Malcolm Ricci from Filfla Chilly Co.

In this interview we get to know more about Malcolm and the multi-faceted journey that led to the founding of Filfla Chilli Co.. Malcolm comes up with new spicy chutney recipes by balancing texture, flavour, and colour. He takes us through this iterative process that is informed by years in different fields and ultimately a love for Malta’s rich culinary history and culture.

il-lokal: Hi Malcolm, what motivates you to be a maker?

Malcolm: On the one hand it is very satisfying to see something being created out of nothing, on the other hand, it is just as satisfying to see other people appreciate, compliment and enjoy what you have created. 

il-lokal: But one doesn’t just become a maker, how did you develop these making skills?

Malcolm: My making skills are a mix of a variety of things. I take inspiration from movies, culture, nature and everyday life, but there are also various courses, art lessons, cooking lessons,  and other educational journeys that led me to where I am today. Not least some books and podcasts, as well as conversations with family, friends, and colleagues. 

Creativity is an innate part of human nature and it is always fascinating to see what people come up with, as that is a reflection of all of their past experiences, culture, influences, what they like and dislike, and a pure expression of everything that has led them to be that person in that very moment.

il-lokal: So how did you start developing spicy chutneys specifically?

Malcolm: Having a love of food and international cuisines, just before Covid me and my wife had started experimenting with spicy chutney recipes that we shared with friends and family. When Covid hit, my freelance work diminished drastically, which led me to take the leap and rebrand to Filfla Chilli Co. and take this new venture more seriously.

il-lokal: How do you come up with new recipes?

Malcolm: In most cases I begin with one key ingredient which is typically tied to Malta’s culinary culture and history. Then through various research methods such as recipes and dictionaries from the past, as well as content found online, I start to add ingredient after ingredient, until the first draft of the new recipe is created. 

The next step is choosing the right chilli pepper to go with the newly created recipe, as well as researching the ideal way to prepare it - whether smoked, grilled, fresh, or dried. 

The overall idea is to keep on refining the recipe, iteration after iteration, until I feel that I have attained the right balance, texture, flavour, and colour to deliver a polished, well-rounded result.

il-lokal: Can you tell us about your creative background outside of Filfla Chilli Co.?

Malcolm: I have a diverse background, having studied Agriculture, English Literature, Languages, Martial Arts, Photography, Motion Design & Marketing at various points in my life. I am generally passionate about anything that piques my curiosity, including arts and culture, global cuisines, travelling, nature, adventure and sports. After graduating in Agriculture and later in English literature, and having taught English and martial arts for a number of years, I decided to change direction and I ventured into motion design.

Eventually I realised that I would rather carve my own path as opposed to working full-time day in and day out, and this led me to become a freelance motion designer, where I worked B2B with a number of local and foreign established agencies on projects for clients such as VISA, Jaguar, Ford, Proctor and Gamble, the EU, the government of Malta, Betsson, Nestle, Finance Malta, the University of Malta, National Archives of Malta and the Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti, among others.

During Covid I also ventured into developing and creating a Maltese board game with BDL Books, called Bis-Sens. The idea behind the board game is that it is a multi-faceted game, where creativity and general knowledge intertwine, all based on the Maltese language and Maltese culture.

il-lokal: What’s the most memorable milestone of your creative journey? 

Malcolm: Seeing the organic growth that we achieved over the last year, being present at markets and listening to people and appreciating their praise of our products, as well as the five awards (both national and international) that we have won so far.

il-lokal: What do you do or where do you go when you need a creative boost?

Malcolm: I go on three 1 KM walks daily with my dog, and luckily we live in a semi-rural area where there is quite a bit of greenery. This always helps clear my mind and helps me come to difficult decisions that I may have been pondering on. 

Me, my wife and my young twin kids try to go on picnics or nature walks whenever possible, and there is always room for relaxation and to let your mind wander at some point or other. 

