Maltese restaurants serving Maltese food : are these serving a true Maltese experience?

Abstract

Being a sustenance, food related activates have become the fastest growing sector within the tourism industry. Over the past 3 years it was noted that more than 50% of the tourist's spending money goes directly on food. However food tourism has been taken for granted as it was not until the 1980's that research within the field started. Prior to that, between the 1950's-1970's the only initiatives taken were related to food branding of specific regions. It even took up to the late 1990's to develop strong arguments in line with culinary tourism.

Food can tell us a lot about our past as much as it has an effects on us in the present. Nowadays, food is also found all around through various sources especially within endless options of eateries. However this might have come at the expense of losing some of its cultural ties.

Additionally, Schembri (2016) explains that if each day a tourist dedicated eight hours for sleeping, and spent an hour on each meal [breakfast, lunch and dinner], each tourist would have spent approximately 18% of the day eating - a significant amount of time which Malta should benefit from in exposing its true self. Nonetheless, there seems to be a lack of 'Malteseness', within the local restaurant industry as a whole - out of 950 registered eateries, only 52 are specialised in Maltese food; excluding the fact that some opt to change their concept without informing the authorities.

Tourists seem to be quite interested in exploring and experiencing the local food culture, treats and delicacies; and even more the local wines. However, the same appreciation towards Maltese food is not reflected by the locals, as several restaurant are opting to include international dishes to please a wider audience. As a matter-of-fact, it is important to look at the Maltese cuisine from a holistic point of view, including elements such as foreign influences and importation; without getting mislead into invented traditions.