From Pastizzi To Panini: Maltese-Australian’s Mortadeli Is The Real Deli-cacy Down Under
Right at the heart of Torquay beach, Australia, foodies can find Mortadeli– an eatery that journeys through Mediterranean cuisine and that gives a spotlight to Maltese delicacies.
Maltese-Australian owner, Jake Cassar, made the bold move to relocate to Torquay at the beginning of the pandemic. In his journey, he quickly discovered that access to Mediterranean delights were no longer at his fingertips. So he embarked on a journey to bring the flavours of Europe that he longed for to the land down under.
Opened in the summer of 2021, Mortadeli truly leans into Cassar’s Maltese heritage, surfacing memories of spending school holidays at his Nannu and Nanna’s house, helping them harvest fresh fruits and vegetables and cooking together.
What began as a modest part-deli/diner quickly gained momentum and spread out over the piazza, adding a pasta bar and expanding the delicatessen in a new and spacious shopfront.
“At first I thought who would ever order a Ħobż biz- Żejt and now it’s our most popular sandwich!” Cassar told Lovin Malta. He went on to say how pastizzi are also another crowd favourite.
Apart from the Maltese classics, Mortadeli also has special events throughout the month on their roster, including pop up pasta nights and Fish Fridays.
The cafeteria also caters for every meal of the day, taking you from espresso and pastries in the morning, to a panino full of fresh, local produce and ingredients for lunch, and finally an aperitivo and cicchetti in the evening.
Different to other eateries, Mortadeli also has a grocer section which houses exceptional local and imported European pantry goods, charcuterie, antipasto, tinned fish, homemade jar goods and so much more. Essentially, this is the one-stop-shop to satisfying your Mediterranean cravings in Australia.
The cafeteria’s kitchen extends beyond the walls of its adorable Italian-style eatery, as Mortadeli offers catering options tailoring to different events. Whether it’s a cocktail party in desperate need for some nibbles or hosting a Sunday lunch in the piazza, Mortadeli’s got you covered.
Have you ever visited Torquay beach?
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