Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/232206
16 News Available at all leading bookstores maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2013 After nearly 20 successful issues of Gourmet Today we have put together 100 of our favourite recipes in this wonderful cookbook. Recipes come from 26 of our most valued contributors, whether they are regulars or have provided us with one-off recipe ideas. Carol Peralta: the story of a defiant magistrate MIRIAM DALLI CHRISTMAS drinks have never Retail price €24.99 postage included sparked a bigger controversy than those organised by Carol Peralta, allegedly on "a Lm60 budget", on Thursday afternoon. Indeed, the venue for this Christmas gathering was none other than the Magistrate's own courtroom. Unrepentant of his actions, Peralta refused to apologise when pressed by journalists over whether he had felt ashamed of his actions. Instead, he sat back in his leather sofa, lit a cigarette and continued answering questions the journalists put forward. During this Friday press conference held at his Mdina residence, Peralta also refused to have any photographs taken. The boisterous and flamboyant magistrate is not new to controversy. Having already faced two impeachment motions – both of which fell through – Peralta may be on his third, depending on what the Commission for the Administration of Justice finds out. Controversies surrounding the 61year-old magistrate vary, from his alleged links with the freemasonry to his Mdina residence, which included illegal development and was later sanctioned. Peralta made headlines when he illegally built and demolished a medieval wall in an old Mdina property. The property, situated at the archaeologically rich Mesquita Square, was later sanctioned by MEPA despite heritage experts' advice to stop the project. In 2002, documentation made available to MaltaToday also confirmed that Peralta was the most senior freemason at the Leinster lodge No 387 LC at Villa Blye in Paola before being sworn in as magistrate in 1990. Peralta's name had appeared on a letter the Masonic brothers sent three days later after his appointment. The story was originally broken by Alternattiva - the defunct newspaper published by Alternattiva Demokratika – in 1990. A year later, in 1991, Peralta had converted a Lm5 fine to a day at Corradino Prisons when he was handing down his judgment against Saviour Balzan – then AD activist and Alternattiva coordinator – and two other AD activists, Joe Azzopardi and Mark Borg. The three were sentenced to a day in prison when they protested in Gozo, blocking a car carrying Richard Cachia Caruana from entering Ta' Cenc Hotel. The group of protesters totalled 22, but only three were sent to prison. The rest were fined. The lodge which Magistrate Carol Peralta had led as Worshipful Master for the year 1989-90 included some very well known businessmen and lawyers. It is not known whether Peralta is still a freemason. However, while he refused to answer questions related to his involvement in freemasonry, on Friday he told MaltaToday there was "no conflict" between freemasonry and the judiciary. Two impeachment motions to remove Magistrate Peralta out of office in the past fell through. The first one was proposed by