Claudia Calleja – ex-top Model, and now director of one of the largest Model agencies in Malta can turn heads effortlessly! Try walking with her through the streets of Bugibba and you will see all the red-blooded-males ogling her, their eyes boring through her like infra red laser beams! The subtitles read: “Aw Sbejha!” - “Aw Gisem!” – “Hemm xi Cans!”
Somehow, she is oblivious to all this. Now a mother of two, she has put her modelling career on hold, and together with her business partner – Sue Rossi, she has become Malta’s version of Tyra Banks.
We arrive at the Vintage Wine Bar in Bugibba a little after 8pm, heading past a cluster of six British men sitting outside, who freeze in their tracks as we pass by. They put on their best George Clooney grin to get her attention…only, Claudia fails to be impressed. The blondino who tries desperately to look like George is almost salivating….
Both of us are looking forward to the evening, and as we walk inside our first impression of the Vintage Wine Bar is that of a very welcoming environment with an eclectic atmosphere. I feel like I have just stepped onto a cruise liner with a very spacious and lush lobby. A burnt orange colour gives life to the walls and is a delightful contrast to the dark parquet floors. The place is designed to give those in need of privacy their private space, and those who want/need to be seen their fulfilment. Several tables are lined in the main area with just enough space from each other, and in the corners there is a selection of sofas and private booths… the most impressive being the Bedouin area. So of course, we head there immediately.
As we settle down into this lovely area that would be perfect for a group of ten, a lively man donning a black uniform comes over to inform us that we have just hit the “Happy Hour”. We look up at him quizzically (just like dumb models would do) and he explains that if we order one cocktail we get another one free.
The idea is intriguing. I am curious which cocktail Claudia is going to choose though I predict her choice way in advance.
“Sex on the beach”, she says without losing too much time. We tell Mario – our host – that we can only handle one cocktail each, so we don’t want the bonus Happy Hour deal. However, he is kind enough to charge us for one (phew!).
Wine follows…..
Claudia picks a pleasant Rose D’ Anjou with peach and apricot flavours. A refreshing choice I think.
The wine menu at Vintage is pretty varied. There is a selection of local and foreign wines and a special section for New World Wines, all of which are reasonably priced. Our Rose D’ Anjou is in the 12 Euro mark.
They also have a good selection of platters and eight “from the oven” dishes. For those into dips there is a variety of dips to choose from, and for those with a sweet tooth Vintage has put together a “Sweet” selection. Go on! Get the calories rolling!
It takes a while for us to decide but when we do, we choose a Maltese platter which includes peppered goat’s cheese, chilled octopus, smoked Maltese sausage, garlic olives, veggies, bean dip, and crispy bread. We are told they are out of Bean dip (though we did get Bigilla), so we replace that with a Smoked Jamaican and onion seed ginger dip.
Through all this Mario stands patiently and takes our order, while chatting to us in a very friendly manner, but just enough not to be over friendly. We mainly discuss the interior and he talks about his fabulous idea of having stronger lights.
I’m horrified! I tell him very bluntly that it would be Murder with a capital “M”. The lighting at Vintage is great as it is now. “Maybe light up some more candles,” I suggest, “But don’t touch the lights.”
I quite like the interior though I find a few things verge on the borderline of kitsch. Somehow the chandeliers are great… they blend in, the seven or eight of them, bringing back memories of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. What I am not so keen on are the mirrors with the Organza touch on them. And oh! I can’t get over the piano… (Yes, at Vintage they have live singers on the weekend, hence the piano and drums). I have never before seen a wooden piano with pieces of mirrors glued to it. It reminds me of Morena’s Eurovision boots to be honest! But that was Eurovision… that’s allowed!
Apart from these little touches which are not to my personal taste (to say it nicely), I like the place very much. It has loads of potential to be amongst the trendiest hangouts in Malta, and it manages to give me that good-feel-factor.
Wine and food are served by Mario at a very good timing. The platter looks impressive but it takes us a while to start digging into it because Claudia talks even more than I do (a lethal combination)…. And oh la la! When two people in the entertainment industry meet, a lot can be said!!!! The singer dating the songwriter… The producer flirting with the actress… The local heartthrob’s escapades…. Who owes a lump of money to whom, and who has slept with whose husband. HIM? My, my, I always thought he was a walking saint! Oh Yes… it happens all under the Maltese skies!
