The Tal-Familja restaurant in Marsaskala is mourning the loss of Stella Preca, the matriarch of one of Malta’s most renowned culinary families. Her passing was announced by the restaurant in a heartfelt message shared on social media on Monday.

In its tribute, the family described Stella as “the heart, the rock, and the beginning of Tal-Familja,” honouring her lifelong devotion to her family and to the restaurant she built alongside her late husband, renowned chef and restaurateur Charles Preca.

“Her hands shaped our home, her guidance shaped our character, and her kindness shaped the way we run our business today,” the restaurant wrote. “Everything we are as – a family and as a team – started with her and our late father. Her legacy of warmth, resilience, and unconditional love will remain at the centre of our lives and our work.”

The Preca family asked for prayers during this difficult time and thanked the public for their support and understanding.

The family’s culinary legacy extends beyond Tal-Familja, with sisters Ramona and Roberta now at the helm of the renowned Palazzo Preca in Valletta. Their late father, Charles Preca, had also made his mark in the kitchen of the iconic King’s Own Band Club in Valletta, where the foundations of the family’s gastronomic journey were first laid.