The Delicata Wine Festival will be offering an array of dishes to complement the varied wine selection.The Delicata Wine Festival will be offering an array of dishes to complement the varied wine selection.

It is not just the wine drinkers who will be happy at this year’s Delicata Classic Wine Festival which starts in six days’ time: food lovers will also have a lot to be cheerful about.

Whereas the 20 different wines made from a wide range of locally grown grape varieties will provide budding wine enthusiasts with enough to ‘sip & slurp’ their way through, likewise a varied range of culinary delights will be on offer for serious foodies to enjoy.

There will be four food areas at the festival. The Upper Barrakka Gardens will host a Maltese and Mediterranean food area, an international cuisine section and a platters counter, whereas down in the Saluting Battery there will be a fully seated restaurant area where diners can enjoy a buffet dinner overlooking the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities.

Here is a complete list of the delicious food items on offer together with a recommended wine for those ‘gastronauts’ who would like to pair up their food with an appropriate wine.

In the Maltese and Mediterranean area, the food prepared by Maypole Ltd consists of: Duo of suckling pig and leg of pork with baked potatoes (Gran Cavalier Merlot); fried Maltese rabbit with potatoes (Marenzio Merlot); fresh gnocchi with mushrooms and pancetta (Pjazza Regina Red); Stringozzi pasta with beef, pumpkin and walnut jus (Medina Cabernet Franc); paella (Hauteville Viognier); assorted pizzas (Pjazza Regina); and a selection of pastries (Classic Collection Casella Moscato).

In the international food section, there will be three types of cuisine.

Seafood specialities prepared by Piccolo Padre include fried breaded calamari with tartar sauce (Victoria Heights Chardonnay); fresh mussels cooked in wine (Hauteville Viognier); and grilled swordfish skewers with a caper sauce and potato salad (Gran Cavalier Chardonnay).

The oriental dishes prepared by Zest are dim sum platters (Pjazza Regina Rosé); sushi platters (Medina Vermentino Zibbibo); char kway teow flat rice noodles with chicken (Cavalli Sauvignon Blanc); and Phad Thai noodles with prawns (Medina Vermentino Zibbibo).

Indian restaurant Shivas will be cooking an Indian starter and an Indian combo starter (Pjazza Regina) and three main courses: chicken korma (Victoria Heights Chardonnay); chicken tikka masala (Maltese Falcon Rosé); and beef madras (Victoria Heights Merlot). These will all be served with pilau rice and naan bread.

As regards the platters counter, PJ Sutters and Experia will offer four types of platters: a cheese platter and a charcuterie platter both served with grapes, nuts, galletti and chutney (Hauteville Shiraz Cabernet an Italian platter consisting of a mix of Italian cold cuts and cheese served with grapes, nuts, galletti and fresh olives(Hauteville Shiraz Cabernet); and a Maltese platter with bigilla, Maltese sausage, mixed olives, peppered cheese, Gozo cheeselets, small octopus and sundried tomatoes (Gran Cavalier Chardonnay).

One can also sit down and enjoy a themed buffet dinner by Island Caterers in the Saluting Battery from 7pm until 11pm for €35 per person. On August 7, the theme is a Maltese BBQ night; on August 8, it’s a Spanish BBQ night; and on August 9 and 10, there will be an Italian BBQ night. On all nights, he menu will consist of an appetiser, a first course, a varied selection of items from the grill counter, a choice of desserts and a half bottle of Medina (Syrah, Chardonnay Girgentina or Grenache Rosé) and water. ­

Tables can be booked on the night at the restaurant or in advance by contacting Island Caterers on 2375 1930 or by e-mail on events@islandcaterers.com.mt.

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