City Garden, Male, Maldives

Now here is a lovely spot I have until now, not discovered yet. I just cannot understand how this happened. City Garden is just about the finest location on this island to sit and eat or have a coffe while watching the ongoings in the Marina.

It always amazes me how so many boats can manoeuvre around each other with such graceful ease. Being a boat owner myself, it makes me want to spend more time sailing it, rather then just being moored up in our Marina.

So the view is perfect, of course, given you get a seat on the terrace balcony, like I have today.

The food and choice of dishes on the menu are also really tempting. I have had a recommendation that the Chiili Prawns are to die for. But I chose a fish dish from the Thai Menu and some Water Spinach as a side today. 

Both were lovely as was the Lavazza Coffee afterwards. A wonderful thing in a place where no alcohol is served is that everyone drinks Tea or Coffee, so it's bound to be the finest.

I must also mention that as soon as I walked in I was warmly welcomed by the waiter, who had a friendly smile throughout. As a woman in a Muslim country, eating out alone, this was very comforting sight. City Garden is definitely top of list of restaurants in Male from now on.

Pissaladiere

This Southern French pastry is a bit like a pizza as it does have a pizza base, but there is no cheese or tomato in sight. Just packed full of flavourful sweet onions topped with savoury olives and anchovies.

I discovered it while in Nice at the Cote Azure, in a Supermarket. I bought it, tried it and was smitten with it. Here is my easy recipe.

Ingredients:

2 ready mix Pizza Base mixtures

About 1kg Onions, sliced

2 Garlic Cloves, sliced

About 10 good black Olives, pitted and halved

1 small tin of Anchovies, oil discarded and filets sliced in half lengthways

A generous glug of Olive Oil

Fresh Thyme, Salt, Sugar and Pepper

Prepare the ready make Pizza dough as the instructions tell you on the packet. That's the easy part. You can of course make one from scratch if you like.

While the dough is proving, start to sautee the Onions and Garlic in the olive oil. Use a large enough pan on a medium heat. This process should take about half an hour. Keep tossing the onions every now and then and be patient. Season with a little Salt, Pepper and Sugar.

Once the dough has proven roll it into a large rectangle and shape it onto a baking tray pushing the edges up a little at the sides.

Fill this base with the sautéed onions, sprinkle with the fresh Thyme and garnish with the Anchovies and Olives.

Now of course it is ready for the oven. Bake the Pissaladiere at a fairly high heat (200C) for about 20 minutes or until the base has turned lovely and golden on the sides and it looks deliciously ready.

Cut into squares and enjoy hot, warm or cold.