Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/919364
36 maltatoday SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER 2017 This Week LVB - Tasting menu LVB, in Valletta, is what every restaurant should be – two men with a passion for food, who put the diner's experience over everything else. Every dish is meticulously prepared, plated and served and that alone is enough to get it onto my top 10 list. Meeting Tony Ventura and Ryan Gialanze, gives this restaurant even more points! Genuine people with a genuine interest in what they do and how you feel about your dining experience. Choosing one particular dish that struck me most is impossible. This 48-hour, slow cooked pork belly has to be one of them though, along with the lobster thermidor, beef fillet, local rizzi and even their bread and home- made butter. Delish! Address: 65/66, Merchant's Street, Valletta. Tel: 99073755 Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 19:00 – 23:00 THE PULLED MEAT COMPANY - Carbonara THOUGH this place started out making simple pulled pork sandwiches from a stall at The Point, in Sliema, today, it is their pasta dishes that I tend to favour. Their farm to fork project sees them buying local pigs from local farmers and buying the whole animal instead of the cuts they want. This makes them more creative in the dishes they offer as they make up recipes for cuts of meat we tend to avoid. The house-made guanciale make this carbonara a cut above any other I've had in Malta – this year or any year! Address: 29, Triq l-Imsida, Gzira Tel: 21341050 Opening hours: Tues – Sat: 11:00 – 15:00; 19:00 – 23:00 FAT LOUIE'S - Smoked Denver steak IT'S no secret that I absolutely love this place. When you want a little bit of indulgence this place hits the spot. Whether it's smoked brisket, short beef ribs or their mac and cheese topped with truffles. This Denver steak paired with creamy mashed potatoes, skinny fries and mac and cheese (coz carbs are life) makes it to the top of my list. If you're adventurous in your tastes, look out for their specials board that feature magical stuff like pig's head terrine, snails and bacon or if you are less inclined to try new things, lobster rolls. Address: Triq Paceville, St Julian's Tel: 27454582 Opening hours: Tuesday – Thursday 12:00 – 15:00, Friday 12:00 – 15:30, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 – 16:00, daily 19:00 – 23:00 GIUSEPPI'S BAR AND BISTRO - Scallops cooked in hazelnut butter OK, so this one wasn't on the menu but made specially for a Gourmet Today photo shoot. But this is the kind of food you can expect to eat at Giuseppi's every time. The menu changes daily so you never get comfortable ordering the same old dishes and get to try new things all the time. If you're looking for a super meal out, this is the spot. Address: Salini Resort, Naxxar Tel: 21574882 Opening hours: Tuesday – Thursday 19:30 – 22:00, Friday – Sunday 12:30 – 15:00, Friday – Saturday 19:30 – 22:30 ROCKSALT - Tasting menu OUR favourite cocktail bar in Sliema closed its doors to many unhappy customers last year, but it has re-opened, bigger and better in Balluta Bay, this time offering proper meals rather than just bar snacks and light bites. Though you can still go for drinks and the lighter snacks on the terrace, a proper sit down meal should be on the cards. Their tasting menu is superb. My favourite course was a rose wine infused foie gras terrine on toasted brioche topped with confit cherries, roasted pumpkin seeds and cherry jus with Pernod. The foie gras is slow-cooked sous vide, resulting in such light texture, con- trasting with the crunch of the toasted brioche and roasted pumpkin seeds. Unfortunately we did not catch an image of this dish but here is an image of their scallops instead. Address: St Julian's Hill, St Julian's. Tel: 21336226 Opening hours: 5:30pm till late Rachel Zammit Cutajar The best 10 meals of 2017 The end of the year is a time for reflection. What worked out and what didn't? This can be applied to every facet of life and eating out should not be any different. Working in food media, we tend to get through a large amount of meals at various restaurants. These have been my favourite of 2017.