Maltese pastizzi in LIC

[lambretta76]

I had posted to the existance of this place a while back, but it took the gift of a bottle of Maltese Kinnie (a chinotto-like Maltese soda) to trek out to LIC for a taste of this bakery's pastizzi.

When arrived at around ten to 1 pm, the gates were already down on the storefront. I called the number on the awning and, when I told the person on the other end that I was looking to buy some pastizzi, he perked up and said come around to the factory entrance. I asked for a half dozen, three each of cheese and meat. He disappeared into the the frozen area as I watched a half-dozen men decorating cookies with airbrushes and creating amazing winter scenes out of marzipan snowmen and leaves. (Mental note - go back when the shop is open so as to check out what else they offer.)

A couple of minutes later I was $7.50 poorer (they cost $1.25 each) but six pastizzi richer. I have no idea if they have other Maltese offerings available, but this seemed to be the thing to order. The man I spoke with told me if I ever needed pastizzi when the store was closed to just come around to the side entrance. He seemed to be very proud of his pastizzi and probably makes them for the dwindling Maltese population of Astoria. (He said something to me in Maltese but I informed him that, although I do have the dark skin of someone from the Mediterranean, I am mostly Polish and Lithuanian.)

Yesterday afternoon, I baked up one of the meat pastizzi. It's essentially beef and peas, probably sauteed with onions and some other spices and possibly some wine, in a homemade puff pastry. The filling was incredibly tasty, although I think the shell suffered from baking it without allowing it to thaw first. Still, it was very good and went well with the Kinnie. I know very little of Maltese customs, so i don't know if this is supposed to be a breakfast item or daytime snack. Also, the cheese one seems that it could also be eaten as a dessert, although I haven't baked one of those, yet. (I picked at the cheese filling and it tasted like a sweet and salty ricotta mixture.)

So, if anyone wants to try a sample of the isle of Malta, I'd head over to JMJ Bakery as soon as you can. Perhaps they have other offerings as well in the retail store, although I don't know what the hours are. (On Saturdays, I'd say it would be in your best interest to arrive before 1:30 pm, although the official closing time is 2 pm.)

JMJ Baking Corp

38-11 23rd Street

Long Island City NY 11100

(718) 392.7280

[lambretta76]

Just tried the cheese ones as well. Ricotta with eggs mixed with a little salt and sugar. Perfect. I'll be buying these by the dozen from now on and keeping them on hand in the freezer. The meat ones are entirely wrapped in the pastry, while the cheese ones are open at top to allow for some of the ricotta to form a nice, crispy crust.

[fatmat]

Pastizzi are eaten throughought the day, but mostly mid morning - In Malta they cost pennies.

The pastry recipe seems to be a closely guarded secret. The ricotta ones are the most popular. Fresh made, straight from the oven, they are one of my favourite snacks.

As far as Kinnie is concerned - It is a bitter orange drink and was developed as Malta's alternative to Coke. I think it tastes better. Pepsi have a copy called Crest which tastes vile.

[IvanC]

I'm Maltese - pastizzi are something almost divine - very calorific (400 cals each I believe) but so good, especially with a good cup of capuccino or a Kinnie, eaten in a piazza in the sun of a warm spring day!

They're actually quite easy to make - it's the actual formation of the pastizzi shape that's tough. They use puff pastry based upon margerine or even lard, and not butter, (we call it ghagina tal-pastizzi here - Pastizzi Pastry). The mix involves ricotta cheese, some salt, pepper and eggs. You can add some nutmeg and parsley to zing them up. There are also the pea cakes - this is mushy peas, sometimes some mince meat or even anchovies for Good Friday (but this is optional), curry powder, salt and pepper. A dollop of the mix is placed inside the pastry which is quite thinly rolled (but not too thinly) and it's formed into diamond shaped pastizzi about the size of a pack of cards. They cost 8c each in Malta - that's about 25c US.

Pastizzi are eaten throughought the day, but mostly mid morning - In Malta they cost pennies.

The pastry recipe seems to be a closely guarded secret. The ricotta ones are the most popular. Fresh made, straight from the oven, they are one of my favourite snacks.

