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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2014 News 24 mbank.com 2132 2100 FIMBank is an international trade nance specialist with an established reputation as a dynamic and customer-driven provider of trade nance solutions. FIMBank is headquartered in Malta and benets from a growing network of international oces. documentary collections bonds and guarantees treasury management structured trade nance commodity trade nance letters of credit ship nance payments forfaiting factoring Trade Finance Solutions engineered for business success FIMBank p.l.c. is a licensed credit institution in Malta with company registration C17003, is regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. RACHEL ZAMMIT CUTAJAR TA' Frenc restaurateur and Gozi- tan businessman Ino Attard, from Victoria, passed away suddenly on Sunday morning at the age of 58 as a result of a brain haemorrhage. The owner and director of Ta' Frenc, Attard was a pioneer in the restaurant industry, with Ta' Frenc being the first fine dining restau- rant on the island of Gozo, and the Ta' Frenc Estates being opened in 1979. Gozitan restaurateur Alex Sciclu- na of Jubilee Group, said that Gozo has lost a true inspiration to the catering industry. "Ta' Frenc was at the forefront of the restaurant in- dustry in Gozo. Though there were other restaurants in Gozo at the time, this was the first top of the range restaurant in Gozo that was successful." Scicluna insists that the restau- rant owes its success to the passion for food and wine that was part and parcel of Attard's style of doing business. "An hour before he died he was at a wedding at Ta' Frenc, ensuring the bride and groom did not want for anything. He has a fantastic team and did not need to be there. He had been in Sicily with his wife and f lew back to make sure everything ran smoothly. This is the attitude that ensures success in this industry." They were also the first on the is- lands to pay such close attention to sourcing of local ingredients. The herbs used in the dishes served at Ta' Frenc are grown in the gardens of the Xaghra restaurant, while chickens, quails, pheasants and other poultry are bred by a neigh- bour especially for the restaurant, and fresh fish is sourced from a local fisherman minutes down the road. A new olive grove, with trees from locally taken cuttings, has been es- tablished close to the restaurant, which is producing sufficient olives for pressing into extra virgin ol- ive oil. This is served prior to the meal with local salt from Gozitan salt pans and warm bread baked in-house. Attard's, passion for food and wine was the same from the day he entered the catering industry right until his untimely demise. Though Attard's duties lay mainly behind the scenes, he was present at the restaurant on most nights meeting guests and ensuring every minute detail was in order. He worked closely with long-time colleagues, executive chef Mario Schembri, and food and beverage manager Joseph Tabone. Schembri has been at the helm in the kitchen for 30 years and is highly respected for his creativity and consistency, while Tabone joined Ta' Frenc in 1996 and adds his vast knowledge of wine and f lambé cooking to the team. Like the managing team, many of the kitchen staff have learnt the ropes at Ta' Frenc and have become part of the family – some near- ing the 10-year, others the 20-year mark. Ta' Frenc has been consistently voted in the top 150 restaurants in Malta and Gozo by The Defini- tively Good Guide, with awards for food, and particularly for fine wines as well as taking the best overall award in 2006, and best fine dining restaurant in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Attard leaves to mourn his loss his wife Mary Grace and his three children, Rebekkah, 21, Isaac, 19 and Jakob, 16. Gozo mourns loss of top restaurateur Ino Attard Access to Mgarr ix-Xini blocked for three months due to Brangelina movie MIRIAM DALLI PUBLIC access to Mgarr ix- Xini Bay and its environs will be blocked for three months as works on the Brangelina movie are set to kick start this Monday. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will be shooting By the Sea in Gozo, and will star together in the drama that Jolie has written and will di- rect for Universal Pictures. The couple, who last appeared onscreen together in 2005's Mr. & Mrs. Smith, will produce the project. In a joint statement issued by the Home Affairs Ministry and the Tourism Ministry, the government said the bay and its surroundings will be closed to the public between 18 August and 10 November. "The economic impact of the movie production will be provid- ing Gozo with a strong economic injection for both the island and its residents. The economic impact is set to generate millions," the gov- ernment said. In an official statement, the gov- ernment said Malta and Gozo are attracting the interest of the in- ternational media and this is set to leave a positive mark on the is- lands' tourism sector. "International companies are investing millions in the Mal- tese islands which will lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs," the government said. "But this is only possible thanks to the public's co- operation and understanding of the need to close Mgarr ix-Xini Bay during the filming." The Daily Mail reported that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie booked the beach café, Rew Rew, for three months. The beach shack is situ- ated next to their film set. "The pair and their production crew wanted unfettered access to the pebble beach at the pic- turesque bay at Mgarr ix-Xini for three months while they make By The Sea," the Daily Mail reported. Owners Noel and Sandra Vella are reportedly being paid thou- sands of euros in compensation to shut up shop, it added. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Restauranteur Ino Attard

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