Search Your Chef
Chef's Profile
Name
Christian Spiteri
Restaurant
How long have you been a chef?
During the time in which I was caring out my studies at ITS, I continued working in the kitchen in order to further my skills and experience. In 2005, the year in which I finished my studies I began to work as a full time chef at Radisson Blu Resort, St.Julians in which I am still today.
What's your favourite wine?
Chardonnay.
What's the one ingredient you can't live without and why?
All ingredients are important and have a role in the kitchen, but in my opinion salt is the key to all recipes since it gives that special taste to each dish.
When did you know you wanted to be a chef?
First of all I never imagined that my career will be that of a chef but in 2001, when I experienced my first summer job as a kitchen helper in a small hotel, I started to consider broadening my career in this industry since from this experience I felt very confident in this work and it struck me from the beginning. Since then I decided to further my studies at ITS which included a year working and studying in a luxury hotel in Lake District, UK.
A memorable moment in your career.
I must say that every single day of this job is memorable, because every day there is always something unique and particular, especially during Easter and Christmas times, which are the peak periods in our industry. But the most memorable moment is when I won the gold medal in the ‘Malta Culinary Arts Competition’.
What is the most complicated dish to cook and why?
There are no specific dishes that are complicated to cook, since all of them have their own challenges. But I must say that the more complicated the dish will be to prepare, the more I will be satisfied with my work carried out.
What do you most love about your job?
First and foremost, the most amazing thing about this job is of being of service to both the local citizens and the tourists. Another thing is that I really love to see the clients pleased and satisfied with our food and services, the last but not least I love the idea of working in a team, were everyone pitches in for the same aim.
Who cooks at home?
Since I am very busy at work and I often work long hours, I don’t find time to cook at home. So usually my mum does the cooking, but when guests are coming over I always end up doing all the preparation and cooking since everyone points out that this should be done by the chef!!

Stuffed Rabbit Saddle

Rabbit Saddle stuffed with Maltese sausage and sundried tomatoes set on a bed of spring onions and pancetta mash with port wine jus.

Prep Time25 mins
Cook Time75 mins
Ready In100 mins
Servings4 persons
Ingredients

Stuffed rabbit

700g Rabbit  Saddle        

200g Maltese Sausage      

50g Sundried Tomatoes   

15g Garlic                       

10g Basil                        

30ml Fresh Cream          

1 Egg                         

Spring onion and pancetta mash

100g Spring onions            

100g Pancetta                  

400g Potatoes                   

Port wine Jus

300ml Port Wine                

30g Rosemary                 

20g Bay leaf                   

75g Onions                   

25g Butter                       

15ml Oil                        

750ml Beef Jus                   

Salt

Pepper

    

Side vegetables

200g Baby Carrots            

200g Asparagus              

250g Courgettes                  

Method

Heat the oven to a temperature of 180o C

For the stuffing mix:  Peel the garlic and chop it finely, slice the sundried tomatoes and basil and mix everything together with the Maltese sausage and fresh cream. Then add an egg.

On a piece of thin foil, put the rabbit saddle. Then take the stuffing mix and spread it all over the rabbit and roll it up. Place the rabbit in a dish filled with a little water, and put it in the oven for 30 minutes.

Put the potatoes to boil. Finely slice the spring onions and the pancetta. In a pan cook the spring onions and the pancetta in little butter. When the potatoes are ready, mash them and mix them with the spring onions and pancetta, then add some butter, salt and pepper to finish.

For the sauce: Put enough oil in a pan, then add the onions until they caramelise. Add the port wine, bring it to boil and then leave it to simmer and reduce by half. Add the beef jus and reduce it by half again, to a consistency that it will coat a spoon. Add some salt and pepper if needed.

Remove pan from heat and strain jus through a fine sieve. Return to stove and bring it to boil and melt in butter.
Peel the baby carrots, slice some courgettes.

Grill the courgettes, blanch the asparagus and baby carrots. Glace all the vegetable with some butter. Add some salt and pepper.  

Reviews and Comments
No reviews have been submitted. Be the first to review this venue!