# Is-Serkin

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{{Short description|Bar in Rabat, Malta}}
thumb|Crystal Palace interior in October 2023
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| country           = [Malta](/source/Malta)
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The '''Crystal Palace''' or '''Crystal Palace Bar''', also known as '''Is-Serkin''', is a {{lang|mt|pastizzerija}} – a bar specialising in [pastizz](/source/pastizz)i – in Triq San Pawl in [Rabat, Malta](/source/Rabat%2C_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](/source/Sulky). During the mid-20th century, when the [British military had a presence in Malta](/source/History_of_Malta), soldiers from the [Crystal Palace](/source/Crystal_Palace%2C_London) area of London, stationed in nearby [Mtarfa](/source/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](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Malta) forced Serkin to close temporarily, ''[Malta Today](/source/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](/source/Joseph_Muscat), hosted three other European leaders (Belgium's Prime Minister [Charles Michel](/source/Charles_Michel), Luxembourg's Prime Minister [Xavier Bettel](/source/Xavier_Bettel), and Slovenia's Prime Minister [Miro Cerar](/source/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 [meme](/source/meme)s and [hashtag](/source/hashtag)s like #[jesuispastizz](/source/Je_suis_Charlie).<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 />

{{coord missing|Malta}}

Category:Restaurants in Malta
Category:Rabat, Malta

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Is-Serkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-Serkin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Is-Serkin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.