{{Short description|Bar in Rabat, Malta}} thumb|Crystal Palace interior in October 2023 {{Infobox restaurant | embed = Is-Serkin | name = <!-- Leave blank if embed set to yes --> | title = <!-- If embedding use this for secondary small font title --> | logo = | logo_width = | logo_alt = | image = | image_width = | image_alt = | image_caption = | mapframe = <!-- Set to yes to show a mapframe map --> | pushpin_map = <!-- Requires {{para|coordinates}} --> | map_alt = | map_caption = | map_size = | established = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | closed = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | current_owner = | previous_owner = | manager = | head_chef = | chef = | pastry_chef = | food_type = | dress_code = | rating = | street_address = | city = | county = | state = | postcode = <!-- or |zip= --> | country = Malta | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|latitude|longitude|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} --> | seating_capacity = | reservations = | other_locations = | other_information = <!-- or |other_label= --> | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} The '''Crystal Palace''' or '''Crystal Palace Bar''', also known as '''Is-Serkin''', is a {{lang|mt|pastizzerija}} – a bar specialising in pastizzi – in Triq San Pawl in Rabat, Malta. It has been open since 1945 or 1946.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} It is one of the best-known bars of this kind in the islands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-27 |title=Where to find the best pastizzi on the Maltese Islands {{!}} maltazine.com |url=https://maltazine.com/where-to-find-the-best-pastizzi-on-the-maltese-islands/ |url-access=registration |access-date=2023-11-03 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peregin |first=Christian |date=2013-08-05 |title=PN worker: former MPs insulted me in the street |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/PN-worker-former-MPs-insulted-me-in-the-street.480837 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name="maltatoday.com.mt">{{Cite web |last=Mizzi |first=Daniel |date=5 February 2017 |title=Ann Fenech dissing EU premiers at Serkin sparks backlash |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/74133/ann_fenech_dissing_eu_premiers_at_serkin_sparks_backlash |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Tim |date=2021-06-30 |title=Green list travel: Malta's national pastry is worth the trip alone |url=https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/06/30/the-maltese-pastry-that-s-so-good-it-s-worth-planning-a-holiday-around |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref>
The name Is-Serkin began with the original owner, Ninu Azzopardi, who received that nickname due to the clientele at his business, who frequently rode in on horse carts called serkin. During the mid-20th century, when the British military had a presence in Malta, soldiers from the Crystal Palace area of London, stationed in nearby Mtarfa, regularly gathered at the pastizzerija to eat and drink, leading it to acquire the name "Crystal Palace".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Schembri |first=Gabriel |date=21 March 2016 |title=Watch - Full interview: Famous Serkin pastizzeria owner wants to call it a day |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2016-03-21/local-news/Watch-Full-interview-Famous-Serkin-pastizzeria-owner-wants-to-call-it-a-day-6736155192 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Malta Independent}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Blasi |first=Abigail |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OqbNEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT165 |title=Malta e Gozo |publisher=EDT |language=it}}</ref> The original owner's son, Martin Azzopardi, took over the business in 1969 or 1970 and ran it until selling it in the late-2010s.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2016-03-25 |title=Last pastizzi from is-Serkin? |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/last-pastizzi-from-is-serkin.606768 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref>
Its pastizzi are prepared off-site and served straight from an oven in the shop, commonly served with a milk tea.<ref name=":0" /> Azzopardi attributes the restaurant's popularity to its hours, location, price, and taste, which comes from a recipe kept secret.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-20 |title='Tas-Serkin' for sale… will pastizzi 'secret' be revealed? |url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/tas-serkin-for-sale-will-pastizzi-secret-be-revealed/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=TVMnews.mt |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The business initially operated 24 hours, first to serve soldiers, then farmers, and then people coming out of parties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Debono |first=Andrew Galea |date=2012-12-23 |title=Pastizzi at the Crystal Palace |url=http://maltainsideout.com/737/pride-and-pastizzi/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Malta InsideOut |language=en-US}}</ref> It later began closing for two hours a day, between midnight and 2:00 AM.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> Since 2017, the establishment has included an outdoor patio.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Debono |first=James |date=24 May 2017 |title=Outdoors platform permit for Serkin |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/environment/townscapes/77462/outdoors_platform_permit_for_serkin |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref> When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Serkin to close temporarily, ''Malta Today'' wrote that it was "like closing down church."<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2020 |title=If any institution can inspire the Maltese nation to do good, it’s Serkin. In a divided nation, the pastizz unites all |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/skinny/105660/if_you_take_serkin_away_you_may_as_well_burn_the_flag_to_be_honest |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref>
Malta's Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, hosted three other European leaders (Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, and Slovenia's Prime Minister Miro Cerar) and their partners at Crystal Palace in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 February 2017 |title=Four prime ministers, nine milky teas and two-dozen Maltese pastizzi please |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/74109/four_prime_ministers_nine_milky_teas_and_twodozen_maltese_pastizzi_please |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref> Rival politician Ann Fenech's criticism of the choice of venue drew a public backlash, including memes and hashtags like #jesuispastizz.<ref name="maltatoday.com.mt"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-06 |title="Hawnhekk nistmaw lil kulħadd" – tas-Serkin lil Anne Fenech - ONE |url=https://one.com.mt/hawnhekk-nistmaw-lil-kulhadd-tas-serkin-lil-anne-fenech/ |access-date=2023-11-03 |language=en-US}}</ref> Fenech subsequently apologized and appeared in a photo at Crystal Palace with the owner's father.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-07 |title=Ann Fenech apologises and takes picture at 'Is-Serkin' |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/ann-fenech-pictured-at-is-serkin.638924 |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalli |first=Miriam |date=7 February 2017 |title=She just wants to be one of the common people: Ann’s truce on pastizzi |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/74210/she_just_wants_to_be_one_of_the_common_people_anns_truce_on_pastizzi |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref>
== References == <references />
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Category:Restaurants in Malta Category:Rabat, Malta