

Joe Xuereb

Sep 12th 2012, 15:27

Potato-pickers?! They'll be lucky. The young have abandoned the land seeking fortune elsewhere and abroad. The villages are dying, populated by the dying. In the meantime, the country is, economically speaking, all at sea. If only they were sensible enough to pick potatoes and till the land. The abandonment of farmhouses and given to foreigners at a price. And this is why they got Chiantishire.


Why does Mr. What's-his-name bother to come to Malta to feed us, retrograde, crap-speaking bedouins, third rate cuisine? For ten years too many? He goes on and on about his joking to his wife. If he really respects his wife he should keep his joker in private, in his bedroom, with his wife. Respect for wife and daughters my foot. Has he never heard of 'mammismo all'italiana which explains all there is to know about Italian machismo. Hiding behind Facebook indeed!

M Attard

Sep 12th 2012, 15:26

Il-Kotra qamet f’daqqa – u għajtet: “Jien Maltija! Miskin min ikasbarni, - miskin min jidħak bija!’

Victor Pulis

Sep 12th 2012, 15:26

Why doesn't he go back to italy and set up shop there or is he afraid of having to pay protection money to some godfather?

Joe Cordina

Sep 12th 2012, 15:26

I will surely not set my foot again in this restaurant and sincerely hope that no other maltese person will patronise this business. Joke or no joke this was in very bade taste, insulting the hand you eat from? Go home and sell your italian food there

Victor Pulis

Sep 12th 2012, 15:25

He can apologise till he's blue (azzurro) in the face but now that he's shown us what he thinks of the Maltese he cannot take it back. If he thinks we're arab's perhaps he'd better dig up some arab recipes to attract us to his hole! Anyone for couscous?!

Adrian Grech

Sep 12th 2012, 15:23

u dan gie jaqla xiekol min hawn.nahseb li issa too late siehbi.

Mr Andrew Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 15:23

Thank God the British came and stayed! Had we become part of Italy, then yes he would be right -we would today be collecting potato, selling cheese to tourists. L-Inglizi ghamluna nies.

John Williams

Sep 12th 2012, 15:18

kullhadd jaghmel fuss kbir!!!!!

issa naraw meta nilabu MALTA vs ITALY, kemm se jkun hawn bravi MALTIN li jitilaw ta qali u jilbsu flok ta taljani!!!!

Sarah Grech (Zebbug)

Sep 12th 2012, 15:16

Go back to your country please & stay there. I for one, am not stepping foot inside your restaurant again because I am not a fool. And for your information, all the culture and wealth you think the Italians brought to Malta, were infact all a product of the British. The Italians have only managed to bring their vicious tongues here, apparently.

D Schembri

Sep 12th 2012, 15:12

I just hope that we, as a nation, do stop waiving foreign flags irrespective of the occasion.

I just hop, that, at least, this much good comes out. And I am very happy seeing some sense of patriotism, because I do fear that we did lose some.

Raymond Sacco

Sep 12th 2012, 15:11

Some comments here are stooping low as much as this highly intelligent Italian did by generalising on all Italians. Not all Italians are intellectual enough to blow up a whole business in five minutes as this guy did. Comments should only be directed towards one Italian!

j brincat

Sep 12th 2012, 15:10

"Were it not for us Italians, who came here and brought our money and our intelligence"

Can this 'signore' tell us when DID they exactly come here with their money and intelligence?

I can only say that my grandmother (paternal side) died exactly in an Italian air raid because she wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday in her Valletta home instead of a he rhumid Balzan shelter.

So much for money and intelligence!





(jb)



(jb)

Mario Tabone

Sep 12th 2012, 15:08

Nothing will satisfy me more than teaching this Italian the lesson of his life and stopping him from bad mouthing us in our own Country. We should all stand up together and boycott his restaurant...... then he will understand who is the 'better united team' off the pitch!!!

j brincat

Sep 12th 2012, 15:02

The only problem with us, Maltese, is that we tend to forget easily!

AND some of us (meaning many of the Maltese), simply adore them (Italians)!

So, this disgraceful incident would be forgotten by this weekend when we'll have another storm and then we would all be talking about it, forgetting forever 'La Piccola Calabria!

But then for what is Calabria most famous for?



(jb)

E. Azzopardi

Sep 12th 2012, 15:01

You blew it, signore. No foreigner is going to insult my country . It was stupid to do such a thing, especially having a business on the island.

I suppose you will have to suffer the consequences.

Fleur Mifsud

Sep 12th 2012, 14:58

Now this is a very good example of facing the consequences.
We are Maltese and we take no s***t!

MT Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 14:56

Dan ilu 10 snin jghix hawn u ghadu ma derax lilna il-Maltin.

Ahna nilitikaw u nikumentaw kontra xulxin, fuq kollox.... fuq politika, football, anki fuq temp issib min ma jaqbilx, imma meta nigu quddiem xi kummenti arroganti bhal ta dan...hemm isibna lilna il-Maltin , kulhadt jigbed l-stess habel.

Victor Pulis

Sep 12th 2012, 14:46

Why did this intelligent, sofisticated, educated italian choose to set up shop in backward Malta of all places?
I read what he wrote and it is no joke. it is what he thinks of us. Let me tell him that once a word is past your lips it is impossible to suck it back. he called a Maltese man an Arab dog, He said that we are dying of hunger and he stated that if he wanted he could stop working as he's interlligent and cultured! Well, I'm taking him up on his word and I'm not providing hiom with any work! By the way, The flood of goals he was hopngfor yesterdat did not materialise!

Luke Scicluna

Sep 12th 2012, 14:46

you know you're in trouble meta l-laburisti u n-nazzjonalisti jinghaqdu kontrik :D

Michael Bonello

Sep 12th 2012, 14:45

Well I hope the he has learned his lesson not to wake a sleeping giant ,because that is all he did if you are in somebody home do not say any bad remarks about their home country, because it is your bread and butter from the potato pickers so grow up and keep your remarks to yourself

jennifer camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 14:43

maybe he can go pick potatoes in his own country now !

John Attard

Sep 12th 2012, 14:43

I think the owner of the restarant has to cahnge the name of his establishment as the boycott wil work and FB is a strong weapon that kills you without touching you at all .Next time think twice when you are dealing with the Maltese. Good luck for your new Restaurant" s name . Caw Amico

Ruth Ferrito

Sep 12th 2012, 14:43

He comments like that in his fb restaurant page? and then he says he is intelligent.....come on...seriously.

