April 2017 - Week 3

Monday 17th to Sunday 23rd April 2017

Monday morning we went to Chris and Tina’s for coffee. Whilst there, they picked ripe loquats from their neighbours bush that overhangs a corner of their garden for us to snack on. I haven’t tasted loquats since I was a kid and the taste immediately transported me back 45 or 50 years, the taste so familiar, it seemed as if it was only yesterday. For dinner Sam had a sea bream – that is becoming something of a Monday ritual – and I had sautéed salmon covered in my Schooner Wharf fish rub with rice pilaf.

Tuesday I sorted out our BBQ with a new regulator. We have arrived at perfect BBQ weather now, so we should be using it. Not today though! For dinner I cooked a whole chicken in our slow cooker, poaching it in balsamic, ginger, oregano, parsley and mustard. It was okay but a bit disappointing.

Wednesday I did my power walk early, before it got too hot. After lunch we went to Sliema and had cappuccini and cakes at Giorgio’s; yummy! We had pizzas for dinner. I went for a long walk around St Paul’s Bay, Bugibba and Qawra after dinner. It was very quiet out and about now that the music festival is over.

Thursday I went for a walk first thing, but no sooner had I got through the front door, it started to rain! Very strange. Anyway, it only lasted a few minutes. Sam met Tina for lunch; they went to The Loft in Naxxar. For dinner I made spiced chickpeas with roasted potatoes, another delicious vegan dish.

Friday we worked, shopped and had baked trout with left over spiced chickpeas for dinner.

Saturday we went for a walk at Armier Bay under another cloudless blue sky. We really do overdose on vitamin D this time of year. In the evening we met Chris and Tina at Fat Harry’s for a couple of drinks and then went on for dinner at a newly opened restaurant, Surf & Turf. It is owned and operated by a chef and front-of-house man who were previously at Tarragon. Everything was excellent; the room, the food, the service and the ambiance. It was full, which always helps. Sam had chicken liver parfait followed by a mushroom risotto. I had fried camembert with a stem ginger marmalade, then soft-as-you-like pork belly with perfectly crisp crackling, then salted chocolate tart with pistachio ice cream. Tina had mussels, Chris also had the pork belly, we shared a couple of bottles of excellent Montepulciano and the bill came to just over €40 each. We’ll certainly be going back again soon!

Sunday I walked over to the National Aquarium where the Ford Mustang Owners Club had gathered. The cars were amazing; immaculate and they looked like they had been licked clean. I stopped for a cappuccino at Miracles which opens early on Sundays now. We spent quite a lot of time sunbathing. For dinner I made spaghetti arrabiata.