The British took over Malta in 1800, occupying the country until it gained its independence in 1964. But the Brits left behind their culinary tradition of the Welsh pasty, called a “pastizz” in Maltese. It’s filled with smooshy peas, ricotta cheese, sardines, or mushrooms and onions, all stuffed into a pastry envelope made of phyllo dough (a nod to Malta’s Mediterranean heritage). Our favorite place to get pastizz was at the Crystal Palace, close to St. Paul’s catacombs. We went back five times so that we could try every flavor. Fun fact: “pastizz” is also slang for a woman’s nether parts. Yep, brings a whole new meaning to the term “hot pocket.”