Ms Maria Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 14:39

Basic rule of etiquette is that you do not insult your hosts, clearly this restaurateur does not have any clue what this means.

I believe he had already experienced some bad review by Mona Farrugia when she used to write on the newspaper (and I must say it was one of the best reviews she wrote), so probably he is still seething about it

Adrian Said

Sep 12th 2012, 14:38

If his wife is ready to accept certain 'jokes', I'm sorry, we don't. I think in some days time, he will be picking up potatoes to earn a living.

Barney Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 14:35

Right out, I say this fellow goofed it. Then again we had an English man from Gozo who said the same things last week, and it did not cause such commotion.
If what it has been claimed this fellow said is true so what. History and time will prove him wrong. Those Arabs where as good if not better than the bush men that today claim to be European. Europe is bankrupt as much as this fellow home country is for a start, history teach us that those who have power will only last for a while and a new power will replace it in due time. Sicily want to get out of Italy and want to follow Malta's system of rule of law and advancement.
I wonder why this fellow preferred to come and work here? I guess CMB said it right when he said if we join Europe we will be infested by job seekers that will come to take our jobs.
To close I say give this fellow a chance. We all eat with our mouths and we all look down at others. So if he is happy being a foreigner among us calling us names. It only show how a silly man act in a foreign land.

William G. Sangiacomo

Sep 12th 2012, 14:35

I'm Calabrese, Italian and Maltese. I've got two citizenships and, as I use to say, I'm truly Italian and proudly Maltese.
I really feel sad for all these insults and surely the restaurateur passed the limit. This happens when you mix two very dangerous things: football and facebook.
Please, don't make the mistake of thinking Calabrese people are so rude: we sail the same sea, we are neighbors. On the otherside, as we say in Italy, LA MADRE DEGLI SCEMI E' SEMPRE INCINTA.
Hugs from Italy, as ever.

A. Falzon

Sep 12th 2012, 14:34

I haven;t been to this restaurant and won't bother to go there. If he wanted to insult the other person let it be, all us Maltese have nothing to do with the matter. Shame on you and you say you been here 10 years? I better not continue what i have to say ......... Alex Falzon

Christine Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 14:32

And if we want to keep on talking....Maltese sing in Arabic as well as in English as well as in Italian and maybe a few more other languages. We are an intellegent nation unlike some other nations who can not even speak in English.

Giorgio Schembri

Sep 12th 2012, 14:30

Why doesn't he pack up and go back to his country. He's lucky he's living in a country that gave him a job which is more than italy did for him. Propably he would be jobless like millions of italians.

Luke Bonnici

Sep 12th 2012, 14:29

He could have stopped insulting Maltese people and told the person who insulted his wife that they have done so!! He's just trying to do a "Berlusconi" by justifying a bad action with another bad action!

Christine Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 14:29

He doesnt want his wife or daughters offended. BUT he can offend the Maltese people who gave him an opportunity to start a business here. Why in the first place did he not start a business in Italy?? Poor man what a bad name he did for himself

Charles Grixti

Sep 12th 2012, 14:27

Here are some facts Mr. Piccolo Calabria.

The Maltese did not come from Arabia and Bedouins but from the Phoenicians of old, as genetic testing has proven. The Phoenicians, the famous seafaring people had a commercial empire that lasted hundreds of years, gave us the alphabet, circumnavigating Africa and traded with Britain, when Rome was still just a backwater. In fact, it was not until the Romans reverse-engineered a captured Phoenician ship that they could set off on building their empire.

As for our language, it actually came from Sicily (known as Sicolo-Arabic) and not from Arabia although before that we probably spoke another Semitic language such as Punic or Aramaic. And by the way, not all Semitic languages area Arab, although to the uneducated they seem that way (there are presently around 70 languages of the Semitic family in use in the world today, including Maltese).

As for football, you are right about that. I am surprised too that being so superior in sports, the Italians did not score 10 or 20 points but a measly 1 score over us potato pickers.

Nazzareno Cortis

Sep 12th 2012, 14:21

You shot yourself in the foot my friend------maltese can pay back your comments in a way that it would be better for you to start packing,and try your luck in your country!!!!!! Next time think twice before insulting those who makes your living!!!! I am sure you will regret what you said!!!! but it is tooooo late now!!! Damage has been done!

Adrian Cardona

Sep 12th 2012, 14:21

This guy is an idiot and deserves to go home if he hates us so much, but insulting a whole country back is as silly and immature as the guy who started it. So chill out, boycott his place, make fun of him, but don't stoop to his level. Any person with a basic modicum of intelligence knows that the vast majority of Italians are not like him.

P BORG

Sep 12th 2012, 14:19

Whoha!!!! I sense a Maltese Jihad....

Stephen Mallia

Sep 12th 2012, 14:17

Piccolo uomo.
Me for sure will not patronise this restaurant. You have to be cheeky to insult the nation and it's people which you live in, and coming to that it seems that you have established yourself here because you are better off then your Calabria.
By the way nobody sent for you to come amongst us and for me you can leave right now.

J.Martin Spiteri

Sep 12th 2012, 14:16

Anybody who thinks that he will say anything against us Maltese and stay in business is mistaken.

You get what you deserve.

Go home to you roots, Bye Bye.

Henry S Pace

Sep 12th 2012, 14:15

' You Maltese, go and collect potatoes, '

YOU HAVE NO RESPECT TOTHIS NATION.

PACK UP AND GO HOME. THERE SHOULD BE NO NALTESE PATRONAGE AT THIS RESTAURANT.

Pule' Carmel

Sep 12th 2012, 14:12

This is what the Italian said!!!! "Were it not for us Italians, who came here and brought our money and our intelligence, you would have remained Arab Bedouins. If you still have a voice left, continue to sing in your crap Arabic."

Let us start with the numberal system. Thar Arabs invented the numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and the value changed with position. The Romans or Italians had the I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII ,VIII abd the Ms and the Cs, the whole system was so stupid that everyone took up the Arabic system including the Italians!

