Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/475084
VIII maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 MARCH 2015 Food Charles Grech & Co. Ltd., Valley Road, B'Kara Tel: 2144 4400 Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG 2011 Marchesi de Frescobaldi The Castello di Nipozzano, built in the year 1000 as a defensive fortress, became the center of communal life for the village of Nipozzano. Today the castle houses the wine cellar, where the estate red wines are produced and cask-aged. Castello di Nipozzano also serves as Frescobaldi's hospitality center and as a site for its fine food and wine initiatives. Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina DOCG is one of the historic wines produced at the Castello di Nipozzano. This wine always retains its close relationship with the Castello di Nipozzano terroir. Nipozzano 2011 is a ruby-red with good consistency. The nose opens with a strong fruit component of blackberry, blueberry and cherry. Sweet notes of cotton candy and spicy notes of cloves and nutmeg follow. The tannins are dense, but not harsh. The palate is warm and smooth, lovely persistence and remarkable taste- olfactory correspondence. Exclusively imported by Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, Valley Road, Birkirkara T: 2144 4400 Bang in the middle of the winter months, there's nothing quite as warming as some good old English comfort food. And Star Fish Bar gets British comfort right – perfect fish and chips, complete with mushy peas, soups, pies and their saveloy sausage. But what really gets us this time around is their deep fried Mars or Snickers bars! After a meal of fried fish and chips, probably the last thing you need is deep- fried chocolate but that crispy fried batter surrounding the melted chocolate and oozy caramel is just too difficult to resist. If winter is good for anything it is to cover up the evidence of those extra calories and this is certainly well worth it! Star Fish and Chips opened its doors on The Strand in Gzira, earlier in summer to rave reviews by English foodies who claim that "Malta is now complete" for having a fish and chip shop worthy of standards set by the home of fish and chips – the UK. Everything sold is imported directly from England, from the fryers themselves to each and every ingredient (except the potatoes for the chips, and the salt). The fryers are specialised, increasing tempera- tures to above those reached by average chip fryers, resulting in perfectly crispy batter while the fish is steamed under- neath and remains soft and moist. Cod, haddock and plaice, fish varieties typically sold at a fish and chip shop in the UK, are caught in the Atlantic and frozen within hours of being caught. There are even mushy peas, curry sauces and mashed potatoes! The menu also features chicken and sausages, particularly the famous Saveloy sausage With the cold having set in, Star Fish and Chips has prepared a variety of deli- cious pies and soups to get diners through those dark and dreary days. From pep- pered steak to meat and potatoes, one of these mouth-watering parcels – wrapped in either puff pastry, shortcrust pastry or both – will be the best thing you unwrap this festive period. Classics like chicken, pea and bacon, and oxtail soup are also available to chase the winter blues (and perhaps that nagging cold) away. A year-round winner is the deep fried Mars or Snickers bar. A word of caution – there is a picture of this dish underneath the word 'sinful' in the dictionary. Rachel Agius 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 Resto of the week Star Fish Bar The Strand, Gzira Tel: 27251251 Sinfully, comforting eating at Star Fish Bar