Gourmet enjoyment combines traditional with international influences.
GOZO, MALTA – In the luxurious vacation atmosphere of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, the finest traditional kitchen art with worldwide influences is offered in the dreamlike scenery of the Mediterranean island hotel. Either under the open sky or in the typically decorated interiors of the new restaurant L-Istorja, guests of the 5-star hotel on Malta’s sister island Gozo can end their day with culinary delights as diverse as the colourful flora of the surrounding natural scenery.
Trevor Portelli, culinary director of the luxurious hotel, and his versatile team have created a new summer menu exclusively for the relaunch of the gourmet temple on the picturesque Mediterranean Sea. Special emphasis was placed on honouring the history of Maltese and Gozitan cuisine, with influences left by settlers from other countries in the Maltese archipelago, such as the Italians, French, Spanish, Arabs and British. This also means that seasonal ingredients and local products have a high priority in the composition of the new menus, which is particularly evident in the vegetarian dishes on the summer menu.
“Our vision is to raise awareness that our down-to-earth, local cuisine can be prepared with passion and creativity and served in many flavours as an upscale culinary experience in an elegant setting. High-quality ingredients and careful preparation are crucial, the interplay of which highlights the special quality of our cuisine”, says Chef Portelli.
The new summer menu includes a diverse array of traditional dishes with a creative twist – from a vegetarian French-inspired ‘terrine’ and Belgian caviar appetiser to a ‘caramelle’ creation from the pasta menu that gives the dish a new look. Traditional parsley dough with rabbit filling and Gozo cheese fondue, as well as Jerusalem artichoke with black truffle in a potato nest with garlic and hazelnuts, are the chef’s in-house recommendations as classic local heroes on the menu, as is the legendary sweet version of Gozo Gbejna, a sophisticated sheep’s cheese mousse with pear gel, carob base, organic lemon oil, pistachios and sweet bread.
Ruth Abellan, General Manager Kempinski San Lawrenz, adds, “In L-Istorja, an authentic culinary experience can be enjoyed from a dedicated team whose main goal is to fully indulge the palates of our guests. The new menu is a journey through the culinary history of our region. Trevor does a phenomenal job of creating unique dishes that highlight Maltese heritage while adapting to modern tastes”.
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