VisitMalta Showcases Maltese Gastronomy in Australia Through Exclusive Culinary Events
VisitMalta Receives Two Major International Awards
July 1, 2026
Gearing Up For Summer 2026
July 4, 2026
VisitMalta strengthened its
presence in the Australian market
this March through a series of
high-profile culinary events
designed to showcase Malta’s
food, wine and cultural heritage
to leading travel media and
industry professionals.
Organised
with the support of The Unique
Tourism Collection, the initiative
formed part of VisitMalta’s
ongoing efforts to promote the
islands through authentic cultural
and gastronomic experiences.
T he campaign centred around Michelin-starred Maltese chef Jonathan Brincat of Noni in Valletta, who became the first Maltese chef invited to participate in the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival’s prestigious Global Dining Series.
His participation marked an important milestone for Malta’s culinary sector and provided VisitMalta with an international platform to further position the islands as a rising gastronomic destination.
Two exclusive dining events were organised by VisitMalta during the visit: one at Lumi Bar & Dining in Sydney on the 17th March and another at Maha Restaurant and Jayda Bar in Melbourne on the 23rd March. Both evenings were carefully curated to offer guests a complete Maltese experience through food, wine, storytelling and destination presentations
The Sydney dinner was held at Federico Zanellato’s Lumi Dining, overlooking Sydney Harbour. Around twenty invited guests attended, including publishers, editors, content directors, freelance journalists, photographers and influencers from some of Australia’s leading travel and lifestyle publications. Representatives from AFR Magazine, Qantas Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue Australia, Delicious, Belle and Travel + Luxury were among those present, alongside members of the luxury travel industry.
Guests were served a specially prepared degustation menu inspired by Maltese flavours and ingredients, combining Lumi’s distinctive Japanese-Italian fusion style with authentic Maltese culinary elements. A key feature of the menu was the use of premium Maltese Bidni olive oil supplied by the Mediterranean Culinary Academy, showcasing one of Malta’s most distinctive indigenous products and highlighting the islands’ rich agricultural heritage.
The dishes were paired with a selection of Maltese wines imported specifically for the event, allowing guests to experience the quality and diversity of Malta’s growing wine industry. During the evening, Mario Farrugia Borg, Director of VisitMalta for Australia and New Zealand, delivered a destination presentation highlighting Malta’s history, culture, gastronomy and tourism experiences.
The second event took place in Melbourne at Shane Delia’s Maha Restaurant and formed part of the official programme of the 2026 Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. Jonathan Brincat collaborated with fellow Maltese-Australian chef Shane Delia to create a menu focused entirely on Maltese cuisine and contemporary Mediterranean cooking.
The Melbourne dinner welcomed around thirty guests,
including senior travel industry professionals, editors,
freelance writers, photographers and influencers. Media
represented included Escape, Traveller, Dream by
Luxury Escapes Magazine and internationally recognised
influencer platform Food Porn.
The evening featured detailed presentations about the dishes, their origins and Malta’s culinary traditions, helping guests gain a deeper understanding of the cultural influences that shape Maltese cuisine. The use of Bidni olive oil supplied by the Mediterranean Culinary Academy once again provided an authentic connection to Malta’s culinary landscape, reinforcing the islands’ commitment to preserving and celebrating local ingredients.
A live online discussion with Josef Bonello in Valletta introduced guests to Malta’s wine industry and the wines paired with the dinner, while Mario Farrugia Borg later presented Malta’s wider tourism offering and the growing popularity of the islands as a cultural and lifestyle destination.
The evening concluded with an engaging discussion between Jonathan Brincat and Shane Delia focusing on gastro-tourism, Maltese hospitality and the international appeal of Maltese cuisine.
