Some meals are like Proust’s madeleine: their taste simmers on in the memory long after they have been eaten. Melanie Vella asks three people about their favourite meal.

Nadine Scicluna

Last year, Nadine Scicluna was working in San Francisco, California when she took the opportunity to indulge in the weekend trends of this brunch-crazed city.

“Food is a form of entertainment in San Francisco and checking out the restaurant of the week is a typical Californian excursion,” she says.

Olga, a colleague, had heard about a dish called millionaire’s bacon, a speciality served at Kitchen Story, an Asian-run eatery located in the flamboyant, hipster district of Castro. So they decided to visit.

“The restaurant was so hip that I felt like I had walked onto the set of Sex and the City,” she says.

The poached eggs spilled out their yolk and we soaked up their smooth creaminess with bread

Wooden shelves with scattered cookbooks accented the rustic kitchen-style decor.

“We started off with the acclaimed millionaire’s bacon. As the two strips appeared on the table, the smell of sugar and spice tantalised my taste buds. I couldn’t believe how bacon could be so crunchy yet soft at the same time. It was a flawless start to a late morning meal.”

Eggs benedict with Italian pesto.

Next came eggs benedict with Italian pesto.

“If you’re eating at a swanky Castro eatery, you know there’s a twist in store,” she says. “Crispy, crunchy rainbow potatoes coloured the plate with hues of pink and purple. Pesto added a fresh Mediterranean tang, while the subtle sweetness of the strawberry bounced off the natural bitterness of the asparagus. The poached eggs spilled out their yolk and we soaked up their smooth creaminess with bread. Hollandaise sauce added a salty complement and the raw bean sprouts added texture and an Asian twist. Scrumptious.

Scicluna cannot shake off the memory of her San Francisco brunch.

“I still think about it every time I order a regular English breakfast in Malta.”

Corinne Musu

Corinne Musu is an avid traveller whose business and personal interests have taken her around most of Europe a few times over. She especially has fond memories of the food she enjoys while travelling: there are few places in Europe where she wouldn’t be able to recommend her favourite eatery.

“The most authentic way to experience a culture is through its food,” she says.

One of the places that ooze tradition is a quaint restaurant called La Trattoria Del Gallo on the outskirts of Bologna, Italy.

“I stumbled upon this family-run trattoria while visiting the area with my family. For starters we ordered fresh homemade pasta. It was the best pasta I’ve ever tasted. The fresh ravioli were flavoured with fresh sage leaves, butter and olive oil.

“It seems that half of Bologna visits this trattoria for one thing in particular: the tagliata di manzo. The beef is cooked in a hot clay dish, drizzled with olive oil and cooked on a slow heat until the thick strips of beef absorb the raw, earthy aromas. The tagliata is served with roast potatoes and artichoke hearts.

“The other half of Bologna comes for dessert. I had eyed the trays of desserts that the owner was presenting to the tables next to us. When asked what was on the dessert menu, he replied that it was a surprise. He then laid out a dish of decadent tiramisu, a bowl of melted dark chocolate and an egg and mascarpone mixture. We were provided with spoons and encouraged to indulge. We didn’t need a lot of encouragement.

“Now I can’t imagine visiting this area and not popping into Trattoria Del Gallo, even if it entails an extra two-hour drive. It’s an integral part of the travel experience to that region.”

Christopher Tabone

Christopher Tabone has worked in the hotel industry for many years and currently lives in St Petersburg, Russia.

“A memorable culinary experience is defined by the people who accompany you,” he says.

“Café Ket in St Petersburg is a tiny restaurant run by a Georgian family for the past 20 years. It serves delicious food at great value for money. The old Georgian lady sitting by the door led us into the restaurant. There are cats everywhere, from the wallpaper to the figurines on the windowsill.

“As I was with a group of Russian colleagues, we inevitably started the evening with a round of straight vodkas, which are thrown back, never sipped, enriched by a hearty toast. Russians don’t drink vodka without a side order of pickled vegetables including cabbage, chillies and garlic.

“Then came the Georgian Feast. We started with khachapuri, a Georgian variation of crisp pizza bread enclosing a velvety salty cheese filling and topped with fresh herbs. This kind of food is great to share and gets people socialising over a glass of exquisite Georgian wine.

“I ordered the rib-eye steak, which was cooked to precise consistency but remained firm and succulent. The dish was accentuated with three foamy textured mousses of piquant beetroot, aubergine and chickpea which were layered and finished off with a pomegranate dressing for a bitter sweet finishing.

“Since my first meal, I’ve been many times to Café Ket and it has become a regular for many Maltese people working in St Petersburg. In fact, nowadays I just walk in and order my usual.”