Don't have a plate at Tate

I'm not the moany type. I like to try to see the good and giggle about the bad. But my face is so screwed up from frowning from a disaterous lunch today, that the only positive feeling I have is that you should not visit Tate on the Vittoriosa Waterfront.

If you followed my work in my previous life, you'll know I'm a bit of a fan of Birgu and encourage visitors to make time and meander the village. We had a family of five today plus our gang so headed 'down South' for a spot of lunch in what is a lovely spot; Vittoriosa Warterfront.

We met at 1230 and by 1350, no food had arrived. In hindsight, I wish the food hadn't arrived at all. I had a wrap which was an untypable rhyming word. A few cubes of flavourless feta in soggy leaves in a wrap that had such hefty folds, it resembled a sumo wrestler's skin. The pizza was most certainly from a box, or the chef should be sacked, and the pasta was scarily the same varieties as Rana make. The stirfry was noodles in brown - the diner didn't want to refer to it as sauce as it had no taste - and the vegetables, on close inspection, were on fact the same as the side salad.

So sorry to have to tell you somewhere NOT to indulge@ but I have to tell it like it is. No pictures as I didn't want to break the lens on my camera.

(Lunch) Time is of the essence.....

I feel my biggest indulgence is having time. Being of the English variety, I am always early for appointments - but this gives me the opportunity to read, windowshop or gossip with a girlfriend.

I think I am a highly effective time manager and hate when people steal it or waste it for me. I have finely tuned my service providers to balance the pleasure / pain principle and this week, my precious car needed attention. She heard me talking to another chap who wanted to buy her - and started coughing and spluttering.

Thankfully, I had been recommended to Carwise just of Rue D'Argens so I booked her in, had her cleaned and  booked myself into Toni & Guy for a quick once over too  - before heading up to the White Sheep for lunch.

Busy as always, after scanning the shelves for any jars of jams, boxes of chocs, oils to smatter and ceramic platters to serve from, I perched up and watched the traffic go by while waiting for my Cheddar and pickle ciabatta and John's avacado, feta and seed salad. Teeth coating salted almonds and a firey ginger beer later, lunch and my date arrived. The food is always of the finest quality - the cheeses are divine, the bread 'baked' on site and the salad always fresh, inviting and crispy.

The White Sheep isn't the cheapest nor fastest place to get a sandwich, but if you have time on your hands, money in your pockets and love of good quality different foods, it is certainly worth scheduling a visit.

L'amore! La mere!

Today is a wonderful day. Lovely grey clouds showing off before the endless blue sky of Summer, vege bacon sandwiches for breakfast, fabulous hair do with even more fabulous massaging chair at Toni & Guy in Gzira and then lunch to discuss a new and exciting project....

We decided to meet in Valletta at La Mere, a cute little place on Merchant Street, which you have probably walked past a hundred times. If the door were open and the aromas were to escape - they would get your attention and I'm almost positive you would investigate. Unless you like bland food, that is.

The menu is divided into Indian, Arabian, Mediterranean and Maltese, with starters, platters, pasta, salads and mouth watering mains. Side dishes are all at just 2.50 euro. What is really interesting is the wine menu. Not because of its varieties, though the classics are all represented, but because of the fact that wines are priced at retail cost with a 4.50 euro corkage charge - indeed, you can bring your own wines and pay the same fee. Brilliant idea! Spread the word!

Being on a 'no meat no fish' for Lent has had its challenges - I have left parties positively hungry (caterers, take note) and choosing in restauraunts is limited often having to resort to two starters or plain ol' pasta - which  vegetarianism is for only a few weeks in my case and so no great shakes, but makes me a little sad for the dedicated beaneaters out there. It is here that La Mere's menu stands out. In fact, there is so much choice in the no meat department that carnivores should vegetarianism (even for one meal) a go.

I had the vegetable thali, a mix of two curries, a couple of dips, papad and naan bread with rice - and chose to opt for medium heat - another nice touch (food is truely prepared fresh so you can select ingredients and chilli temperature) and I have to say, it was delicious. Layered flavours, just enough of each to leave you wanting more and well cooked paper thin naan to mop it all up with. The abundant jewel coloured rice was almost untouched - way to much to squeeze into my pencil skirt - no room for desert either I'm afraid, but left feeling satisfied and wanting to return to test out their tagines.

Tel: 21223256

Warning about Paranga

 If you have been to Paranga in St Georges Bay already, you will know about the decking over the sea, the proximity to the student bathers (enabling you to reminisce about how your body once was) and the professional service. You may, if you are of the stilletto wearing species, also be aware of the danger of the decking and damage to said shoes. Seasoned pros wear wedges here - or block heels - you can spot (and hear) us a mile off.

But being a regular does not mean there are no new surprises. Lunch with girlfriends yesterday introduced us to new wines on the list, which I will leave to you to discover, But, what I must tell you about is the chocolate mousse.

Delivered in a chunky tumbler, with a goey, strawberry coulis settled nicely on top, is the most chocolatey mousse I have ever had the pleasure of. After the first spoonful the coulis reluctantly dribbles down the new crater, like slow flowing lava. You soon forget your svelte teens to twenties body - and tuck in. The warning is to get everyone to order the same dessert - so you all stop talking at once, for once.