The future of festa food in Malta : lost legacy?

Abstract

This study aims to examine the extent to which food in Maltese communal gatherings is successfully staged to be understood by both the community and the tourist. Research indicates that distinctive and particular foods have typified such gatherings for centuries. Nevertheless, this characteristic is overshadowed by the commercialization, commoditisation and alteration of traditional food and foodways for wider preference in a globalised environment. Such foods have also been adapted for easier consumption in informal settings such as the village festa. Communal gatherings serve as a platform for negotiation and renegotiation of their cultural identity. The study suggests that to achieve the fine balance between traditional cuisine and an inclusive democratised product, community involvement needs to take place through active citizenship, stakeholder input and professional interpretation.