Banana Bread Babe 🍌 🍞

You know bajtra for its knowledge in culinary gastronomy; to the tune of Michelin stars, fine wines and impeccable service. But we like the simpler stuff too… only when it’s done well. And this is a story of a simple loaf that’s baked to perfection, seasoned with heart and sliced to expose the perfect crust, crumb and base - each crucial for the perfect texture. 

Let’s cruise on down to Café Connect, a coffee truck perched right on the Ta’ Xbiex Waterfront, super yachts as your backdrop. You go here for the delicious coffee, the smiles and… who are we kidding, most importantly the banana bread. Sorry Barbs, but take it as a compliment, your 🍌 🍞is absolutely tax-xewk 🌵

Barbara Lipovsek, founder of Café Connect is a supermum, classically trained in the art of singing and keeps herself young with the surf. She also makes, dare I say it, the best banana bread I’ve ever eaten to date. I have a rule of 3 minimum. Which means I check for consistency on 3 separate occasions, it’s just how I’ve always done it. I’ve had BBB, (Barbara’s Banana Bread) about 5 or 6 times (most times an extra sneaky bite off someone’s) and it’s always been delicious. 

Here’s the thing though, consistency with banana bread is really hard to achieve, bananas can vary in texture, flavour or sweetness which means the baker be bakin’ blind, right?

Barbara uses the right bananas every time, to try and eliminate those bleeds of inconsistency. 

The truth is no BBB has been the same in my experience. They’ve all varied slightly, however the important things remained the same. 

1. Always the right amount of buttery (not oily… that’s sacrilege).

2. The crumb is light and airy, with ample pockets of banana.

3. There’s a secret ingredient that I hope Barbara protects from now on.

4. The crust and base always differ in texture, flavour and aroma, as they should.

5. It’s always satisfying, comforting and moreish. 

And the funny thing is, does anyone even like bananas? What an off-putting flavour, texture, and shape for that matter! But mashed up and turned into a BBB, heck yeah! I’ll take it any day. 

Also… don’t go asking Barbs for anything else, her Banana Bread and a selection of excellently brewed coffees, are the only things on the menu. Keeping it simple and purposeful. 

Café Connect also sponsors The Expatriates of Malta – a project run by Barbara herself. Here she practices the art of storytelling. She creates a “bridge of compassion and understanding between the local and expat communities of Malta”. 

So if you’re an expat, swing by and meet a new friend, Barbara is literally always smiling. If you’re not an expat, swing by for the banana bread. It’s literally always smiling too.