The events generated strong engagement and positive feedback from guests, many of whom described the dinners as immersive experiences that successfully brought the atmosphere and flavours of Malta to Australia. Several attendees also expressed strong interest in visiting the islands following the events.
isitMalta’s culinary showcase also received media exposure through coverage in Australian travel industry publications including Travel Weekly and Travel Daily. Jonathan Brincat further promoted Malta through an appearance on Jo Rittey’s Conversation with a Chef podcast on Spotify, where he discussed Maltese food culture, his work at Noni and Malta’s evolving gastronomic scene.
VisitMalta extends its sincere thanks to the Maltese wineries whose support helped make these events possible: Delicata, Marsovin, Markus Divinus, Meridiana, Ta’ Betta and Tal-Massar. Their participation was instrumental in presenting the exceptional quality, diversity and character of Maltese winemaking to Australian media and industry leaders, adding an essential dimension to the authentic Maltese experience delivered throughout both evenings.
Special recognition is also extended to the Mediterranean Culinary Academy for providing Maltese Bidni olive oil, whose inclusion highlighted one of Malta’s most treasured indigenous products and further enriched the culinary storytelling shared with guests.
The success of these events reflects the growing international interest in Maltese cuisine and demonstrates how food tourism continues to play an increasingly important role in promoting the islands overseas. Through immersive culinary experiences such as these, VisitMalta continues to strengthen Malta’s position as a destination offering authentic culture, exceptional dining and memorable visitor experiences.
The evening featured detailed presentations about the dishes, their origins and Malta’s culinary traditions, helping guests gain a deeper understanding of the cultural influences that shape Maltese cuisine. The use of Bidni olive oil supplied by the Mediterranean Culinary Academy once again provided an authentic connection to Malta’s culinary landscape, reinforcing the islands’ commitment to preserving and celebrating local ingredients.
A live online discussion with Josef Bonello in Valletta introduced guests to Malta’s wine industry and the wines paired with the dinner, while Mario Farrugia Borg later presented Malta’s wider tourism offering and the growing popularity of the islands as a cultural and lifestyle destination.
The evening concluded with an engaging discussion between Jonathan Brincat and Shane Delia focusing on gastro-tourism, Maltese hospitality and the international appeal of Maltese cuisine.
The events generated strong engagement and positive feedback from guests, many of whom described the dinners as immersive experiences that successfully brought the atmosphere and flavours of Malta to Australia. Several attendees also expressed strong interest in visiting the islands following the events.
isitMalta’s culinary showcase also received media exposure through coverage in Australian travel industry publications including Travel Weekly and Travel Daily. Jonathan Brincat further promoted Malta through an appearance on Jo Rittey’s Conversation with a Chef podcast on Spotify, where he discussed Maltese food culture, his work at Noni and Malta’s evolving gastronomic scene.
VisitMalta extends its sincere thanks to the Maltese wineries whose support helped make these events possible: Delicata, Marsovin, Markus Divinus, Meridiana, Ta’ Betta and Tal-Massar. Their participation was instrumental in presenting the exceptional quality, diversity and character of Maltese winemaking to Australian media and industry leaders, adding an essential dimension to the authentic Maltese experience delivered throughout both evenings.
Special recognition is also extended to the Mediterranean Culinary Academy for providing Maltese Bidni olive oil, whose inclusion highlighted one of Malta’s most treasured indigenous products and further enriched the culinary storytelling shared with guests.
The success of these events reflects the growing international interest in Maltese cuisine and demonstrates how food tourism continues to play an increasingly important role in promoting the islands overseas. Through immersive culinary experiences such as these, VisitMalta continues to strengthen Malta’s position as a destination offering authentic culture, exceptional dining and memorable visitor experiences.
The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) was formally set up by the Malta Travel and Tourism Service Act (1999). This clearly defines its role - extending it beyond that of international marketing to include a domestic, motivating, directional, co-ordinating and regulatory role. The Act strengthens the public and private partnership in tourism through greater and more direct participation by the private sector in national planning and development of the industry.
For more information visit https://www.mta.com.mt/
Click here to see Horeca Issue 24 online
