This month, for its ambience, service and of course its food, it captured overall winner at the prestigious Definitively Good Guide Awards. So what’s it all about?

The de Mondion is named after the French military engineer responsible for much of the works in Mdina in the 17th and 18th centuries. From its hilltop, bastion perch, it provides spectacular panoramic views, making al fresco dinners during the warmer season quite unforgettable. From the terrace, be awed by extravagant summer fireworks displays, and from inside, feel on top of the world. In a few effective words, the service is discreet yet attentive, leaving you time to savour the refined cuisine, the company and the view. The cuisine combines the finest seasonal produce to create tantalizing dishes

of a style the de Mondion likes to call Modern Mediterranean.

The fact of the matter is that the countries bordering the Mediterranean have varied cultures. The cuisine of the Mediterranean has been influenced over time by the movements of peoples over land and sea and the cooking has evolved in a flexible manner. It can be seen to share some common principles such as olive oil, sheep and goat cheeses, beans, cereals, fish, very little meat, nuts and the use of regional fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Despite the fact that the so-called Mediterranean Diet is really a concoction by Western food writers and journalists, it can be said that a diet rich in these basic ingredients produces dishes that are both delectable and nutritious.

And who is responsible for the food you may well ask. Kevin Bonello became executive chef at the Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux since starting work here at the tender age of 23, having earned himself a considerable reputation in the local catering scene. His quest to improve himself has led him to rub shoulders as a stagiaire with food gurus such as Marco Pierre White, Charlie Trotter and Raymond Blanc, Eric Fréchon and Norbert Niederkofler. He has won numerous awards both locally and abroad for his innovative way of preparing food and is currently on a quest to challenge the exacting demands of the renowned Michelin Guide task

masters.

Could the food get any better? Try it for yourself and let Kevin and his brigade provide for your private function. The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux’s de Mondion restaurant will provide you with exquisite cuisine to ensure a memorable gala dinner, private function, corporate event, birthday or anniversary at home or at one of the Xara Palace’s venues of character: the Vilhena Palace or the Casa Magazzini.