Goat’s cheese ravioli Rexy’s Bar & Restaurant Much like our language, what we consider traditional Maltese cuisine today is the result of an amalgamation of influences. Pasta, while originating in Italy, is widely loved and celebrated in Malta, and one of its most popular forms is ravioli. Traditionally served with a simple tomato and garlic sauce, and stuffed with ricotta, you’ll find ravioli on the menu in many places across the islands. The local spin however is ravioli stuffed with goats’ cheese, which is one of Gozo’s specialties. The best place to find these is a small restaurant in the village of Ghajnsielem in Gozo. Serving mostly locals, its specialty is hard to miss when you pass by, with several aged signs advertising fresh and frozen ravioli decorating an adjacent wall and, interestingly, a neighbouring balcony. You can have your ravioli served the traditional way in a delicious sauce made with fresh tomatoes or in an altogether more decadent fashion – baked lasagne-style, coated in cream. If you’re not a big eater though, I have one word of advice for you – order the starter size. Rexy’s Bar & Restaurant, Triq l-Imgarr, Ghajnsielem, Gozo (2156 0873).
Gozitan ftira Maxokk Bakery A visit to Gozo wouldn’t be complete without a traditional Gozitan ftira, and family-run Maxokk Bakery in Nadur is the best place to get it. The bakery itself is tiny – comprising a single room with soot-covered walls – thanks to the wonderful old stone oven – and, depending on the time of day, you’ll generally find a small queue of people overflowing into the street, waiting for pre-ordered ftira. Named after the family nickname, Maxokk Bakery has been around since the 1930s, and has gained a reputation for its trademark ftira tal-Maxokk, which has people from all over Malta and Gozo making the trip to Nadur. At a glance, the ftira resembles a semi-closed pizza made using bread dough, which is soft and pillowy on the inside, and delightfully crunchy on the outside. While there are a number of toppings you can choose from, it is traditionally topped with sliced potatoes, onions and ricotta cheese, which I love, though I’m also partial to the addition of Maltese sausage for some extra bite. Absolutely delicious albeit quite heavy, I’d be hard pressed to find anything that will go down better, if a calorific cheat meal is what you’re after! Maxokk Bakery, St James Street, Nadur, Gozo (2155 0014, www.maxokkbakery.com).
26 Time Out Malta & Gozo for Visitors 2015/16