During the last war, while the german came down low to bomb us, all the Maltese people of my age looked up at the sky and when we saw the Italians planes coming we all said, Ok, they are Italians, and they dropped their bombs in the sea and went back relieved and scared and cowards, to wat their Pizza and sing some sonata or play the Gigolo dreseed up in tights!!!! or doing thier best to elect plenty of Italian Cardinals and Italian Popes!!! Thank God all that changes and we had a good Polish Pope and a Godd German Pope.

Well, when it comes to the itailan speaking English and his mentality, all you have to do is enter You Tube and see, " The Italian who went to Malta!"

When it comes to pickpockets and such stuff, as my colleagues who who went to Calabria, his wife was grabbed by her golden necklace and pulled down to the ground , the Italian Offender put his foot on her stomach and kept pulling to rob her of her jewelry, I shall not anymore about the pickpockets at their markets.

It is said that Marconi himself robbed the Radio Invention from others and as the was a busness man, and a show off like most Italians and was surrounded by a loto f stupid people , he got away with it.

I shall not mention that the Italian people elected the Cicolina to govern them and the short live governments and the Political behaviour is Partying with young girls says something about the mentaly of top notch Italians whose mentality seems to run around small capital buisness as Restaurants and spagetti and pizza.

Victor Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 14:07

When you are in someone else's house you do not insult that person, especially when you depend on that person for your bread and butter.

J Bezzina

Sep 12th 2012, 14:06

People who work or build their business in a country which is not their motherland should appreciate the fact that it is thanks to these 'Potato Pickers' who are paying for the service, they are earning their living. So why not show respect for the country and its inhabitants? And if the Italians are so intelligent and proud, how come they are not able to work or invent jobs/businesses in Italy? Why come here?

Anthony Scicluna

Sep 12th 2012, 14:05

Ignore this man. He doesn't realise that the Arabs were accomplished scholars, mathematicians, artists and philosophers that regaled the world with so much.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=history-of-zero

John J Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 14:03

....whats sure is that facebook is another way to get in trouble!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen Grech

Sep 12th 2012, 14:03

This "gentleman" should visit any town or city north of Rome and ask his fellow Italians up there what they reallllyy think of Calabresi like him!!! Still thanks to this men maybe.....just maybe all the Maltese idiots who supported Italy yesterday or who speak about the Italians using the first person plural will finally realize how stupid they are.

joe vella

Sep 12th 2012, 14:03

If this guy wants to play games with his wife at our expense then he ought to play these games in his household and not on a public domain as is facebook or others

Sandro Pace

Sep 12th 2012, 14:01

In one thing he is correct. We are no longer Arabs. Anyone denying this fact would manifest blatant cultural and historical ignorance. However the reason he gives is a bit too simplistic, even though for a long time Malta was part of the Kingdom of Sicily. Also for sure, this signore is not a Lega Nord voter.

Maltese football can learn a lot from Italian football. Everyone can learn from everybody. Italians can learn a lot from Spanish football for example. The greatest lesson in football the world had ever seen was in Kiev, last June.

His restaurant has now taken a very bad name. I suggest a new one, 'Da Roma in Giu'. I wish him a good recovery.

Victor Calleja

Sep 12th 2012, 13:56

Stay away from La Piccola Calabria. Perhaps he himself ends up picking potatoes. In Calibria of course.

Chris Mifsud

Sep 12th 2012, 13:56

This boycott should NOT be forgotten in a few weeks / months. Malta through facebook and maybe other means should be reminded to boycott!

Keep boycotting till he is forced to shut his doors for the last time and leave Malta.

T Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 13:54

Jien ma nafx hadtu ghalikom ghax ghajjarna Gharab, fid dinja kulhadd l-istess. Jekk hu jahseb li superjuri ghal Gharab u Maltin problema tieghu. Personalment, nipreferi nitwieled Gharbi minn Taljan

Mr Alex Aquilina

Sep 12th 2012, 13:53

"Were it not for us Italians, who came here and brought our money and our intelligence, you would have remained Arab Bedouins." Were it not for us Maltese, this guy would probably have died of hunger in his native Calabria, possibly even exterminated by the Calabrian Mafia. Hope the boycot works and he will have to leave Malta and return to Calabria. I will boycot his restaurant even if the name is changed and is under new management until I can be sure he is no longer connected with it. By the way, is this guy aware that when Malta was ruled by Arabs so was Sicily and parts of Calabria.

A. Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 13:52

No surer way to shoot yourself in the foot is there? And no Signore, we won't put this under the carpet simply because we earn no money out of it, unlike the footballers who do. Respect is priceless and cannot be bought. On the other hand, I think this guy will be able to quantify the monetary effect of his pearls of wisdom

And by the way, 10 years on the island, and one Maltese wife in tow, and Maltese still sounds like arabic crap... must be time to go back home..

Alfred Cassar

Sep 12th 2012, 13:51

Oh come on Malta, grow up, if you act this way, and really want to boycott a decent man , making a decent living, spending so much time in that hell of a kitchen, to keep a family, ... then u really should be collecting potaoes, and probably even onions!!, ... Grow up. BY the way I am Maltese , head to toe, but also European.

Karl Consiglio

Sep 12th 2012, 13:49

Facebook is a free world, leave him speak his mind!

Joseph Gatt (il-Bovju)

Sep 12th 2012, 13:46

Just to show that we Maltese do not carry a grudge, we will come and help you pack your bags to get you out of Malta quicker, and BTW do not let the door hit your behind on the way out.

