Ainsley Harriott: ‘I didn’t expect that of Malta!’

He explains the island, where he enjoyed a picturesque picnic with local businesswoman Ana and her aquaphile mother, was his favourite place in the archipelago for its slower pace of life: “Everywhere we went was pretty frantic but Gozo was the calmest place; the people that cooked there just had a bit more time,” he says.

The five-part series sees Harriott explore how Gozitan cheese is made, go food foraging on the Xemxija Heritage Trail and taste renowned pastizzi pastries, to name but a few gastronomic experiences he documents throughout the course of the episodes.

“Not only are there cultural influences in the food, but also the people; it’s a real melting pot and I think [Malta is reflective of] the modern world that we’re living in now,” he explains. “You know? Everything fits and it’s just really lovely.”

The Mediterranean islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino sit between Sicily and the African coast, with the Maltese archipelago’s cuisine combining all the best bits of Italian, Spanish, French and British gastronomy.

Harriott was “very impressed” with the destination’s national dish of rabbit stew, naming casarecce with Maltese sausage and fennel, chicken scallopini with artichoke, lemon and capers, and stuffed aubergine as some of his culinary favourites of the isles. Quick to add cannoli, he smiles: “I love a cannoli; I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth.”

But can he pick a favourite of them all? “It depends on what side of the bed I get out of in the morning!” he laughs.

‘I didn’t expect that’

Getting to know foodie hotspots including Valletta, Marsaxlokk, Mdina and Gozo on his travels, Harriott raves about the variety of flavours that awaits visitors. He casts his mind back 30 years to when he first stepped foot on the islands on the recommendation of his restauranteur friend Alex: “When I went [30 years ago] the food was good, but, my word going back on this occasion and seeing the elevation… There’s so much choice!

“I love the passion [of the chefs],” he adds. “What I was amazed with was the amount of Michelin-star restaurants that were there; I didn’t expect that.”

It’s not only the high-end dining experiences that wowed Harriott though – he completely fell in love with Malta’s café culture. The chef was particularly charmed with one small business that on the arrival of him and his crew offered the group complimentary snails, which were handed over in their shells alongside a cocktail stick to dig out the good stuff.

“The crew were turning their noses up,” he remembers. “But I said, ‘Come on guys, this is a tradition that’s been going on for hundreds of years’, so they tried them and said ‘Oh, it’s not that bad!’ It was wonderful, but you had to drink a bit of craft vodka afterwards just to stop them wiggling around in your tummy,” he jokes.

More to explore

Ainsley’s Taste of Malta won’t only be highlighting the islands’ culinary experiences, but their cultural appeal, active adventures and propensity to showcase enchanting arts too. Harriott is set to be seen bell ringing atop Valletta’s treasured St John’s Co Cathedral, learning to play the Maltese sport of bocci, riding a Segway along the coast, trying his hand at lace making and heating things up during a glass-blowing workshop. The latter he picks out as one of his most cherished and exciting moments during filming, explaining it’s special because it’s not something people can do every day.

“I think there’s something for everybody [in Malta],” he says. “Every corner you turn, there’s something interesting [to see, do or taste]”.

Harriott, you’ll be pleased to hear, often books his holidays through a travel agent because he “likes having an itinerary” to stick to, and having lots of different pre-planned experiences to look forward to keeps himself and his partner happy.

The chef and TV presenter doesn’t devalue the importance of having choice when travelling though – especially when it comes to selecting where and what to eat – and praises the Maltese Islands’ chefs, restauranteurs and producers for their welcoming nature and creativity.

“There’s a freedom in Malta, which I really loved and I hope the series reflects that. I hope the connection that I had with people reflects that.”

Ainsley’s Taste of Malta is airing daily on ITV1 from 2-3pm between 5-9 February 2024.