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30 RESTO OF THE WEEK IF you had to list the world's great- est nations for culinary effort, few people would feature Great Britain anywhere near the top. Though Great Britain is widely known the world over for its bland dishes smothered with Bisto gravy, this is largely due to undiscerning diners and not a lack of quality English fare. Thankfully Malta has no lack of discerning diners so the open- ing of The Londoner gastro pub in Paceville is pretty exciting as the pub incorporates all things English – good beer on tap, a series of foot- ball matches on the TV, English music playing in the background and a great selection of some of England's finest dishes, including Sunday roasts. To get into the pub spirit, I head- ed down to The Londoner nursing a sore head from the night before and low and behold, a prominent part of the menu offers a sure cure – a spicy Bloody Mary. For some reason – watery tomato juice – a good Bloody Mary is difficult to come by in Malta, but the one at The Londoner is worth its salt; good consistency, the right amount of spicy and seasoning and, true to its word, offers a little comfort. The menu offers a variety of English classics; complete English breakfast with eggs, bacon sausag- es, baked beans, mushrooms, black pudding and bubble and squeak, or bacon baps if you're in a hurry. If you've skipped breakfast and are coming in straight for lunch, take a look at the great British start- ers; pork pies, deep-fried cheese or chicken wings with a spicy dip to keep you going till your mains. Mains include some my all-time favourite one-plate meals – steak and Guinness pie, fish and chips, bangers and mash and a selection of stews. And on Sundays, roast lamb or beef with all the trim- mings, Yorkshire puddings and smothered in gravy (not the Bisto kind, but real home-made stuff). After lunch we stayed for a few pints of bitter, and though I'm not a football fan, stayed to watch a game (two games really – some- thing to do with overall points and staying on top of the league, but it was of vital importance to follow both matches). What putting up with the foot- ball does entitle a foodie like my- self to is conversation with pink Manchester fans, from Manchester (they provide way more entertain- ment than the game itself) and after a few hours of drinking, the Drinker's Favourite platter which included Scotch eggs, with a near- runny centre, chunky chips, made from real potatoes with Leicester melt, pork pies, garlic bread and other yummy bits and bites. All in all it was a fun after- noon out, reminiscent of many pub afternoons in the UK. I will most definitely be back. And one more thing… Happy Hour is from 3:00pm till 7:00pm – that's a whole lot of happiness! The Londoner is open daily from 10:00am till 4:00am. Charles Grech & Co. Ltd., Valley Road, B'Kara Tel: 2144 4400 Pinot Grigio 2013 – Attems, Italy Pinot Grigio is more than just the Italian name for the Pinot Gris grape variety; it also embodies stylistic differences. 'Pinot Grigio' wines are typically quite different from 'Pinot Gris' wines, even though they are made from the same variety. The difference is so well established that the two are often treated as distinct varieties Pinot Grigio Attems, which reaches the peak of its expressiveness in the vineyards located in the area between the Collio and the alluvial area of the Isonzo. The wine is characterised by a copper- tinged straw yellow. Its bouquet is marked by a impressive fruitiness, and the palate demonstrates all of the amazing qualities of the Collio: superb weight and viscosity, mineral-edged, savoury, tangy, and lively. Serving suggestions: Roast poultry and rabbit, even lamb, grills, stuffed meat dishes. Exclusively imported by Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, Valley Road, B'Kara T: 2144-4400 WINE OF THE WEEK The Londoner Dragonara Road, Paceville Tel: 21376637 Facebook: TheLondonerpub A taste of the London life Rachel Zammit Cutajar takes a look at a restaurant and brings a recipe, wine and delicacy of the week. Write to us with your comments on restaurants or submit your own recipes to rzammitcutajar@mediatoday.com.mt FOOD