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40 www.gourmettoday.recipes people with Maltese connections from all over the UK. This generates income for other local businesses such as taxis, local shops and B&Bs. At first, only Maltese people or people with Maltese connections attended. Today, locals are snapping up spaces and cannot wait to try something different. However, most Maltese items are now available all year. We have managed to source our great soft drink, Kinnie, which is extremely popular, Twistees, original pastizzi provided by McSims, Cisk lager, and even on draught, which is so popular that the locals come in and ask for it by name! For the ultimate dining experience, we also have a large selection of premium wines from Delicata and Meridiana wineries in Malta, alongside an impressive range of other wines from all over the world. As the owner of Le Pisani Restaurant, how do you ensure the authenticity and quality of Mediterranean dishes on your menu? I would say it is hard to balance, but we seem to have found the right formula. Certain items and ingredients must be imported to meet the requirements. However, over 90% of our products are acquired locally to support our community. We choose the highest-quality local produce and turn it into great Mediterranean meals. We also have a large selection of local favourite dishes to make sure we are catering to everyone. What are some of the challenges you've faced in introducing Maltese cuisine to a new audience in the UK, and how have you overcome them to establish Le Pisani as a beloved destination for authentic Maltese flavours? It has been a long journey of trial and error. People are sometimes reluctant to try new things and avoid what they are used to. We have built a reputation at this stage, and people trust us. They trust that what we offer is always genuine and never disappoints. We firmly believe we are an asset to the town and the area and could not be any prouder. For more information about Le Pisani visit: www.lepisani.com/menus.html