Lara Cachia

Sep 12th 2012, 13:44

"Were it not for us Italians, who came here and brought our money and our intelligence"- took you 10 seconds to show how intelligent you are ...posting something like that on your business pageee in such a small country was very wiseee... so impressed with your intelligence

John Micallef

Sep 12th 2012, 13:43

I think the comment is nothing compared to what he replied to another well educated person who did not fall to his level... and there were no comments against his wife... (well not before all the other comments)

Tony Camilleri Se non erro' lei sta quadangniando da vivere, do noi piglia patate.
33 minutes ago · Like

Lapiccola Calabria SE NON VENIVAMO NOI ITALIANI A PORTAR QUA I NOSTRI SOLDI E LA NOSTRA INTELLIGENZA EIMANEVATE ANCORA ARABI BEDUINI IGNORANTI.........ORA SE HAI ANCORA VOCE VAI A CANTARE LE TUE CACATE arabooooooooooooooooo
See Translation
31 minutes ago · Like

Tony Camilleri Mia madre e italiana e credevo fino a adesso, che gli Italiani, erano gente educata, ma sempre che Voi Calabresi siete ancora Saraceni.
16 minutes ago · Like · 3

Lapiccola Calabria E CI VANTIAMO DI ESSERE SARACENI PERCHE' AABBIAMO PORTATO LA CIVILTA' VOI INVECE SIETE RIMASTI ARABI.........MI DISPIACE PER TUA MADRE CHE HA UN FIGLIO COME TE CANE ARABO
See Translation
13 minutes ago · Like

Tony Camilleri Non mi degnio neanche di rispondervi. Io sono stato molto educato con lei, perche mi piace di sapere che lei invede di morire di fame, siete venuti qui per poter mangiare una paniotta. E adesso buona notte.
8 minutes ago · Like · 1

Lapiccola Calabria IO LA PAGNOTTA L'HO PORTATA A VOI MORTI DI FAME....................IO NON FACCIO IL PAGLIACCIO COME TE PER MANGIARE..............IO POSSO GODERMI LA VITA SENZA LAVORARE E SAI PERCHE? IO SONO INTELLIGENTE E COLTO. TU IGNORANTE E PAGLIACCIO"

C Agius

Sep 12th 2012, 13:42

I don't know why you care what this guy said. Relax. Ignore. Live and let live. Who the hell cares?

Saviour Aquilina

Sep 12th 2012, 13:42

Sure that I will not going to that restaurant and hope that all the Maltese do the same. As Mr Schembri said he must respect the country where he is living and earm money.

Mark Busuttil

Sep 12th 2012, 13:38

Mr owner of La Piccola Calabria.. I will never be coming to your restaurant over this.

JJ Agius

Sep 12th 2012, 13:37

Un beleivable! Many Italians came to our restaurant& we joked about the game!No insults&was joking all evening as the game went on. I have been joking with many iItalians the whole week,I told them Forza Malta & they joked back Forza Italia. Why one have to insult an opposition.? It's game over & Italy won.They
got the 3 points & we as minnows gave them a good run for their money.They are happy so are we!
Insult means trouble! After all this rest.owner lives in Malta & should have some respect.
J.J.

adrian attard

Sep 12th 2012, 13:36

After years living in Italy, this comes to me as no surprise!

Joseph Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 13:34

Taf x'nesa jghid, li ahna laqgha tal barrani

C. Bonnici

Sep 12th 2012, 13:34

@La Piccola Calabria: I think you've set a perfect example of what not to do in Malta. Take my word for it, you've ruined your business. On the long run, you will have to leave.

carmel muscat

Sep 12th 2012, 13:34

jien niddikjara min issa li zgur ma imurx niekol ghandu lanqas jekk jitlob 101 skuza - - - -- --

Joseph Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 13:33

Taf x'nesa jghid li ahna laqgha tal barranin.

Andrea Sammut

Sep 12th 2012, 13:32

Are we seriously boycotting a restaurant over a football match? Besides he's Italian, ridiculous football comments are part of their culture!

Ms Xixi Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 13:29

WHAT A LOAD OF BULL AND CRAP!!! For goodness sake making such a huge fuss over this???!!! It's a joke!!! Get real..!!!

Silvio Agius

Sep 12th 2012, 13:28

We take immigrants. We take offences and direct hits to our culture, religion and values without any comments or reaction whatsoever. But do we really need to make a mess out of a silly football comment gon wrong.

Geoffrey Farrugia

Sep 12th 2012, 13:21

if this guy represents Italian intelligence, i guess this does not really add to much.

Fair enough that he will get a piece of mind from us the 'potato pickers'.

I was in this restaurant a few times in the past...last time this idiot will get any of my hard earned money.

bye bye Italian macaron.

HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI

Sep 12th 2012, 13:20

Sorry mate but there is no way that i contribute to your bussiness. As far as I am concerned you might as well go home. No Maltese ever asked you to open a restaurant in our country. Enjoy your country and leave us in peace.

Antonia Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 13:18

Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox sur piccola calabria tista zzarma u titlaq minn fejn gejt hadt ma bghatt ghalik

A Tonna

Sep 12th 2012, 13:18

What does Sean Bean (Lord Of the Rings, Game Of thrones) have to do with this? He'se an English gentlemen !! Maybe because in Game of Thrones, Sean Bean as Ned Stark, gets his head chopped off. This Italian guy has justy had his businness chopped off !!

I urge all the readers to tell friends and family not to go to this restaurant. Bye bye Piccola Calabria.

Anthony Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 13:17

At no time i was rude to him or his family, in the morning when i found his ''apology" not to me personaly or my dead mother, but to the Maltese people. I wrote that we should accept his "apology" and show him that we are an educated nation, and we should all go on with our lives. Tony Camilleri.

Mr l Azzopardi

Sep 12th 2012, 13:17

Dan id-diskors ma jissorprendinix. Idejjaqni u jinsulentani imma ma jissorprendinix!

Min għex barra għal xi żmien jaf tajjeb kemm hawn pajjiżi Ewropej li jitmellħu bina! u jqisuna agħar min dak li nkiteb.

L-aqwa li aħna nxejru l-bnadar barranin ....

Pierre Falzon

Sep 12th 2012, 13:15

You should thank us for putting up with people the likes of you,with all your insults you didnt open your restaurant in calabria.

silvio loporto

Sep 12th 2012, 13:13

Can i have the location of this restaurant?
I want to make sure that nor me or either my friends visit this place.
If he were some Italian from Milan or Torino, perhaps I WOULD try to understand,but come on, from Calabria,that's the joke of the year.

G Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 13:11

'came here and brought our money and our intelligence'........... Well in all due respect, that statement is not coming out of a very 'intelligent' mans mouth now is it. Especially due to the fact it is 'this' Island that provides his family's income.
Italians dont even know how to speak english for crying out loud.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Sep 12th 2012, 13:09

What do you expect if Maltese are not proud of their own language and use a pigeon form of English to communicate! How many contributors have come out in defence of the Maltese language? Or are we Maltese just upset because he said we are not good at football? We celebrate our European heritage but not our semitic one!!!

