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LOCAL SPECIALITIES
OCTOBER STILL GREAT FOR SWIMMING AND AN ABUNDANCE OF FRESH FISH.
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ctober is the month when the long hot summer “officially” comes to an end, the weather cools somewhat and children go back to school. Families with holiday homes close to the sea have closed up and the beaches are far less busy and certainly quieter. This does not mean that the swimming season is over, or that fishing boats are put ashore. The sea temperature is perfect, hovering around 23 degrees, with the air temperature averaging 25 degrees. This may be the perfect time of the year for a quiet, more leisurely visit to Malta with great swimming and boating options along with town and country sightseeing. For October visitors the good news is that the Lampuki season is still going
strong and although catches may be less abundant, many restaurants still offer this very “Maltese” fish on their menus. Cuttle fish and calamari are also in season, the former, the source of the delicious al nero – black – pasta and risotto dishes. Malta boasts many fine fish restaurants of which the newest is possibly Pexxi, in St Julian's. Pexxi with its pretty outdoor terrace on the water’s edge in Spinola Bay offers an interesting menu with flavours from around the Mediterranean. The pesci crudi – raw, cured fish - include marinated red prawns, a swordfish carpaccio and a tuna tartare. The fritti - battered and deep fried – are shrimps, whitebait and baby squid. Linguine con Calamari e Guanciale – squid and cheek bacon – or con Ricci e Gamberi – sea urchin