Hungry And Fancying Pastizzi On Holiday? These Maltese Eateries Around The World Can Help
Maltese cuisine is constantly under scrutiny for “borrowing” from the island’s cultural influences. But why is that pastizzi and Cisk cans keep showing up around the world, then?
Maybe, it’s because Maltese food is actually some of the best you’ll find if it’s comfort you’re after in your cuisine.
These four international food spots have been bringing pastizz pride to the forefront of global cuisines in recent years and we couldn’t be prouder.
1. The Maltese Pastizzi Bar, Australia
The Maltese presence in Australia is evident through a lot more than just the fashion exports and the trio of migration waves the island experienced in the last century. The staple pastizzi has made a humble living on the shores Down Under and there’s a good reason, too.
This place also runs weekly five-course menu events that offer everything from qagħaq tal-għasel to imqarrun il-forn all the way down to burgers with patties made from Maltese sausage.
2. Maruta, Japan
This place has caused such a stir in Japan that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had to check it out when he was visiting the country.
Not only was the owner a previous EF student in Malta, but during his time on the islands he fell in love with Maltese food so hard he went home and opened a restaurant dedicated to it. YAS.
Okay, so they don’t offer up pastizzi on their menu, but they do make a great effort in dishing up some of nannu‘s best.
3. Joe’s Pastizzi Plus, Toronto
Joe’s Pastizzi Plus have been serving Toronto with the crispy cheese pies we all know and love for a while now, made in the most authentic of ways.
4. The Malta Express, Arizona (USA)
Malta Joe’s have been cooking up a stateside Maltese storm for a while now, again with their authentic methods of pastizzi production, and they’ve also launched a food truck this year that seems to have made a lasting impression on the locals.
BONUS: Parparellu (RIP)
Despite Parparellu having closed their doors for the last time back in 2016, the first and last Maltese café in London paved the way for many an establishment importing Cisk soon after.
While we might struggle to get a pastizz in London Town nowadays, we’ll always know we can return to the shores of our homeland for the real thing (or catch a flight to Melbourne, Tucson or Toronto).