This Friday, Maldonado Bistro, in the heart of Victoria, Gozo, will be celebrating 18 years since it first opened its doors.

To mark the anniversary, two chefs who started their culinary journey there are coming back for a one-night-only kitchen takeover, this time with their own businesses in tow.

Max Scerri and Anton Curmi both worked at Maldonado Bistro early in their careers, then going on to develop their profession in kitchens abroad. Now the pair are back in Gozo and reuniting where it all began.

Scerri is now the founder of Nelli’s Carkuterija, making artisanal charcuterie in Gozo from locally sourced livestock and ingredients, using traditional curing techniques.

Curmi founded Pasteca, which gives surplus loaves from artisanal bakeries a second life as flour for his pasta.

The evening, called Mal-Mejda, sees the pair take over the cellar kitchen of Maldonado Bistro for a seven-course tasting menu. It opens with sourdough and whipped lard, then Nelli’s salami and beef tongue croquettes, before moving through marinated grilled vegetables with sheep’s milk ricotta, hagin il-forn, and roast pork loin with stone fruit and salsa verde. Doughnuts with Maltese bread custard close the night.

Maldonado Bistro said that the night is a ”tribute to everyone who has cooked there over the years, and to the different directions their careers have taken. Maldonado’s regular à la carte menu will be paused for the evening, with the kitchen dedicated entirely to Mal-Mejda.”

Mal-Mejda takes place on Friday, the 2nd of October at Maldonado Bistro, Victoria, Gozo.

It said that the seven-course menu is priced at €62 per person. A limited number of places are still available. Reservations can be made directly with Maldonado Bistro on +356 2701 9270 or via maldonado.com.mt

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