Nothing beats a wood fire: Maxokk's pizzas taste of home and hearth
I’m a diver and Gozo has some terrific diving locations. One ritual we always look forward to after a morning dive is to go to Maxokk for a Gozitan ftira or pizza.
When you enter Maxokk, it’s like entering a time machine. I go back to the summers I spent in my grandmother’s village, when she used to make bread and pastries for breakfast. Except here, you’re in the company of hungry people, in a fifty year-old bakery, waiting to collect ftiras or pizzas baked in a traditional cast-iron oven. Do spend some time in the bakery – the wait, which is renowned for being lengthy, is almost as good as the eating and the smell of the dough and firewood is divine!
At the last count, Maxokk produces 16 types of ftira and pizza. There are some true classics: the closed ftira stuffed with cheese, ricotta and potatoes. The ‘Ftira tal-Maxokk’ with local sausages and potatoes. The caponata pizza with eggplant and green peppers. If you’re in a large group, just choose as wide a selection as possible to really savour true craft!
To make sure that you do not have a long wait, call Maxokk a couple of hours before you wish to collect your food and place your order.
And if the weather is holding out, find somewhere to sit close to the botanical gardens. Enjoy the views to Comino and Malta. Life is very good at Maxokk.
Maxokk Bakery
St James Street
Nadur
Tel: 21550014
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10:30 till 19:00
Sunday: 13:00 – 19:00
View Maxokk, Nadur, Gozo in a larger map
Photo: Gege Gatt
@Joe, thanks for adding Mekren – where is it exactly? Also good to note the wood stock pile….as you say. Worrying though that varnished and treated wood is probably being used.
Both Mekren and Maxokk prepare delcious ftiras. The former places the potatoes under the other topings (tomatoes, capers, olives, onions and anchovies or tuna) while the latter places them on top.
A more general remark about Maltese baking… Somewhat worrying to see the wood that lies outside many a ‘forn’ – varnished, painted, laminated…hopefully none of the toxins affect the bread.
I love maxokk, try to go there every time I’m in Gozo.
Tip: if you get there and its mega busy and can’t be bothered to wait, there’s another great baker called Mekrem who does gozitan ftira (ie. pizza) close by in Nadur too.