Monthly Archives: May 2013

A Relaxing Holiday in Malta

Are you in need of a good break this Summer? If you are planning a summer holiday, look no further; Malta is your holiday destination. A 5 Star Beach Resort hotel on the doorstep of Valletta is definitely inviting. Below are some of the reasons why you should experience a holiday at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta.

Whether on a business or a leisure trip this City Malta Hotel is ideally located on the doorstep of Valletta, the capital city of Malta. Valletta – a UNESCO World Heritage site offers sightseeing attractions, amongst which St John’s Co Cathedral and a range of restaurants, shops and cafeterias.

During the summer months guests can enjoy some great relaxation and leisure time. The Grand Hotel Excelsior offers a small private sandy beach available only for its in-house guests. And for those that are more active they can enjoy some great outdoor sports such as scuba diving both in open waters and in our outdoor pool.

With a great selection of outlets this superior Malta hotel offers great dining options throughout the day, ranging from Our Main Restaurant Spice Island which specialises in buffet style cuisine to the Admirals Landing which offers A La Carte Dining. And during the summer months diners can enjoy the picturesque sea views whilst dining at the Tiki Restaurant & Bar.

The Grand Hotel Excelsior offers breathtaking sea views of Marsamxett Harbour and Manoel Island. Whilst relaxing by the outdoor pool or having a dip in the sea you can also enjoy the boats sailing by. And when you stay in a Deluxe Seafront Room you can enjoy lovely panoramic views from the comfort of your hotel room balcony.

Superior Accommodation in Malta – This Luxury Hotel in Malta offers a range of accoommodation ranging from Standard rooms to the Presidential Suite. All rooms and suites enjoy a harmonious blend of classic and contemporary design mixed with modern 5-star convenience including multi-channel flat screen TV.

Le Grand Spa Malta is managed by a team of professional therapists, and offers a range of services from beauty to specialized spa treatments. Our therapists have a wealth of experience in local and international spas, and are committed to creating the perfect ambience, ensuring that each treatment exceeds our clients expectations.

The Grand Hotel Excelsior’s central position allows for easy travel to all parts of the Maltese islands. In fact buses leave Valletta to all areas around Malta all throughout the day. The Excelsior Hotel Malta also offers the opportunity to discover the beauty of Malta & Gozo with our executive chauffeur driven service where you can choose one of our self-guided Malta tours and excursions to enjoy during your holiday in Malta.

Malta is considered as a superior Mediterranean Cruising Destination and it has one of the finest marina locations in the world. Besides it is only a few hours flight from most European cities. The Grand Hotel Excelsior offers a private 30-berth marina for its guests. Thus guests travelling to Malta in their own private yachts can berth their yacht at the Excelsior Marina and enjoy a luxury stay whilst keeping an eye on their boat.

Photos courtesy of Visit Malta and Reporting Globe Network.

There’s a lot to see and do in Malta during your stay so if you’re still unsure on what to do in Malta during your holidays contact Our Concierge and they will ensure you enjoy an unforgettable Malta holiday.

Dining in Malta: ‘He Excels’

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excelsior malta dining

VALLETTA, MALTA, May 2013: It is always a joy to see a young man or woman occupy a post which requires considerable skill, experience and pure talent. It is not only a sign that many of our youngsters are doing well for themselves but also shows that there are entities that are more than willing to entrust young people with top jobs. One such person is Head Chef Roderick Vella, and one such entity is the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta.

Roderick graduated from ITS and had early experiences with top catering establishments in Malta such as Westin Dragonara where he joined as apprentice and left as chef de partie, the Danish Village, the Fortina and eventually moved to Corinthia Tripoli. All these opportunities enriched Chef Vella’s bag of tricks especially when he needed to adapt to the stringent quality levels in his latter time in Tripoli. Being woken up in the middle of the night to prepare food for the late Colonel Gaddafi who would be about to travel definitely put his skills to the test. Roderick attributes his main influence in his culinary profession to his dear mother with whom he has cooked innumerable dishes for family and friends. His style, also thus influenced, leans more towards the classical approach. In his very words, “people, especially we maltese, love to eat, and I love to feed them”. He appreciates that certain modern styles are more about ‘designing’ the dish with skimpy bits of food and of course, he will accommodate any such requirement, yet he also knows that portions and approach need to offer wholesome plates which burst with flavour and texture.

A short stint in his own restaurant Le Luci in Marsascala gave Chef Vella a good commercial experience in the catering world and leaving him in a much better position to take the challenge of heading a brigade of some 35 chefs and another 30 stewards to run all the hotel’s outlets namely The Admiral main a` la carte restaurant, Spice Island which hosts most of the grand buffets, the recently-launched Lobby’s menu found at the Harbour View and the magical Tiki at the water’s edge which will soon be offering a full a` la carte service.

Add to this the incredible amount of Malta weddings hosted by the Excelsior Hotel, which at peaks can comfortably deal with 60 receptions in three months, and maybe one can appreciate the hotel’s insight to employ a young, talented and energetic young man who can handle all that’s placed on his plate. In fact, Head Chef Roderick Vella himself acknowledges that the secret is that of working in a tightly-knit team which includes Pastry Chef David Pulis and Sous Chefs Adrian Buttigieg, Melvin Sammut and Mark Azzopardi.

Well done to this young chef, and to this superior Malta Hotel that has entrusted him with such a prestigious role.

Should you wish to experience our renowned Sunday buffet Lunch or a special meal at one of our Malta Restaurants kindly contact Our Food & Beverage Team on food.beverage@excelsior.com.mt or on +356 21250520.

Article by Josef’ Bonello in Cibus Magazine & Photos by Matthew Debono.

Mother’s Day at the Excelsior Malta