Primavera Caterers

Primavera Caterers is a family firm in Tarxien, a town in the south of Malta close to the Hypogeum and the Three Cities. It cooks for weddings, parties and corporate events, and its trademark is finger food: canapés, Maltese savouries, pastries and desserts, sold by the person from a printed list of menus. Visitors planning a celebration, or UK residents organising a wedding on the islands, will find the prices easy to compare.

You can compare other firms in our directory of catering companies in Malta.

A family business across three generations

The business was founded by Joseph Abela, known in the south of Malta as Peppi, and the firm was once known locally as Ta' Peppi Primavera. He began in his early twenties selling animal feed from a horse and cart, then sold bigilla, a Maltese dip of tick beans, olive oil and garlic, door to door. Later he and his wife Tessie made traditional ice cream and granita from a van, then pastizzi from a small shop in Paola.

Over the years the family bought a bakery and began making finger food for weddings and parties. As demand grew, the operation became a food factory serving some of the larger weddings in Malta. Today Primavera is run by the third generation, Tiziano and Graziella, who have given it what the family calls a modern touch. Peppi's own name lives on in the menus, with Peppi's Traditional Meatballs among the items listed.

Weddings and the free consultation

For weddings the firm offers a free consultation. It can recommend venues, suggest menus and coordinate the details so the day runs smoothly, an approach the family calls the Primavera experience. This is helpful if you are planning from the UK and cannot visit the island often.

If you are choosing where to hold the day, our Valletta guide and Mdina guide describe two of the most popular historic settings, and the Malta weather guide helps with choosing a month.

Party menus and what they cost

The party menus are priced per person, include VAT and carry a minimum order of 10 people. Menu A is €8.00 and includes canapés, shrimp barquettes, ham and cheese sandwiches, tuna bread boules, Maltese cheese cakes and pea cakes, timpana, sausage roulades, arancini with beef ragu and meatballs. Menu B is €10.50 and adds devilled eggs and focaccia, while Menu C is €15.00 and adds open-faced sandwiches, croissants, lamb bites and crab claw bites. The Prestige menu is €22.00 and includes goat cheese tartlets, tortilla wraps with Parma ham, mini quiche, rabbit pockets, duck spring rolls, fish cakes and satay skewers.

There are also menus for particular needs: a kids menu at €4.50, a lactose-free menu at €7.50, a vegetarian menu at €7.50 and a tea menu at €9.50 with savoury muffins, scones, cannoli and tea cakes. The tea menu suits a christening or a Christmas gathering, and a festive menu adds a free bottle of Prosecco and a Christmas cake.

Parties are discussed with each client so the event feels individual. Anyone visiting for a longer stay may want to read our Malta holidays overview or things to do in Malta around the date.

Corporate events and where to find the firm

Primavera also has a corporate section on its website for office events and business hospitality, so the same kitchen that handles family weddings can supply working lunches, receptions and staff celebrations. Menus can be chosen from the printed lists above or discussed with the team. Tarxien is a short drive from the Hypogeum in Paola and the Three Cities, so a catered event can sit alongside a day of sightseeing.

Large events sometimes need an event planner such as 242.group as well as a caterer. To ask about a menu, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Primavera Caterers.