Steve Demicoli

Sep 12th 2012, 13:06

@ Piccola Calabria

From your Facebook it shows that no one insulted your family. It clearly shows that your claimed 'intelligence and wealth' woule be better off used to clear your indebted country's debts and organised crime problems! Any true Maltese family man (the ones you called Bidouins) had better avoid your restaurant as we don't want anything tn do with you! Buon viaggio

John Scerri

Sep 12th 2012, 13:05

Among the Maltese one never insults, one never mentions family in bad spirit, on never swears, one never blasphemes and curses God , Madonna and all the Saints.

Maltese are always prudent in what they say and do.

Maltese are the spitting image of perfection and tollerance towards each other when it comes to inter relationships.

Lucienne Dimech

Sep 12th 2012, 13:05

I think that it was the Brits who saved the Maltese from remaining Arab bedouins. The Italians themselves especially those from near by Calabria and sicilia are not exactly samples of perfection in many ways. As for our limitations in football the guy is right.. We can hardly say we are good football players and many of us tend to side with Italy or England I dare say even these two nations play against Malta. I will not boycott your restaurant for stupid comments over people whom we do not even know. The footballers get their millions and we heat up for them. Keep up your good work nothing beats the Italians in the kitchen . After all half of Malta says forza italia

Aldo Buttigieg

Sep 12th 2012, 13:05

Personally I think that this guy had made a mistake by labeling us as Arab Bedouins. Maybe he forget that we are Europeans as much as his dare country. To let him know we are also FULL members of the European Union and finally we trade like him with the EUROS, which hopefully we will be spending them very wisely!!!

M Grima

Sep 12th 2012, 13:03

When sane persons want to play a game with their wives they don't usually do it on Facebook. I guess after your silly comments you would have plenty of time on your hands to play with anyone of Facebook. Don't worry about us Bedouins, while you're playing we'll continue to collect potatoes and cook them in our tents. And when the profit you've collected with the custom of the Bedouins dwindles out, you would not even have the money to pay your Internet bills. Don't forget to leave some money to pay your one way ticket to join your Calabrese friends. You can always start another business selling to real Bedouins!!!!

vincent arrigo azzopardi

Sep 12th 2012, 13:02

Pack your bags, go home. I would rather starve than step into your restaurant.

Jeffrey Mallia

Sep 12th 2012, 13:02

And with all this hatred and racism comments, we are showing the world that we are not far off than Bedouins and sub standard intelligent humans ........
If you feel offended by his comments, don’t go to his restaurant .....fullstop.

D Schembri

Sep 12th 2012, 13:00

I live in Switzerland.... and although I love my country, I do respect the country I am living in, and I refrain from insulting my host country and its people.

You deserve to be boycotted. I for one will find out where his restaurant is to make sure that I will never set foot. Power of the market is so great.

D Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 13:00

What a gaffe . . . now this guy has just ensure that his restaurant won't be getting much custom from Maltese visitors . . . or their friends in the future!! Oh well, the price of a big mouth !

Mark Muscat

Sep 12th 2012, 12:58

Thank god we're much more intelligent than Italians, and we only have to thank the English who defended us against the Italians while the latter were bombing us

Joe Fenech

Sep 12th 2012, 12:58

Who is saying Calabria is crap, it's obviously because he has never been. It might be a region that's been stalled by mafia, but it's full of beauty and good food !

Robert Henry Bugeja

Sep 12th 2012, 12:57

Persona non grata. He offended the Maltese nation, not his wife.

Joe Xuereb

Sep 12th 2012, 12:56

@ Charles Muscat (Today, 12:00). Mr. Muscat, a storm in a tea-cup, you say?! Don't tell me your drink you tea in a 'galdarun taż-żingu'? Maybe this is too subtle for you, Mr. Muscat?

Some real men may concoct a mean 'osso buco' - sounds like a rude English coarseness so I won't say it - but fall down on the sauces. Something to do with 'intelligenza deficiente'.

It would be interesting to know what this guy's wife and daughters think of the sense of humour of their 'capo di familia' (family figurehead). I am waiting.


In Maltese we have a well-known saying. A tad, sorry! a little, indelicate. Some about somebody being brazen enough to dirty the palm of your hand with unmentionables and the recipient being brazen enough to smear it all over his/her face in return. And if this makes one churlish, so be it! It is blood that runs in MY veins, not insipid water that refuses to be churned up so as not to appear churlish. This word has really got my goat this morning.

JR Apap

Sep 12th 2012, 12:54

So we sound or even look Arabic so what, don't this Italian read history, that the Arabs were in Malta for a few hundred years and with them they brought all the knowledge for us to come as far as we have done up to the present day, a rich country> safe and a healthy climate.

S Farrugia

Sep 12th 2012, 12:54

Personally i think that if somebody offended this person and his wife, he should take it with him or her, but definitely not with the entire country. I think it's only fair that this person, who lives in Malta, married to a Maltese, and runs his business here, should respect us, as a Maltese nation more.

Maria Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 12:48

Italian and Maltese players get loads of money to play we do not get anything so is it worth making such a fuss between us over a match?"

you shouldnt have made the fuss at the very first place!!

Jesmar Cremona

Sep 12th 2012, 12:47

He came cause his calabria is a crap!

J Micallef

Sep 12th 2012, 12:47

"One does not simply insult the Maltese and stay in business".

In fact, you have to do much more than simply insult the Maltese to stay in business.

Many businesses continuously insult the Maltese with their poor products and service.

Mr mario aquilina

Sep 12th 2012, 12:46

This guy knows how to make a Maltese cross!

I'll give him a medal.

Paul Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 12:45

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

He should go back to the backwaters of Calabria...considering the current economic situation in southern Italy, and the sort of prices he charges, I am sure it will be a huge success!

joseph green

Sep 12th 2012, 12:44

If you love your wife you shuld respect the country she comes from , and also the country you are making the living from , or else this is the result you achieve. Think before you speak next time now the damage is all on you.

VIVA MALTA.

John Spiteri

Sep 12th 2012, 12:44

Now he is sorry what he said, only because it will/can effect his business.

Charles Vassallo

Sep 12th 2012, 12:44

@ La Piccola Calabria

I read the facebook comments and may I say Sir that you are misinforming us, as the gentleman in question did not offend your family; However the same cannot be said about you. You insulted the Maltese in general.

