Malta’s longest-established five-star hotel, the Phoenicia, continues to assert its 70-year pedigree with the receipt of a Trip Adviser certificate of excellence, as well as a separate excellence award for its flagship dining outlet Pegasus.

Phoenicia’s new food and beverage team, executive chef Saul Halevi and food and beverage director Francesco Perricone, are delighted that the changes made over the past six months have resulted in such positive feedback.

Mr Halevi says that Pegasus has moved to a natural Mediterranean kitchen approach which guests and diners have welcomed for its freshness, taste, quality and nutrition. He has introduced a large kitchen garden within the hotel’s 7.5-acre grounds to supplement a very carefully selected supply chain.

Mr Halevi said: “While remaining true to basic culinary principles, the culinary team at Pegasus pursues out-of-the-box techniques, presentations, flavour sensations, tastes and textures with a variety of dishes at one’s table. It’s this kind of detail Trip Adviser monitors mostly.”

The hotel’s general manager, Charles Azzopardi, said: “We are delighted to receive another Trip Adviser certificate of excellence. We strive to impress in customers’ minds a memorable dining experience and this accolade is evidence of our hard work translating into positive traveller reviews on Trip Adviser for both Phoenicia and Pegasus.”

Mr Perricone said: “We are all grateful to our guests for recommending our flagship restaurant and our hotel on the world’s largest travel site.

“Each award is a testament of hard work and commitment, backed by long hours and committed staff.”