Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/899902
maltatoday SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2017 This Week 37 THE temperature is perfect for long country walks right now. The sun is still shining and the threat of rain is small, but it's cool enough not to be sweating buckets. And the little bit of rain we've had so far this year means everything is green again. If you're not spending your outdoor hours at the beach – and let's face it, we've all had enough of the beach – then you should be spend- ing them walking around Malta's country roads. And if country walks are what you're looking then the Rabat areas just outside of Mdina are great for walking. Plenty of trees, country paths and lots of fresh air, this should be the spot you go to stretch your legs at the weekend. And once you've worked up enough of an appetite, any country walk should end with a little bit of indul- gence. In this area, a stop at Stazzjon, Malta's old rail- way station, is an absolute must. Recently refur- bished, this family-run establishment is every- thing you're looking for. They are open all day and Stazzjon Bar and Kitchen THE RESTAURANT Triq Ghajn Hammam, Rabat Tel: 21451984 Opening hours: Daily from 11:00am to 10:00pm WHAT I ATE Stazzjon special burger Rosey's cookie with ice cream TOTAL EUR 25 excluding drinks serve food pretty much any time you are hungry and whatever they serve is made with love. Pasta dishes, salads, meat dishes and burgers are great if you're feeling hungry, or have some- thing lighter from the nibbles section or a platter to share. After a long walk with my six-year- old nephew, we were craving some- thing naughty so we went straight to the burger section. Burgers are so sim- ple yet so many places get these wrong. These burgers, however, were certainly not wrong. 200g Irish beef patties – my only complaint would be that a child is never going to eat that much meat – cooked perfectly so that the patties were oozing with juice. I went for the Stazzjon special which was topped with provolone cheese, smoked bacon, caramelised onions and a soft fried egg. If you're worried about dry, this burger is just the ticket; juicy and packed with f lavour. We then went on to the reason for our visit. I had heard that Stazzjon were serv- ing giant homemade cookies, served straight from the pan topped with a huge dollop of vanilla ice-cream, so I was all set to try these babes out. Taking 20 minutes to cook, this gives you just enough time for your lunch to settle and for you to build up a little bit of excitement for the dessert to come. One cookie between myself and a six- year-old would have been plenty, but there is no such thing as sharing when it comes to dessert so we went for two and while we couldn't finish them both we sure made a good attempt. Space comes at a premium in Malta so any restaurant that encourages you to get a little bit of air in your lungs is a plus in my book. I hope to be returning many times this winter… even if only for that cookie! Rachel Zammit Cutajar