Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/523863
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 JUNE 2015 34 Food 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 The Château de Sancerre, located in the heart of the vineyard, is the only castle in the Sancerre area. It was built in the Xth century by the Count of Champagne and today, the Feudal Tower (Tour des Fiefs) is the only remaining vestige of the medieval castle. In 1874, the castle was rebuilt in Louis XII style. Sancerre was officially added to the noble family of great French wines with its addition to the appellation of guaranteed origin (AOC). The principle varietals of Sancerre are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Sauvignon Blanc is particularly well-suited to the region of Sancerre thanks to a temperate micro-climate and stony, warm and well-drained soil. According to most connoisseurs, nowhere else does Sauvignon Blanc attain such vigor, such verve and fullness and such inimitable finesse than in Sancerre. Exclusively imported by Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, Valley Road, Birkirkara T: 2144 4400 Sancerre – Chateau de Sancerre, Loire, France WITH those balmy summer nights right on our doorstep, it is the perfect time to enjoy the longer daylight hours and the renewed cultural scene that continues to grow as the island gets warmer. Late evening walks are no longer chilly and make for a cheap and cheerful opportu- nity to do a little people watching as the locals begin to trickle back to their fa- vourite summer haunts. The Three Cities are a great place to do just that. Wander along the Birgu water- front and take in the impressive yachts and the beautiful casino, just across from Valletta's beautiful bastions. Across the bay lies a more rough-around-the-edges sort of cultural outing. A stroll along the water's edge is punctuated by the lapping of water, the sound of children playing on the promenade, the chatter of the older generations and the creak of their folding chairs. Complementing these local cultural flavours, the menu at Target – situated roughly halfway along the bay – com- bines fresh Maltese produce with Italian flair. We started off with a wonderful cock- tail creation – a bright red fruity con- coction that came with sliced apple and strawberry, with brown sugar along the rim of the margarita glass. I couldn't tell you what was in it – they were sent over by the bartender as we sat down – but I do know that it was delicious. An Italian-inspired menu would not be complete without a selection of pasta and the fagottini with bacon and pista- chio was moreish and crunchy, thanks to the sprinkling of crushed, roasted nuts on top. My guest and I shared this dish, which turned out to be the right call; the portion is certainly generous enough. Despite our amicable division of the pasta, the main course signalled an end to the sharing. It was time to properly dig in. A heaped pile of assorted seafood was placed before my guest, who had to work her way through what felt like the United Nations of seafood to get to the soup. The hard work paid off. Between the variety of shellfish and the soup – closer to Maltese aljotta than a chowder – the clay bowl was all but licked clean. I decided to ignore my usual impulse, my auto-pilot guiding me towards steak. A little variety never hurt anyone. I decided on the chicken with mush- room sauce. It came with a generous helping of steamed veg – a simple but respectable accompaniment to the main dish. The chicken was tender and I had to resist polishing my plate with a crust of bread. As our meal ended, we departed Italy for France with a thoroughly delightful creme brûlée. A popular dessert for many years, finding a properly done creme brûlée is still not guaranteed. Luckily, Target hit the mark with this one and delivered the perfect sugary crunch with delicate creamy centre. Walking out into the night, it was easy to see why diners would choose this small but spunky restaurant. Its outdoor seat- ing will be heaven in the warm months and the water's edge makes for an excel- lent post-dinner stroll to aid digestion. A surefire summer oasis. Target Triq Juan B. Azzopardi, Senglea. Tel: 21804002 Facebook: www.facebook.com/targetmalta Simplicity and sunshine Summer nights are just around the corner, giving any restaurant with sea front tables an edge. RACHEL AGIUS heads down to Target in Senglea to see if the food matches their prime location PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD