We all love a cheeky 3am drive to Serkin for a pastizz or two (or seven), but what would you do if you suddenly get the craving for a Maltese treat and you’re thousands of kilometres away from the islands? Well, it turns out you’re not as screwed as you might think.

For a country of less than half a million people, Malta sure has a lot of representation overseas. Here are some of our favourite presence of the tiny white and red over the world.

1. Braġjoli in Japan

A little piece of the islands in Tokyo, マルタ is a restaurant that’s literally named after Malta.

The small restaurant offers up traditionally hearty meals like ftira, rabbit stew and braġjoli (and Cisk, of course!), and while Chef Takashi Takamiya had said in a TV interview that only a few customers visited his establishment when he opened a couple of years ago, the restaurant quickly grew in popularity.

“I spent 18 years working in an Italian restaurant in Tokyo,” Takamiya had said. “Then, I came to Malta and stayed to learn how to cook Maltese food!” And according to a Maltese customer who had visited the restaurant in 2017, the ħobż tal-Malti up on offer is actually “even better than the local version!”

2. A Malta-themed boat party Down Under

Australia boasts a huge Maltese community, and if there’s one thing on their minds, it’s making sure not to forget their roots. Add a bit of traditional Maltese celebrations and a big boat, and you’ve got your hands on a nautical festa on the other side of the globe.

Made in Malta organises annual events in Melbourne and Sydney, promising to “showcase everything Maltese”. Conceived way back in 2009, the parties bring down Maltese acts such as Tenishia, Ira Losco and DJ Ruby, and this year’s four-hour boat party saw 300 revellers enjoy another sold-out event… which came with five pastizzi per person, because of course.

3. A traditional Maltese bakery in Mexico City

La Santa Gula looks as good as it is rated. With 4.7 out of 5 stars on Facebook and their excellent TripAdvisor position of 37th in 5,438 restaurants in Mexico City, the traditional Maltese bakery offers up Mediterranean, vegetarian-friendly and even vegan dishes.

Located in Calle Xicoténcatl a couple of blocks away from the Frida Kahlo Museum, the restaurant is run by a Maltese man, Mark, who moved to Mexico a while back. “We also make all our bread in-house and use my mother’s recipes,” Mark said of his traditional creations.

4. Toronto’s defiant ‘Little Malta’

Back in 1983, Antoinette and Charlie Buttigieg bought a small building in Toronto, called it Malta Bake Shop, and started providing the Maltese community in Canada and North America alike some good old pastizzi from across the pond.

Last year, developers literally came knocking, with lots being developed into townhouses all over Toronto’s Dundad Street West. One such developer approached the Maltese couple with an impressive sum, but the couple stood strong.

“He offered us a million dollars for the bakery and a million dollars for the house next door, which we also own — so two million dollars,” said Antoinette. “The Maltese have been here since the 1920s. This building has a history. It is not a job. I feel like the shop is more like our living room and our customers, they are like family. and what would we do without our family?”

Without batting an eyelid, the couple refused the millions, and went back to making pastizzi for their loyal customers.

5. An artistic home away from home in London

A number of Maltese actors, actresses and musicians have moved to London over the years, calling the UK capital their home as they fly the white and red on the stage.

Using the major European city as a stepping stone for everything from BBC premieres to Royal Caribbean cruise shows, the Maltese artistic community is coming back to the islands with some invaluable experience from all over the world.

6. A Buttigieg as US President?

Maltese-American candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination Pete Buttigieg has been making waves online, and after stealing the show in a CNN town hall meeting last month and featuring in a Vice News feature, the young witty candidate is slowly gaining traction.

Within 24 hours of the CNN town hall meeting, Buttigieg , who raised more than $600,000 from over 22,200 donations, with a former Obama adviser praising him as “crisp, thoughtful and relatable”.

The South Bend (Indiana) 37-year-old mayor shot to fame when he lambasted US Vice President Mike Pence as “the cheerleader of the porn star presidency”. A millennial, nerd, married gay man who’s also an Afghanistan war veteran and a self-confessed Hufflepuff, Buttigieg is a fresh voice whose star is rising fast.

Back in Malta, we’ll continue to follow and support his rise, correcting everyone who tries to correctly pronounce his surname… and fails miserably (no America, it’s not “Boot-edge-edge”).

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).