Iniala Group’s Martina Camilleri Rausi on Thursday recalled the journey that has seen the group’s ION Harbour restaurant now become led by Chef Patron Simon Rogan.
The restaurant, which is situated on the rooftop of the group’s Valletta hotel Iniala Harbour House, welcomed British Chef Mr Rogan last week, in a “new chapter” that has seen it be renamed to ION Harbour by Simon Rogan. He is described as a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement, with his menus being “strongly guided by hyperlocal ingredients that are harvested, fished and foraged by the best and most sustainable local producers”. He has eight other restaurants, including one holding three Michelin Stars, across the UK and Hong Kong.
“They say time flies when you’re having fun,” Ms Camilleri Rausi, who is a Marketing Executive at Iniala Group, commented about the experience. “Feels like just yesterday I was sitting in a meeting room with a few new faces and a Simon Rogan goodie bag,” she added.
She remarked that ever since she ran her own nutrition and healthy-eating business, Food Therapy, she has been “intrigued to learn more about the farm-to-table philosophy, sustainable farming practices, culinary expertise, and everything that falls under those categories”.
“Luckily enough, I’ve been spending time with Simon and his team, touring the island and seeking out suppliers that align with Simon’s ethos. We visited a pig farm, local bee farm, went foraging - yes, foraging in Malta -, and visited three incredible organic farms, my sort of heaven,” Ms Camilleri Rausi explained.
Iniala Group Marketing Executive Martina Camilleri Rausi / LinkedIn
She concluded by saying that she is “extremely proud” to be part of this “new journey” for both ION Harbour and Iniala Group, and to be working alongside Mr Rogan’s “wonderful team and all the superhumans” at the restaurant.
Main Image:The team behind ION Harbour by Simon Rogan / LinkedIn
