What started as a dish inspired by Nanna’s Sunday lunch has turned into a historic moment for Maltese gastronomy, as young chef Martina Bonello secured not one, but two prestigious awards at the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Regional Final in Bucharest.The Maltese chef, who works at Risette Restaurant, beat 14 other competitors to become the first Maltese contestant to qualify for the competition’s Grand Finale, where she will represent South Europe and the Mediterranean in Milan in 2027.And if that wasn’t enough, she also walked away with the Fine Dining Lovers Award, completing an unforgettable double victory. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)Moments after the announcement, Lovin Malta’s Gabriel caught up with an emotional Martina, who was still trying to process what had just happened.“I feel like I’m living a dream. Not just one we won, but two we won. I feel so happy,” she said.For Martina, who was the only woman among the 15 finalists, the achievement carried an even deeper meaning.“First of all, for being a woman. Secondly, for my country, Malta.”Her winning dish, Echoes of Malta: Rabbit, Prawn and Wild Aromatics, brought a contemporary interpretation of traditional Maltese flavours to the international stage.Featuring rabbit leg, a pastizz filled with rabbit offal, prawn consommé with rabbit jus and prawn foam, the creation was inspired by the memories and comforting flavours of her grandmother’s cooking.But Martina was quick to point out that she hadn’t achieved this alone.“I have Steve and Matthew by my side, meaning Steve in the kitchen non-stop telling me, ‘Come on, let’s go, let’s push, push,’ and it paid off.”Chef Steve Scicluna, who mentored Martina throughout the competition, will continue working with her as she prepares for the international final.Scicluna reflected on the significance of Malta reaching this stage for the very first time.“It’s the first time Malta has ever qualified as a country for the final. I mean, we’re proud that we’ve already come so far,” he said.For Matthew Ellul, managing director of Risette Restaurant, the victory also sends a powerful message about Malta’s place in the culinary world.“We are very content, happy with this success. We won with the rabbit and the pastizzi, which are traditional Maltese dishes,” he said.“I mean, Maltese gastronomy can be international.”And the celebrations didn’t stop with Martina and her team.Maltese chef Letizia Vella, who represented Malta at the same competition in 2022 and returned this year as one of the five judges, was equally emotional about the historic result.Speaking to Lovin Malta following the announcement, Letizia described the victory as an incredibly proud moment, both for Malta and for women in the culinary industry.“I feel truly, truly honoured, and I can’t even begin to describe the excitement and joy I have inside me, both for our country, Malta, of course, and for Martina as a female chef representing our island,” she said.And while Letizia was quick to clarify that her Maltese roots had nothing to do with her assessment, she had no doubt that Martina deserved the victory.“Obviously, I’m not being biased because I’m Maltese, but she absolutely deserved it one hundred per cent. I think she didn’t just give one hundred per cent but two hundred per cent,” she said.For Letizia, who knows firsthand what it means to compete at this level, seeing another Maltese chef progress to the international final was particularly special.“There’s no doubt she deserves to be in the final of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Competition in Milan now.”With a place at the 2027 Grand Finale secured, Martina will spend the coming months refining her dish alongside her mentor before taking on some of the world’s most promising young chefs in Milan.And while the next challenge will be even bigger, one thing is already certain: a dish rooted in the memories of a Maltese Sunday lunch has helped put Malta firmly on the international culinary map.A massive congratulations, Martina! •