Lastly, it sometimes helps to be able to bounce off ideas with my wife, my parents, and my cousin, as well as with friends sometimes too. It is always great to get a second opinion or a different point of view on things.

il-lokal: What is a typical day like for you?

Malcolm: On most days I take the dog out in the morning, drop off the kids at school and then begin my day of deliveries and/or meetings. Twice a week my wife picks up and drops off the kids, and on one of those days I travel to Gozo with my dad and we cook up a batch of whichever recipe is needed to prepare and hand bottle them.

Apart from cooking, deliveries and meetings, I also have labelling days, where I spend most of the day with my mum and sometimes dad too, hand labelling the jars that we’ve produced.

More often than not I pick up the kids from school and we try to spend the majority of the afternoon with them, either doing errands, going to the playground, riding our bikes, or a quick coffee break.

Evenings generally involve taking out the dog again, starting the evening routine of getting the kids ready, cooking or enjoying dinner, putting the kids to sleep and then taking out the dog one last time.

We generally end the day by playing a few games of backgammon and then enjoying an episode or two of a TV series.

il-lokal: What does your support system look like? 

Malcolm:  No one is an island and this is something that I try to remind myself of as often as possible. None of this would be possible without the full and constant support of my wife, mum and dad, as well as my cousin Sarah.

il-lokal: If you could collaborate with another local artist/designer/brand, who would it be and why?

Malcolm: I would love to collaborate with a high-end restaurant, where I envision creating a gourmet or dare I say even michelin dish which is spicy. While this happens abroad, with certain restaurants or cuisines highlighting spiciness, it is a relatively new concept in fine-dining in Malta and I would love to be able to break that barrier one day.

I also have this idea in mind where various artists come together and help collaborate on a fashion line of clothes that are inspired by the Filfla Chilli Co. brand.

il-lokal: What are some of your goals for the future?

Malcolm: Over the next year or so I would love to be able to get more people to know about our brand, Filfla Chilli Co., both locally and overseas. So far our growth has been very organic and the response has generally been positive, and this is also reflected in the awards that we’ve won so far, as well as being invited to be a part of Masterchef Malta’s pantry, and as a speaker on a panel for quality local products organised by the designMT, called Flavour Meets Design.

The aim is to ensure that top quality ingredients are always used, we source locally whenever possible, we are always consistent in our methods and products, and we work in a sustainable manner.

In the meantime, since I already have a good background and quite some experience with teaching, creating start-ups and working as a self-employed or freelance person, I have also started to offer my help, support and advice to those who may be in an earlier position of their start-up journey, or who may feel stuck in some way or other.

il-lokal: What kind of music do you listen to while working?

Malcolm: When I am really busy and need to concentrate then I usually listen to instrumental music, such as lo-fi music, Hans Zimmer, Plini or Sithu Aye for example. In general I enjoy a mix of genres and styles, depending on what mood I’m in, such as M83, Thievery Corporation, L’Imperatrice, Faithless, Chvrches, Buena Vista Social Club, Breakbot, Limp Bizkit, Tame Impala, Alphawezen, Lucy in Disguise, Metronomy, Joywave, Dance with the Dead, Brikkuni, Xtruppaw, Mjaw, Portico Quartet, Digitalism, Battles, Infected Mushroom, Weezer, St. Lucia, 65 Days of Static, Daft Punk, Muse, Barbatuques, Bonaparte, Galantis, Jack Stauber, Guano Apes, Cub Sport,  and Kavinsky, among many others.

il-lokal: What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is just starting on their creative journey?

Malcolm: The most important piece of advice that I was given and that I can pass on is, start now - today. No matter what your skill set is. 

Practice, practice, practice. Take it day by day, if health and safety need to be involved then make sure that all required certification is handled, and try to gather as much information and influence you can from professionals in the industry or people who have already walked this path and undertaken this journey.

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Interview by MJ Tolu
Images: People of Malta, Malcolm Ricci