Is-Serkin
| Restaurant information | |
|---|---|
| Country | Malta |
The Crystal Palace or Crystal Palace Bar, also known as Is-Serkin, is a pastizzerija – a bar specialising in pastizzi – in Triq San Pawl in Rabat, Malta. It has been open since 1945 or 1946.[citation needed] It is one of the best-known bars of this kind in the islands.[1][2][3][4]
The name Is-Serkin began with the original owner, Ninu Azzopardi, who received that nickname due to the clientele at his business, who frequently rode in on horse carts called serkin. During the mid-20th century, when the British military had a presence in Malta, soldiers from the Crystal Palace area of London, stationed in nearby Mtarfa, regularly gathered at the pastizzerija to eat and drink, leading it to acquire the name "Crystal Palace".[5][6] The original owner's son, Martin Azzopardi, took over the business in 1969 or 1970 and ran it until selling it in the late-2010s.[6][7]
Its pastizzi are prepared off-site and served straight from an oven in the shop, commonly served with a milk tea.[6] Azzopardi attributes the restaurant's popularity to its hours, location, price, and taste, which comes from a recipe kept secret.[8][5] The business initially operated 24 hours, first to serve soldiers, then farmers, and then people coming out of parties.[9] It later began closing for two hours a day, between midnight and 2:00 AM.[6][7] Since 2017, the establishment has included an outdoor patio.[10] When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Serkin to close temporarily, Malta Today wrote that it was "like closing down church."[11]
Malta's Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, hosted three other European leaders (Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and Slovenia's Prime Minister Miro Cerar) and their partners at Crystal Palace in 2017.[12] Rival politician Ann Fenech's criticism of the choice of venue drew a public backlash, including memes and hashtags like #jesuispastizz.[3][13] Fenech subsequently apologized and appeared in a photo at Crystal Palace with the owner's father.[14][15]
References
- ^ "Where to find the best pastizzi on the Maltese Islands | maltazine.com". 2020-08-27. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Peregin, Christian (2013-08-05). "PN worker: former MPs insulted me in the street". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ a b Mizzi, Daniel (5 February 2017). "Ann Fenech dissing EU premiers at Serkin sparks backlash". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Gallagher, Tim (2021-06-30). "Green list travel: Malta's national pastry is worth the trip alone". euronews. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ a b Schembri, Gabriel (21 March 2016). "Watch - Full interview: Famous Serkin pastizzeria owner wants to call it a day". Malta Independent. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ a b c d Blasi, Abigail. Malta e Gozo (in Italian). EDT.
- ^ a b "Last pastizzi from is-Serkin?". Times of Malta. 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ "'Tas-Serkin' for sale… will pastizzi 'secret' be revealed?". TVMnews.mt. 2016-03-20. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Debono, Andrew Galea (2012-12-23). "Pastizzi at the Crystal Palace". Malta InsideOut. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Debono, James (24 May 2017). "Outdoors platform permit for Serkin". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ "If any institution can inspire the Maltese nation to do good, it's Serkin. In a divided nation, the pastizz unites all". MaltaToday.com.mt. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Four prime ministers, nine milky teas and two-dozen Maltese pastizzi please". MaltaToday.com.mt. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ ""Hawnhekk nistmaw lil kulħadd" – tas-Serkin lil Anne Fenech - ONE". 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ "Ann Fenech apologises and takes picture at 'Is-Serkin'". Times of Malta. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Dalli, Miriam (7 February 2017). "She just wants to be one of the common people: Ann's truce on pastizzi". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2023-11-04.