People 26 January 2026

MICHELIN Guide Malta: Beetroot Through the Eyes of Maurizio Cavallaro and Nikolai Abela

Follow us from the moment Maurizio Cavallaro of Red Earth Farm pulls the beetroot from the ground, to when Chef Nikolai Abela, of Grotto Tavern in Rabat, transforms the vegetable into a creative sensation.

Chef Abela was one of the first customers of the urban, environmentally conscious Red Earth Farm. A privileged relationship was born, and ever since, he has worked hand in hand with Cavallaro. Pesticides are avoided, nature is allowed to take its course, and that translates into top-notch produce. In this video, we see the farm's beetroot being used in a creative dish at Grotto Tavern.

The vegetable is thinly sliced, prepared in a terrine, and paired with cashew nuts and chickpeas. Watch with us as the gardener sees his product shine in a refined interplay of various textures and temperatures, a delicate blend of sweet and earthy with the vegetable's mineral undertones. A beetroot dish you never expected!

This post is brought to you in partnership with Malta Tourism Authority

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