BANGALORE: Food Safari explores a different take on Mediterranean cooking with the rustic delights of Maltese food. Chef Paul Camilleri (Restaurant Sojourn) goes through the essential ingredients and then cooks his family recipe for the national dish of rabbit stew.Then it’s time for the national snack food, pastizzi, and the national sandwich called Hobs Biz Zeit - tomato paste on crusty bread and topped with anchovies, capers and olive oil. Chef Louis Bigeni shows how the Maltese have modified recipes from their neighbours, taking pasta to a different level with a rich meat sauce and baked in pastry.We learn about the soft ricotta style cheeses and harder mature cheese loved by the Maltese and meet Polly Vella who missed them so much when she came to Australia, she decided to learn how to make them herself.Finally broadcaster Rita O’Dwyer from the Maltese radio program at SBS makes dessert.Food Safari goes in search of the fresh green flavours of Lebanese food and host Maeve O’Meara finds the biggest mound of fresh parsley being chopped for u se in falafel, the delicious fried snacks made from chick peas that go so well with creamy hommous and smokey eggplant dip baba ghanouj and which Aussies have taken to with gusto.Maeve journeys into one of her favourite big Middle Eastern emporiums with master chef Greg Malouf of Melbourne’s acclaimed Momo restaurant to discover how to choose the best tahini, yoghurt, burghul, chick peas and spice mixes for use in the Lebanese kitchen.Maeve’s friend Jinan Afiouny discusses the concept of the many delicious dishes that make up mezza (“think Spanish tapas or Italian antipasto but bigger, better and more delicious!” she says) and young chef Katia Faraj makes a really simple baba ghanouj. Next, a visit with friend Samira Saab whose tabbouleh is legendary and who has simple tips on making it taste amazing, then to butcher Ahmad Fettayleh who talks about the lamb mince speciality mixed with fresh herbs and spices called kafta.Watch the series as it hits your television screens on June 15 at 9 pm on FOX History and Traveller
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