Pastizzi workshop with Charlie at Mgarr , Malta
Yesterday Tuesday 24th of March, I happen to attend one event of agriculture from the Maya Malta rural tours at the Valletta Design Cluster. The conference by GreenFit involved the participation of many stakeholders from different countries. The involved parties presented some projects in relation to sustainable agriculture technique and eco- technologies in crops methodologies. It was an interesting intervention that helps to give practical tools on the management of land in an eco friendly manner. I got to know many individuals both through the practical workshops and through lunch networking. It was special. As it was special the rural tour that I happened to be invited on the early afternoon by the same organisation.
The event I was involved in the afternoon comprehended a rural tour in the green countryside of Mgarr, and a stopping by at the warm farmhouse of Merellin. In there we got to know particularly one master in the production of pastizzi, which are the typical maltese savoury pastries. We started the workshop with the man who taught us how to make them in a very raw way. They come with water, salt , flour and butter. You extend the dough on a really long shape that later you cut in piece. Then you take the pieces and you start to dig deep with fingers in the dough so to create a shell profound shape, where you later pour the peas or ricotta mixture. After various trials, we are being invited to sit at the long table under the woody roof of the rural and rustic cottage. Chris, who is one of the founder of Merellin Association
beckons us at the little oil jags where it is poured the pure Extra Virgin Oil. The Traditional oil is sirved with slices of traditional Maltese bread and some salt on the side. Later on they let us taste the traditional white and red wine. I preferred to taste the white wine over the red, even if they day inspired me of the red one. After a while Charlie, the old white beard man , brought outside the pastizzi, recently cooked in the oven. I tried the one with Ricotta, which were one of the best to my taste and liking. It was a truly authentic rural wild experience.
The Festival of the Strawberries in Mgarr or Frawli Festival
On the 12 of April, in Mgarr the Frawli Festival was rurally organised. The Frawli festival is the festival of maltese strawberries, that being a Mediterranean typology of strawberries is truly tasting. The festival takes place annually in the rural village of Mgarr and it is well known so to attract huge visitors both locally and internationally. It takes place in one day of April in the rural village of Mgarr, widely known for the cropping of bright tasty strawberries. In particular, the church and main square are surrounded by a series of stalls which comes to be decorated in strawberry like arranged corners. After a long walking on the tree green pathway which boasts a series of colourful children's drawings hanging on the gates of the Boys And Girls college, one arrives in the main square. Once there, a corner beautifully decorated with strawberries, other fruit and veggies baskets can be immediately noticed. Paving the way to the side area surrounding the Church, one could hear and stare at a band of traditional maltese players with their instruments on hands, along with people dancing at their local rhythmic beats. Keeping on walking on the back side of the church, one could notice another cute strawberry decorated corner with the ape carrying basket strawberries as the protagonist. The streets also boasted some other stalls with strawberries decorations as well as flora and fauna, as little rabbits and goats, being exposed so to allow people to softly cuddle them. But to me the most beautiful corner, is Bottega ta Frawli, which is an Italian vinoteca and salumeria, where you could enjoy a good meal, for either lunch or dinner, served along a glass of very tasty wine.
To go back way, it is highly advisable to proceed walking on rural areas, as the one I happened to experience with my French friend Rachel. .
Il 12 aprile, a Mgarr, si è svolta la Festa delle Fragole. Essa è la festa delle fragole maltesi, una varietà mediterranea dal sapore davvero gustoso. La festa si tiene ogni anno a Mgarr ed è nota per attirare numerosi visitatori, sia locali che internazionali. Si svolge in un solo giorno di aprile nel villaggio rurale di Mgarr, famoso per la coltivazione di fragole rosso acceso e gustose. In particolare, la chiesa e la piazza principale sono circondate da una serie di bancarelle decorate con angoli a tema fragole. Dopo una lunga passeggiata lungo il sentiero alberato, ornato da coloratissimi disegni di bambini appesi ai cancelli del collegio maschile e femminile, si arriva nella piazza principale. Una volta lì, si nota subito un angolo splendidamente decorato con cesti di fragole, altra frutta e verdura. Percorrendo la strada che porta alla zona laterale intorno alla chiesa, si potevano ascoltare e ammirare un gruppo di musicisti tradizionali maltesi con i loro strumenti in mano, insieme a persone che ballavano al ritmo delle danze locali. Proseguendo sul retro della chiesa, si notava un altro grazioso angolo decorato con fragole, con un'ape capeggiante contente cesti di fragole di varie dimensioni. Le strade erano inoltre costellate di altre bancarelle decorate con fragole, piante e animali, come coniglietti e capre, esposti in modo che i visitatori potessero accarezzarli. Ma per me l'angolo più bello era la Bottega ta Frawli, un'enoteca e salumeria italiana, dove si poteva gustare un buon pasto, a pranzo o a cena, accompagnato da un ottimo bicchiere di vino.
Per tornare indietro, è altamente consigliabile proseguire a piedi attraverso le zone rurali, come ho fatto io con la mia amica francese Rachel.
