Festivalgoers will also be able to discover the culture behind the food on two theme nights. March 22 will be a night of lectures and movies about Maltese history and culture. March 23 will feature a parent-child party which invites families to experience the famed knight culture of Malta via activities such as trying on knight costumes and playing games.

The gourmet festival will be jointly organized by the Minzu Hotel, the Maltese embassy in China, Malta Tourism Authority, the Malta-China Friendship Association and Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

If you go:
Buffet lunch and dinner, March 20-31. Minzu Hotel, No 51 Fuxingmen Neidajie, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6601-4466 ext 162/188.
158 yuan ($23) per person for booking via WeChat (Half price for children). Please call for reservation one day beforehand.