Savouring Maltese Flavours in the Heart of Devon

Le Pisani Restaurant in Seaton, UK, brings a taste of Malta to Devon’s green hills. Darren Caruana, inspired by his uncle’s legacy, embarked on this culinary journey six years ago. Overcoming hurdles like COVID-19, Le Pisani has carved a niche for authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Maltese-themed nights showcase pastizzi and Cisk beer, fostering community and cultural exchange.

In the heart of Devon’s rolling green hills, amidst the quaint seaside town of Seaton, UK, lies a unique restaurant that transports British diners to the sun-drenched shores of Malta. Back In 2018, Darren Caruana and his family embarked on a courageous journey, leaving behind the familiar warmth of our islands to embark on a new adventure.

Inspired by his uncle’s legacy at the original Le Pisani restaurant in Axminster, Darren seized the opportunity to bring a taste of Malta to nearby Seaton, carving a niche for authentic Mediterranean cuisine in the area. Dayna Camilleri Clarke caught up with Darren to learn about his epicurean journey to new pastures.

Darren, could you share with us the story behind Le Pisani Restaurant and how your Maltese heritage influenced its inception and menu?

Le Pisani started a while before my family, and I actually moved to the UK. My uncle, who is now retired, owned the original Le Pisani in Axminster. He persuaded me to jump ship so that we could open the Le Pisani branch in Seaton six years ago. It was not an easy decision to leave everything behind and change our lives completely. But looking back now, we have no regrets.

The menu as it is today has gone through a process of evolution with plenty of hurdles along the way, including COVID-19 and many more factors that helped carve what Le Pisani is today. Everyone thought we were Italian at first. While that helped bring business, it was important for us to show that while we appreciate and look up to our Italian cousin’s cuisine and culture, we are Maltese and have so much to offer.

What inspired you and your family to bring Maltese cuisine to Seaton, Devon (UK), and how has the local community responded to it?

The local community has supported us immensely throughout the last six years. I think that they appreciate that we bring Mediterranean cuisine and products to a small town in the beautiful countryside of Devon. We bring something different and genuine.

It is also a proud moment when you see other local restaurants trying to replicate our work. We have brought good food culture to our restaurant and to the community in general.

We’ve heard about the Maltese-themed nights at Le Pisani Restaurant featuring pastizzi and Cisk beer. Can you tell us more about these events and their significance in showcasing Maltese culture in the UK?

Yes! Our Maltese-themed nights have been an enormous success, bringing people with Maltese connections from all over the UK. This generates income for other local businesses such as taxis, local shops and B&Bs.

At first, only Maltese people or people with Maltese connections attended. Today, locals are snapping up spaces and cannot wait to try something different. However, most Maltese items are now available all year. We have managed to source our great soft drink, Kinnie, which is extremely popular, Twistees, original pastizzi provided by McSims, Cisk lager, and even on draught, which is so popular that the locals come in and ask for it by name!

For the ultimate dining experience, we also have a large selection of premium wines from Delicata and Meridiana wineries in Malta, alongside an impressive range of other wines from all over the world.

As the owner of Le Pisani Restaurant, how do you ensure the authenticity and quality of Mediterranean dishes on your menu?

I would say it is hard to balance, but we seem to have found the right formula. Certain items and ingredients must be imported to meet the requirements. However, over 90% of our products are acquired locally to support our community.

We choose the highest-quality local produce and turn it into great Mediterranean meals. We also have a large selection of local favourite dishes to make sure we are catering to everyone.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in introducing Maltese cuisine to a new audience in the UK, and how have you overcome them to establish Le Pisani as a beloved destination for authentic Maltese flavours?

It has been a long journey of trial and error. People are sometimes reluctant to try new things and avoid what they are used to. We have built a reputation at this stage, and people trust us.

They trust that what we offer is always genuine and never disappoints. We firmly believe we are an asset to the town and the area and could not be any prouder.

For more information about Le Pisani visit their website here.