And by the way, you need not worry about your business losing customers....after all you stated on Facebook that you don't need to work, as you are quite wealthy and intelligent. Good, I am so happy for you.... Now be a good boy, go pack your bags and leave Us 'collecting' potatoes...don't worry about us 'bedouins', it's ok - Go help out your fellow Calabresi, I suggest you start with Crotone as around 27% of it's inhabitants are poverty stricken and living on handouts... They sure need your wit, culture, intelligence together with your wealth.

Adrian Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 12:42

Wowza!

Layoffs at Trelleborg - 0 comments.
Family beats up an alleged sexual harasser -2 comments.
An Italian says something stupid - 125 comments.

Some folks have got some seriously screwed up priorities.

Karl Abela

Sep 12th 2012, 12:40

The Maltese defended their goal post like Gladiators whilst Diamanti cried like a 5 year old child.

Good job boys!!

vella m

Sep 12th 2012, 12:36

Come on,. this is a storm in a tea cup.

E Gatt

Sep 12th 2012, 12:34

It’s true that Italy is probably one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and that Italian must be one of the most lyrical languages around, but this restaurateur didn’t need to be such a show-off.

Joseph Tabone

Sep 12th 2012, 12:32

BUON VIAGGO

Hugh O Neill

Sep 12th 2012, 12:31

Offensive in the extreme. Sound like he should go back home where he would be a rising star in politics.

D Portelli

Sep 12th 2012, 12:29

The family could not be offended as he said but to offened our family and our beloved mother Malta is fine. We maltese are proud to be who we are, we are friendly and we don't need everyone, that isn't loyal to our country. Maybe it's time to go back to your country, we will survive without you and more over w/o the money that you got over to Malta but if no Maltese come you you won't survive. Thanks for passing by :).

Joe Xuereb

Sep 12th 2012, 12:28

@ Lisa Fraser (Today, 11:38). Ms. Fraser, if someone insulted you to your face, would you think it was a tad - that is 'rather insignificant, inconsequential' in proper English - matter? ~Would you be so passive in the face of a man insulting you? So as not to be tagged churlish? Maybe you patronise the restaurant?

As for the rest seizing the opportunity to air their views on football, Lord of the Flies, etc., get a life!

@ Samuel Cali' (Today, 11:41), Mr. Cali', what, in god's name, does the South of Malta got to do with it? And are you sure Calabria is an island dear?

http://www.world66.com/europe/italy/calabria

and a quote therein: 'Calabria , known as Brutium in Roman times, is a region in southern Italy which occupies the "toe" of the Italian peninsula south of Naples'. Now be a gentleman and apologise to @ (m. borg (slm) - Today, 11:22

Garry king

Sep 12th 2012, 12:26

i have lived in malta for 8 years now, i am english and feel that malta is my home,the people are great people and very proud
i will say if england were playing malta i would support MALTA, malta played well last night and was robbed.
as for his so called "joke comments" why say them in the first place.
i have a lot of friends and family that come to malta i take them all over the place to eat and have a good time but this is one restaurant i will not be taking them too.
i can see after 10years in malta he will soon be going back to his own island

Martin Bonello

Sep 12th 2012, 12:25

Piccola Calabria...vero.
Grande Malta...verissimo!

marthese schembri

Sep 12th 2012, 12:24

Well now this calls for a complete boycot to his restaurant say what? besides our Maltese potatoes are the best in the world ask the Dutch they'll tell you.

Joe Brincat-LL.D

Sep 12th 2012, 12:22

I found this for "piu` gusto" : It is during this time and thanks to the invading Arabs that many staples of today’s Calabrian cuisine came into fashion: citrus fruits and eggplants for example. Exotic spices such as cloves and nutmeg were also introduced. (google Arabs in Calabria and see for yourself).

His attitude is typical and not exceptional. They are southerners and we are even more to the South, so they look down upon us.

Malcolm Mifsud

Sep 12th 2012, 12:22

At least here you do not have to pay protection money to gangsters to keep your business open.

Victor Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 12:22

How can a sane person go to eat to a restaurant where the boss `s hearth is filled with hatred towards his Maltese clients? A sound note will be solicited.

Wilfred Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 12:20

"He urged those calling for the boycott to think hard. "Italian and Maltese players get loads of money to play we do not get anything so is it worth making such a fuss between us over a match?"

Well seems unfortunately for him - a lot didn't take it like that not only on facebook but even on other restaurant / hotel ranking sites

Richard Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 12:20

Just a quick look at comments on various sites regarding the fare he dishes out as his restaurant are enough for a boycott.

Doesn't seem like the hottest Italian restaurant on the island by any stretch of imagination.

Miriam Falzon

Sep 12th 2012, 12:20

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g608946-d1795577-Reviews-La_Piccola_Calabria-St_Paul_s_Bay_Island_of_Malta.html

Malcolm Mifsud

Sep 12th 2012, 12:20

Go back to where you came from, we can do without you and your likes.

Mr Clive Aquilina Spagnol

Sep 12th 2012, 12:20

Dear owner

Do you think we're so gullible to believe your excuse?

FORGET OUR CUSTOM. Surely we won't give you any other cent, in the hope that your business won't remain viable that makes you pack up and leave OUR island. This country is no place for trash, sorry.
Clive

Mr Kevin Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 12:19

Fact is its thanks to the British work ethic that we are now not in the same spot southern Italy is in today ..... dragging with it the rest of the country.

If someone offends you its up to you to offend them individually back but otherwise the rest of the nation is not to blame.

This guy has shown disrespect that should not be ignored. Loads of Italian restaurant run by good and friendly Italians too. In the same vein I'm not as stupid as him and say I'm banning all Italian owned restaurants in Malta :)

Jason Falzon

Sep 12th 2012, 12:18

I think there are going to be some angry bedouins at Ta' Qali come the return match!!!!

Ejja Malta!!!!

Mr Joe Micallef

Sep 12th 2012, 12:16

This person has made a big mistake spitting in the hand that feeds him.

Therefore a straightforward unqualified public apology is required.

Once that is forthcoming, as a proud level headed Maltese, I will continue being a client.

M. Hills

Sep 12th 2012, 12:15

I had never heard of the Piccola Calabria Restaurant before...might visit it on our next visit soon....

D Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 12:14

dear Mister owner of Piccola Calabria . . . joking with your wife is your right and prerogative but making racist comments and collectively insulting an entire nation on a public fora is neither your right and prerogative, nor is it a joke! As for you italians coming over and bringing your money and intelligence . . . get a life!! Learn your own history . . . There are parts of your country today that make Malta during the knight's era look super advanced and you know it!!

anthony sultana

Sep 12th 2012, 12:13

Freedom of speach looks like it is going dawn the drain, over a joke. I joke like him also.Even if it was not a joke, why one get upset over a person express himself so we will know more who he realy is.

Joanne Micallef

Sep 12th 2012, 12:13

The comments I read were directed to Tony Camilleri not to his wife, so I guess he is just trying to repair the damage.

Keith Davis

Sep 12th 2012, 12:12

I do not concored with this men's offensive language, but I must admit that our football is mediocre, and it would be better for us to go collect and export potatoes as at least our local veg is of good quality. :)

We should strive to join another country such as Italy being our neighbours, and at least have the chance to have a good player or two who could join their national team.

We cannot allude ourselves into going forward on the international game when other countries have tens of millions of people to choose from compared to our population of less then half a million, so we always end up hoping for a draw with majour teams all the time which is pathetic!

John Spiteri

Sep 12th 2012, 12:11

Now hes back tracking. what a big mouthed Italian!

Peter Saliba

Sep 12th 2012, 12:10

Ehh nesieh il-qawl "Iddardarx l-ghajn li tixrob minnha"

Pablo Mallia

Sep 12th 2012, 12:08

Ha ha ha joking on Facebook with your wife.......does she ask you what you wish to eat also on facebook?
i am all out for the boycott, this will make him move and open the eating place in Sicily and support the Italian team from there!

Lawrence Fenech

Sep 12th 2012, 12:07

It really is an insult after the fine words by both the captains of the two teams before the start of the game.

John Benner

Sep 12th 2012, 12:07

I don't know this guy but on a PR basis alone he needs lessons you don't bite the hand that feeds you , on the other hand sorry for the pun , I have seen comments here far worse than that about the British thankfully by a few but nevertheless far worse than this Italians comments about the Maltese , if you give it I am afraid you must be prepared to take it .

Richard Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 12:06

Jusy one thing left to do is to pack up and go back to your country , i'm sure that he will do in a few months time as his business will crumble .

Anthony E. Falzon

Sep 12th 2012, 12:05

Why do this man from Calabria would not SHUT his
BIG mouth and fill in the blanks! Why did he come here
and not stayed with the ELITE?

Mr Ali Atam

Sep 12th 2012, 12:04

One must tell Mr. Restaurant owner that even South of Italy was speaking in Arabic once upon a time! And i don't quite get why he thinks that speaking Arabic is crap ?

S Scerri

Sep 12th 2012, 12:02

and he is from Calabria and not Toscana ! been there and fully understand why he opened shop in Malta. At least we have no pizzo !

Mr Johann Mifsud

Sep 12th 2012, 12:02

Whatever your reason was I will surely boycott your restaurant as you offended us for nothing, you should have attacked the person who offended you and your wife directly not all the nation.

Joseph Muscat

Sep 12th 2012, 12:02

Just a small reminder to this guy. If he knows his history books, then he should also know that what he calls "Arab Bedouins" were able to defeat his country's navy blindfolded in world war 2 and his compatriots were not even able to pass grand hourbour's breakwater. Ha ha is that what he meant by inteligence.
As for his restaurant, if it's the last place available, then i will prefer to eat our raw potatoes, then visit his restaurant. We Maltese may seam divided on politics, but when it comes to this we are proud to be Maltese, and we stand tall as a nation.

Piccola Calabria is the name to remember guys.

Adrian Gouder

Sep 12th 2012, 12:02

And yet you seem to have had nowhere else but here to build your business! How sad.
Some advice; don't bite tha hand that feeds you.

Albert Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 12:02

bedwina kella tkun biex jingabar. u qalb il bedwini fetah restaurant biex jaqla lira ghal familja. mur l italja halli tieklok il mafja bil flus li jkollok thallas. qed taraw hbieb kemm ikasbarna l barrani. komplu zommu mat team barrani meta jilghab kontra xi team malti. viva malta u l maltin

Charles Muscat

Sep 12th 2012, 12:00

This is a storm in a tea cup.

Mr Duncan Scerri

Sep 12th 2012, 12:00

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=383251005078451&set=a.108977109172510.11644.107846889285532&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

'Nuff said.

c scudi

Sep 12th 2012, 11:59

What an insult to a highly civilized nation..he,s going to have a lot of potatoes to eat..on his own.And as for his comment on what Italy has given the Islands...I thought it was the British but than am sure he knows better...

mark johnson

Sep 12th 2012, 11:58

Unless you know how to set your 'privacy' settings on Facebook to stop your comments being 'public', anything you say on there you might as well be shouting from a hilltop for the whole world to hear.

Anthony Grech

Sep 12th 2012, 11:58

"I could not accept this and any true men among you will understand that the family cannot be touched in whatever circumstances," he said.
Yes you are right. Even the Maltese National Family can not be touched in whatever circumstances.
So signore Arrivodeci as Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy used to say it.

H Agius

Sep 12th 2012, 11:57

Addio Caro ! Never bite the hand that feeds you!!

Thomas C. Cassar

Sep 12th 2012, 11:56

The millions we get from the Italian-Maltese protocol might be at stake here :)

N. Bill Camilleri

Sep 12th 2012, 11:56

He should have used the same excuse everyone else uses: "That was not me writing those things - someone else must have accessed my facebook account". At lease he didn't lie and hide. It will make it more enjoyable for us to watch him go out of business

Evarist Saliba

Sep 12th 2012, 11:55

What a pity that modern technology has made our human foibles so public.

Why is it that one can offend others and claim this to be a joke, but expect that others may not respond in the same way?

Why is it that it has become so cool to make public our fleeting intimate thoughts, but then get offended when there is a public reaction?

Why is it that the concept of responsibility for our actions has been weakened so much? We are responsible to protect our own reputation and our livelihood and that of our family.

A sincere apology will go some way to repair the damage that this man has brought on himself.

O. Tretyak

Sep 12th 2012, 11:54

Why proud nation is not prout of its Arabic roots?