I want to get more out of Claudia. So I ask her to give me the name of the bitchiest model in Malta. She is a little reluctant to shed a name, so I say I want the initials at least. … and get them! “CA”
Work your brains people!
“Would you pose fully clothed in a boring outfit for Gwida or take it all off for a Vogue front cover?” I ask her a few minutes later.
“Vogue!” she says matter-of-factly. (Authors note: Hurrah for honesty! I would not have believed if she came up with any other cock-and-bull answer). Any model offered a VOGUE cover and dumps it must either be married to a jealous husband with a Penthouse and a room for a pony, or completely out of her mind.)
We delve into the platter. It’s okay, but the Bigilla is nothing too exciting… it lacks some garlic. However the Jamaican dip is something extraordinary. I love it! The chilled octopus is also very good and Claudia nicks it all (Damn!).
Several hours and wine glasses later (they have very nice wine glasses at Vintage) we take turns to use the toilets. I go on my usual ritual and I am pleasantly surprised to finally find a spacious bathroom with 5 packs of toilet paper and the added services of a condom machine. It is clean, efficient, and although I would have liked it to have a funkier design (I always do…don’t I?), I like the space.
Half an hour later we ask for the bill and at 27.05 Euro for cocktails, French wine, and a platter I think it is extremely good value for money. Mario graciously asks us if we enjoyed our experience at the Vintage and we both say we did. He is indeed a very nice host.
Outside, the British voyeurs that had eyed-up Claudia are long gone into the chubby arms of their wives, and the street is bare with the exception of an over speeding car (calling all Wardens… calling all Wardens…).
“See you, dear!” Claudia says warmly fluttering long, high maintenance eyelashes. I’m silently wondering how long it took her to get those luscious lashes ready….
We exchange vintage hugs and kisses. She turns around on mammoth sized heels with the grace of Linda Evangelista, and in a flash she is gone, sashaying into the night on an imaginary catwalk.
RATING 1 – 7
Wine: ***** Ambience: ******
Food: **** Service: ******
Somehow, she is oblivious to all this. Now a mother of two, she has put her modelling career on hold, and together with her business partner – Sue Rossi, she has become Malta’s version of Tyra Banks.
We arrive at the Vintage Wine Bar in Bugibba a little after 8pm, heading past a cluster of six British men sitting outside, who freeze in their tracks as we pass by. They put on their best George Clooney grin to get her attention…only, Claudia fails to be impressed. The blondino who tries desperately to look like George is almost salivating….
Both of us are looking forward to the evening, and as we walk inside our first impression of the Vintage Wine Bar is that of a very welcoming environment with an eclectic atmosphere. I feel like I have just stepped onto a cruise liner with a very spacious and lush lobby. A burnt orange colour gives life to the walls and is a delightful contrast to the dark parquet floors. The place is designed to give those in need of privacy their private space, and those who want/need to be seen their fulfilment. Several tables are lined in the main area with just enough space from each other, and in the corners there is a selection of sofas and private booths… the most impressive being the Bedouin area. So of course, we head there immediately.
As we settle down into this lovely area that would be perfect for a group of ten, a lively man donning a black uniform comes over to inform us that we have just hit the “Happy Hour”. We look up at him quizzically (just like dumb models would do) and he explains that if we order one cocktail we get another one free.
The idea is intriguing. I am curious which cocktail Claudia is going to choose though I predict her choice way in advance.
“Sex on the beach”, she says without losing too much time. We tell Mario – our host – that we can only handle one cocktail each, so we don’t want the bonus Happy Hour deal. However, he is kind enough to charge us for one (phew!).
Wine follows…..
Claudia picks a pleasant Rose D’ Anjou with peach and apricot flavours. A refreshing choice I think.
The wine menu at Vintage is pretty varied. There is a selection of local and foreign wines and a special section for New World Wines, all of which are reasonably priced. Our Rose D’ Anjou is in the 12 Euro mark.
