After the Crystal Palace Ballet last July, held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre I suggested to my daughter who was accompanying me, we go and take a peek and a drink at the newly refurbished Hotel Phoenicia.
So we sat on the terrace and Pierre Walton who I believe is head of the Club Bar immediately recognized us. After all my daughter's wedding reception was held, just a few years ago, at the Bastion Pool area and many years back, my own wedding reception took place at the Palm Court.
Pierre sees so many people and we were impressed that he recognised us. The cocktails he prepared for us were divine, too.
We loved the new décor of the Palm Court. The huge bar put in by the previous owners which had prevented anyone entering the Palm Court from getting a proper view of the Phoenix restaurant and the terrace beyond has been removed and put on one side. The hajt tas-sejjieh or rubble wall, on the left of the Palm Court which was such an inappropriate addition to the sophisticated ambience of the hotel has been removed.
I loved the blue and white ginger jars and ceramics. The mix of classical and Art Deco is so evident in the doors, windows and some of the wrought iron in the balconies.
Pierre was so gracious and gave us a potted version of his life's experiences (quite a story!) and some delicious sandwiches. On our way out he came after us insisting we drink a limoncello and at the same time pointing out to us the Edward Caruana Dingli collection of paintings which are on permanent exhibition, telling us that this is the largest private collection in Malta.
Such members of staff encourage us to visit a place more often and there and then I decided I simply had to go to lunch or dinner at the Phoenix one of these days.
One loses friends unfortunately. They quietly disappear for no particular reason it seems, except that they may not agree with your politics. But I have never been short of friends. I am lucky that late in life I have acquired a delightful - and brilliant - friend in Professor Jane Somerville. She comes to Malta regularly to consult at Mater Dei on congenital heart disease. Every moment spent with her is a lesson in life but we have our light moments, too. Still travelling the world in her early 80s she has many a tale to tell. She is excellent company and I look forward to being with her as we set the world to rights.
So off we went, one evening, to dine at the Phoenix. A great blessing these days is that parking is easy near the Phoenicia.
I don't know about you but if I am eating out I am as concerned about the ambience as much as I am about the food unless it is somewhere to simply grab something to eat on the run and back to your desk. Dining out is also entertainment and I want to have an experience. Food simply tastes better when the surroundings and service are pleasant.
An inspector for Guide Michelin once said that if the food was good enough he would give three stars to a restaurant that had Formica tables, neon lighting and blaring music in the background. ''But,'' he added, ''in actual fact the kind of place that goes to the trouble to make that sort of food naturally takes a great deal of trouble with the ambiance.''
Great chefs and good home cooks understand that eating is both a physiological and a psychological act. Where one eats can be as important as what is eaten. The body responds in the most subtle of ways to surroundings - to harsh colours, bad lighting, noise or tension. The Phoenix is calm. You don't hear plates and cutlery rattled fiercely or kitchen doors banging.
Then there are restaurants where the meal is accompanied by music, whether it be the latest noisy group or strolling violinists who transfix you with their eyes and play Fascination or O Sole Mio. The only acceptable kind of music in a restaurant to me is someone playing the piano.
Once we sat down we were looked after by Charlo Micallef, Restaurant supervisor. Friendly, attentive but not overly familiar he greatly contributed to the pleasant evening as did the Italian waitress.
So what did we eat?
We both opted for the Prawn 'ceviche' with grapefruit and coriander. I love seafood and the ceviche was delicious. Other dishes on the menu were Burrata, Gazpacho, Lobster Salad, rabbit rillettes, Pigscheek croquant, a risotto Milanese and Tagliatelle with sea urchins. I don't think I have ever eaten ceviche before and although tempted by the lobster salad I decided to try this dish after Mr Micallef explained to us what it is. Loved it, I have to say. So that was a good start.
We mulled over the main course and both of us decided on the Twice Baked Gruyère Soufflé with green beans. (I have as yet to make a decent soufflé in my kitchen.) The side dishes of fried zucchini with what seemed like a light tempura batter served with an aioli sauce we both loved. The potatoes and green beans brought to the table were really too much.
Prof. Somerville like me is always on diet. She did lose several kilos when I last saw her. I lost five kilos while in England as I had little choice but to walk but within two weeks of returning to Malta I put all of them back again.
Both of us glanced at the dessert menu and decided not to have a dessert since we really couldn't cope with one.
As to wine, we can never decide whether to order a bottle or have a glass each. The decision to have just one glass each always turns out to be a waste of time so we ordered a bottle recommended by the amiable and discreet Mr Micallef.
He told us that the Scottish owner of the Phoenicia was in fact, sitting behind us. He also pointed out the blue and cream fabric walling which is so cleverly used and adds an almost oriental drama to the Phoenix.
It is hard to believe that the Phoenicia, just three years after it was built, during an air raid in April 1942, was heavily bombed. Some 100 bombs fell on it and its gardens. In 1944 the then Governor Lord Gort requested the hotel's Scottish architect, W.B. Binnie to come to Malta and begin its reconstruction.
The aspidistras in the Palm Court have disappeared but there are many potted palms which give it that 1930s look. The sofas in which we could sink while having afternoon tea on a Sunday, when in our twenties, have gone and though I miss them I am happy that I can get up easily from the new sofas. Yes, it's come to that!
What a pleasure that dinner was. Food, service, environment and the company really worked in harmony that evening at the Phoenix.