Emmanuel Delicata and Southport are holding a Seafood and Wine Weekend from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 September at the Southport Villa and Gardens in Marsaxlokk fishing village.

A press dinner at Leonardo’s restaurant was held recently to mark this weekend coinciding with this year’s long awaited lampuki season.

“This weekend is a showcase for Maltese wine and seafood, presented at its best,” said a Delicata spokesperson. “We strongly believe that Maltese wine and fresh Maltese seafood are an essential, healthy part of our Mediterranean diet and quality of life,” he continued.

Delicata believes that this quality of life is to be shared with the visitors of our islands through quality events and initiatives. Local seafood, culinary skills, dining out facilities and wines rate amongst the best in the world, if promoted professionally thus, the Seafood & Wine Weekend will help support this estimation while spreading the good news to a few unsuspecting gourmet visitors who happen to be around this weekend.

A number of seafood based recipes that have been created by the Southport Chefs will be available with accompanying Delicata wines at the various outlets within the Southport Villa and its gardens throughout the weekend. Meanwhile, the Concept Café will offer fish-based snacks such as lampuki al cartoccio, linguine with sea urchins and fresh salmon, seafood lasagne, tuna and green olive pie, and the traditional lampuki and spinach pie among other items on offer.

The Vino Lounge will be offering a special platter for two consisting of a fritto misto with battered prawns and calamari, fried octopus, whitebait and breaded lampuki fillets with a spicy aubergine dip. A bottle of the new aromatic dry white 2007 vintage D.O.K. Malta Medina Vermentino Zibibbo, is included in the price.

Out in the Villa’s delightful gardens diners can opt for a Seafood Buffet which includes a large selection of shellfish antipasto, a selection from the grill and a dessert.

Seafood lovers can choose from an assortment of tasty fish dishes which include creative dishes like – king prawns with lemon and ginger dressing, fried whitebait salad, razor clams and herb butter, smoked fish carpaccio, monkfish kebabs, honey glazed cuttlefish, grilled salmon and scallop skewers, herb marinated lampuki fillets, fresh tuna.

A wine station with a choice of 12 D.O.K. and I.G.T. wines, being offered at one special price will be set up by the grill.

Diners will be able to taste wine beforehand to make sure they like Villa is Southport’s fine casual dining restaurant Leonardo’s will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to serve a special four course seafood set menu for lunch and dinner, with a recommended glass of wine served for each course.

The menu includes, Lampuki carpaccio and tartare dressing with 2007 Victoria Heights Chardonnay D.O.K. Gozo; Ravioli of lampuki with fennel, orange and baby scallops with 2007 Medina Vermentino Zibibbo D.O.K. Malta; baked sea bass with lobster tortellini and vanilla foam with 2006 Gran Cavalier barrel fermented Chardonnay: poached lampuki with king prawn mousse served with sea urchin hollandaise and caper tempura with 2007 Medina Rose Grenache D.O.K. Malta; Stuffed calamari served with shellfish stew with 2007 Medina Syrah, Carignan, Grenache D.O.K. Malta.

As for desserts, a nice chilled glass of sweet 2006 Casella Moscato will perfectly round off your meal accompanied by Chocolate Tiramisu, strawberry trifle or Banoffi semi-freddo.