As far as Kinnie is concerned - It is a bitter orange drink and was developed as Malta's alternative to Coke. I think it tastes better. Pepsi have a copy called Crest which tastes vile.

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[lambretta76]

IVanC - have you tried the JMJ versions? Are they close to what you'd have in Malta? Also - have any recommendations where you can find other Maltese treats or food in the NYC-area? Closest Maltese restaurants I've seen have been in Toronto or Detroit.

[curlywurlyfi]

Welcome, IvanC!

Oh, Maltese pastizzi - I love them - have mentioned them on eG previously. My parents live in Malta + I often bring back a foil tray of frozen (uncooked) pastizzi from Mr Maxims in Sliema - I have a Maltese friend in London who practically cries when I give him them! His mother has taught his wife to make them, and I went over one night when she was trying them out - heresy - she had put Parmesan in the ricotta 'to bump up the flavour'! no no no! the point of the cheesecake is that it is plain smooth delicious ricotta! And who knew that the pea ones are made with those awful tinned marrowfat peas which I hated so much as a child. Have never knowingly seen meat ones, I must say.

[IvanC]

My wife's family live in NJ and I believe they mentioned that there's a Maltese bakery at Astoria that sells pastizzi and other stuff - figolli (easter cakes), qaghaq ta' l-ghasel (honey rings) and even Kinnie and other stuff - I'm not quite sure what JMJ is though!

The Malta Bake Shop in Toronto, I believe, sells by mail order. As it is, trust me, Maltese goodies aren't all that difficult to make.

[IvanC]

Thanks, Curlywurly (I love that chocolate/toffee connoction, by the way )

I used to bring pastizzi up to England when I used to visit friends. Used to pack them in newpapers and towels and they used to remain frozen when I got to London. Best to put them in the suitcase as the hold is generally unheated so they stay cold - travellers tip

Well, putting parmesan in IS a heresy yes, but I believe that if you like it, who cares! I happen to like these pastizzi that are made at a bakery in Rabat near Mdina, he makes what are known as pastizzi ta' l-incova (anchovy pastizzi) which are flavoured with (you guessed it!) anchovies. Lovely, believe me. In Gozo (the sister island), in some places you can pastizzi made with Fresh Gozo Cheeselets which are small, soft goats cheeselets with a firm ricotta texture.. amazingly good.

We don't have the meat pastizzi in Malta but pastizzeriji sell meat pies, with lovely anonymous meat (who knows what animal it is) and the odd bits and bobs. Divine. Had 3 pastizzi yesterday - a Sunday treat!

Welcome, IvanC!

Oh, Maltese pastizzi - I love them - have mentioned them on eG previously.  My parents live in Malta + I often bring back a foil tray of frozen (uncooked) pastizzi from Mr Maxims in Sliema - I have a Maltese friend in London who practically cries when I give him them!  His mother has taught his wife to make them, and I went over one night when she was trying them out - heresy - she had put Parmesan in the ricotta 'to bump up the flavour'!  no no no!  the point of the cheesecake is that it is plain smooth delicious ricotta!  And who knew that the pea ones are made with those awful tinned marrowfat peas which I hated so much as a child.  Have never knowingly seen meat ones, I must say.

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[ppace]

This is all reminding me of an excursion to malta for a few days while in Sicily. What would be the closest train stop for this shop? I may treck over on a Sat. Morning. Kinnie reminds me of the Italian Soda - Chinotto

[curlywurlyfi]

Kinnie reminds me of the Italian Soda - Chinotto

Apparently Malta is one of the only countries in the world where Coca-Cola isn't the biggest selling soft drink - the Maltese prefer their locally-made Kinnie!

[IvanC]

I'm not surprised - I love it, personally. I drove something like 250 miles for it when I was in Washington DC for an extended period of time, I found out about a pub that had all sorts of beverages from round the world, including Kinnie! Yes they did have it, even though it was horribly inflated in price. Well worth it though!

Apparently Malta is one of the only countries in the world where Coca-Cola isn't the biggest selling soft drink - the Maltese prefer their locally-made Kinnie!

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