They also have a good selection of platters and eight “from the oven” dishes. For those into dips there is a variety of dips to choose from, and for those with a sweet tooth Vintage has put together a “Sweet” selection. Go on! Get the calories rolling!
It takes a while for us to decide but when we do, we choose a Maltese platter which includes peppered goat’s cheese, chilled octopus, smoked Maltese sausage, garlic olives, veggies, bean dip, and crispy bread. We are told they are out of Bean dip (though we did get Bigilla), so we replace that with a Smoked Jamaican and onion seed ginger dip.
Through all this Mario stands patiently and takes our order, while chatting to us in a very friendly manner, but just enough not to be over friendly. We mainly discuss the interior and he talks about his fabulous idea of having stronger lights.
I’m horrified! I tell him very bluntly that it would be Murder with a capital “M”. The lighting at Vintage is great as it is now. “Maybe light up some more candles,” I suggest, “But don’t touch the lights.”
I quite like the interior though I find a few things verge on the borderline of kitsch. Somehow the chandeliers are great… they blend in, the seven or eight of them, bringing back memories of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. What I am not so keen on are the mirrors with the Organza touch on them. And oh! I can’t get over the piano… (Yes, at Vintage they have live singers on the weekend, hence the piano and drums). I have never before seen a wooden piano with pieces of mirrors glued to it. It reminds me of Morena’s Eurovision boots to be honest! But that was Eurovision… that’s allowed!
Apart from these little touches which are not to my personal taste (to say it nicely), I like the place very much. It has loads of potential to be amongst the trendiest hangouts in Malta, and it manages to give me that good-feel-factor.
Wine and food are served by Mario at a very good timing. The platter looks impressive but it takes us a while to start digging into it because Claudia talks even more than I do (a lethal combination)…. And oh la la! When two people in the entertainment industry meet, a lot can be said!!!! The singer dating the songwriter… The producer flirting with the actress… The local heartthrob’s escapades…. Who owes a lump of money to whom, and who has slept with whose husband. HIM? My, my, I always thought he was a walking saint! Oh Yes… it happens all under the Maltese skies!
I want to get more out of Claudia. So I ask her to give me the name of the bitchiest model in Malta. She is a little reluctant to shed a name, so I say I want the initials at least. … and get them! “CA”
Work your brains people!
“Would you pose fully clothed in a boring outfit for Gwida or take it all off for a Vogue front cover?” I ask her a few minutes later.
“Vogue!” she says matter-of-factly. (Authors note: Hurrah for honesty! I would not have believed if she came up with any other cock-and-bull answer). Any model offered a VOGUE cover and dumps it must either be married to a jealous husband with a Penthouse and a room for a pony, or completely out of her mind.)
We delve into the platter. It’s okay, but the Bigilla is nothing too exciting… it lacks some garlic. However the Jamaican dip is something extraordinary. I love it! The chilled octopus is also very good and Claudia nicks it all (Damn!).
Several hours and wine glasses later (they have very nice wine glasses at Vintage) we take turns to use the toilets. I go on my usual ritual and I am pleasantly surprised to finally find a spacious bathroom with 5 packs of toilet paper and the added services of a condom machine. It is clean, efficient, and although I would have liked it to have a funkier design (I always do…don’t I?), I like the space.
Half an hour later we ask for the bill and at 27.05 Euro for cocktails, French wine, and a platter I think it is extremely good value for money. Mario graciously asks us if we enjoyed our experience at the Vintage and we both say we did. He is indeed a very nice host.
Outside, the British voyeurs that had eyed-up Claudia are long gone into the chubby arms of their wives, and the street is bare with the exception of an over speeding car (calling all Wardens… calling all Wardens…).
“See you, dear!” Claudia says warmly fluttering long, high maintenance eyelashes. I’m silently wondering how long it took her to get those luscious lashes ready….
We exchange vintage hugs and kisses. She turns around on mammoth sized heels with the grace of Linda Evangelista, and in a flash she is gone, sashaying into the night on an imaginary catwalk.
RATING 1 – 7
Wine: ***** Ambience: ******
Food: **** Service: ******
Great one sur Borg! :)
ReplyDeleteVery good looking girl! Regards from Vienna
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