Although Maltese live on a rock not in a desert, Why the word Beduin or Arab became an insult?

http://www.oneworldmagazine.org/focus/deserts/hittstr1.htm

And, BTW, Sicily too was speaking Arabic once upon a time...

http://www.oneworldmagazine.org/focus/deserts/hittstr1.htm

Franco Abela

Sep 12th 2012, 11:54

Well you have offended a whole nation not just a family... now pay the consequences

Jason Scerri

Sep 12th 2012, 11:54

This coming from someone who had to leave his country and open his business here. Sir it seems you need the money of these Arab Bedouins. And as our old ancestors used to say..... Iddardarx l-ghajn li tixrob minna.! :-))

Charles Cremona

Sep 12th 2012, 11:53

Well he said he didn't mean it, but he said it, but at the end of the day this is how most Europeans see us, but they don't say anything to to our face, because we think we are Europeans and we get offended if others think otherwise.

S. Attard

Sep 12th 2012, 11:53

If there are people who cnclaim that they thaught us anything, surely they are not italians. Maltese people are by far more inteligent than the italians. We are even more hardworking and above all people of principle.

R Mallia

Sep 12th 2012, 11:52

The only thing you italians or good at is cooking and you are not the best either as the Indians beat you to it.

Kenneth Grima

Sep 12th 2012, 11:52

Look who's opening his mouth a man escaping from a Mafia infested region trying to make up a living with us bedouins.

Ms Sylvia Zammit

Sep 12th 2012, 11:52

Too little-too late! You can keep your restaurant....but you won't see me there!

Anna Cremona

Sep 12th 2012, 11:51

"Were it not for us Italians, who came here and brought our money and our intelligence, you would have remained Arab Bedouins. If you still have a voice left, continue to sing in your crap Arabic." In the past centuries I do not recall Malta being under the Italians for long but other Northern European countries. Had you not wished to come to Malta to make a living through picking up potatoes you would stayed in Italy, but I believe you live on the Maltese hospitality. One should take note of what is written on facebook. We are proud Maltese with our own language.

charles tabone

Sep 12th 2012, 11:49

This is the usual Italian excuse. ]Teach him a lesson. We all know where to spend our money for better service.

Andre` Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 11:48

I would like to take this opportunity to inform the public about the new restaurant opening soon in Calabria "Piccola Malta"....

D Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 11:47

Well sinshine, game with your wife or not, the very fact that you were thinking along those terms about the Maltese people makes you no better than those that advocate sinking boats with illegal immigrants when they enter territorial waters!!

Gathering potatoes and singing in 'our' arabic indeed!!

K. Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 11:47

La Piccola Calabria should now consider to start business in Calabria itself.......

W Cassar

Sep 12th 2012, 11:46

Italian intelligence indeed!

You reap what you sow!

gil falzon

Sep 12th 2012, 11:46

I've lived in northern Italy and trust me, in comparison Malta is Switzerland so maybe this bloke should shut it.

David Caruana

Sep 12th 2012, 11:46

"I could not accept this and any true men among you will understand that the family cannot be touched in whatever circumstances,"

I agree, but I add that I regard the people of Malta as my extended family. So no, I will never accept your apology and I will never use your restaurant.

Not only that, but I'll make sure that no member of my family uses your restaurant either.

Now go and earn your living from your dear Calabresi.

Mr Julian Delia

Sep 12th 2012, 11:45

Everyone is right... Facebook is no place to joke around.... Facebook is now the foundation of all facts!!! Treat it with respect!!! hehe

Thomas Vella

Sep 12th 2012, 11:44

One does not simply offend the Maltese and try to get away

W St.John

Sep 12th 2012, 11:44

Like most of the comments written i agree that if he wanted to joke with his wife he should have done it privately not in an open domain. ''Boycott this restaurant'' ---- I LIKE.
Go to your beloved calabria we don`t need your restaurant.

Michael Schembri

Sep 12th 2012, 11:43

Know this Mister Piccola whatever. You Italians thought us nothing. we thought ourselves from other nations that were brave enough to invade us but surely it was never you Italians. We managed to steal knowledge away from everyone but not you as there was nothing.

Joe Xuereb

Sep 12th 2012, 11:41

Why does Mr. What's-his-name bother to come to Malta to feed us, retrograde, crap-speaking bedouins, third rate cuisine? For ten years too many? He goes on and on about his joking to his wife. If he really respects his wife he should keep his joker in private, in his bedroom, with his wife. Respect for wife and daughters my foot. Has he never heard of 'mammismo all'italiana which explains all there is to know about Italian machismo. Hiding behind Facebook indeed! Italian culture is fine but double-facedness fascism leaves me cold.

Michael Borg

Sep 12th 2012, 11:38

If you want to joke with your wife!!! joke with her in bed not on facebook

Lisa Grech-Mahoney

Sep 12th 2012, 11:38

I think this is the fastest way to wave goodbye to one's business. He may call us stupid and backward but which part of his grey matter did he use when he chose to insult us....not much grey matter at all is there. As us Maltese say "sal-ponta ta' mniehru ra" !!

Mr Joe Frendo

Sep 12th 2012, 11:38

You just showed this 'Arab Bedouins' nation how to ruin a family business! .. Well done, ... now tell your Campioni teach you how to start a new business in Calabria, under the Camorra governance!

Addio!

Lisa Fraser

Sep 12th 2012, 11:38

Oh dear, me thinks people are taking it all out of proportion and taking offence unnecessarily. It was clearly 'banter' that got a tad personal. People shouldn't be so touchy. I've heard far worse from Maltese people when the football has been on - mostly against the Brits. Toys back in the pram!

Stefano Murdocco

Sep 12th 2012, 11:37

Silly excuses, if someone offended your family you should have paid him back with the same "money", you don't offend an entire population and the secular History of them.

Huge mistake I think you will harshly paid for it……..next time think twice before you write on a SOCIAL NETWORK such offenses especially you who own a business!!!

Jay Oatmon

Sep 12th 2012, 11:36

Personally speaking - what exactly is the point of announcing to the world what you are doing in everyday life - to me it's a complete waste of time.

For example "I am in Sliema, I am buying shoes, my brother plays soccer," etc - so what!

Joe Buttigieg

Sep 12th 2012, 11:34

thanks to the "Italian Intelligence" that was brought to us, now we can see that this guy is trying to cover up his mistake with excuses!!!