Gemma Joes

We Made It Top 3 Ice Cream in Malta! (Malta Daily Food Awards)

Gemma_Joes — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 03:31:10 +0000

We Made It — Top 3 Ice Cream in Malta!

“You voted. We scooped. And we landed in the Top 3 for all of Malta.”

We’re beyond honoured to announce that Gemma Joe’s was voted one of Malta’s Top 3 Ice Cream spots in the Malta Daily Food Awards — and it’s all thanks to YOU.

This wasn’t a panel of judges. It wasn’t critics with clipboards. This was the people of Malta speaking loud and clear — and we’re floored, humbled, and absolutely over the moon.

At Gemma Joe’s, we don’t just scoop ice cream. We craft it — creamy, retro, American-style magic made right here in Malta. Every flavour is built by hand, with faith, creativity, and a whole lot of love. It’s thick. It’s rich. It’s a throwback to the golden age of diners and joy-filled desserts.

Whether it’s in a cone, on a croffle, or powering one of our famous milkshakes — it’s the scoop that’s got Sliema talkin’.

See the Malta Daily Post

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We Made the List Lovin Maltas Top 25 Places to Eat in Sliema

Gemma_Joes — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 03:17:45 +0000

We Made the List — Lovin’ Malta’s Top 25 Places to Eat in Sliema

“From a blue van in Sliema to one of the best food stops in town. Not bad, huh?”

We’re flippin’ proud to announce that Gemma Joe’s has officially been voted one of Lovin’ Malta’s Top 25 Places to Eat in Sliema — and the only food truck on the list. That’s right, our retro hand-painted diner van is rollin’ with the big dogs! This shoutout means the world to us. We built Gemma Joe’s on faith, flavour, and a deep love for retro diner culture. To be recognised as one of the best food spots in Malta’s busiest food district? That’s fuel for our fire (and our grill). Lovin’ Malta called out the unique vibe we bring — the Spaceburgers, croffle hot dogs, creamy milkshakes and hand-crafted ice cream… all delivered from a fully hand-painted diner truck that feels like a slice of 1950s Americana with a Maltese soul. It’s one more reason we’ll keep doin’ what we do — serving people with heart and shaking up the food scene, one bite at a time. Check out the full feature here:

View on Lovin’ Malta

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The Creamy Legacy of Our Ice Cream

Gemma_Joes — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 17:01:05 +0000

The Creamy Legacy of Our Ice Cream

“It’s not just ice cream. It’s a legacy. And every scoop tells a story.”

When we started Gemma Joe’s, one thing was clear — we wouldn’t just *serve* ice cream. We’d make it. The old-school way. By hand. With heart. Creamy, dreamy, and full of flavour, our ice cream isn’t just a dessert — it’s the soul of the diner. And it’s the key ingredient behind our legendary milkshakes, croffles, and late-night cravings.

Why Our Ice Cream Feels Like Home

We grew up around food — and faith. Every swirl, scoop, and flavour we create today is inspired by memories of sharing food with family, community, and love. Our mum and dad taught us to give people more than just a meal. They taught us to create joy.

Our ice cream is proudly American-style — meaning it’s richer, creamier, and more indulgent than the lighter gelato you typically find in Europe. Made with a higher cream content and churned with love, it delivers that full-bodied texture that hugs your tastebuds and melts just right.

Each flavour we make is approached like a work of art — or science. There’s real method behind every blend. We experiment with flavour combinations and balance, fat and sugar content, and texture until the result is something fun, bold, and totally unique to Gemma Joe’s. It’s not just about sweets — it’s about soul, nostalgia, and creativity in every tub.

And that’s exactly what our ice cream does. Whether it’s packed into a cone on a hot Sliema afternoon or swirled into a croffle or milkshake, it brings people back — not just for the taste, but for the feeling. The moment. The nostalgia.

Handcrafted ice cream, made with love at Gemma Joe’s

And let’s be honest — a milkshake without two big scoops of Gemma Joe’s ice cream? That just wouldn’t shake right.

And if you think it’s good in a cone, wait till you try it in a croffle or a milkshake — like The James Dean Croffle, where vanilla ice cream, Nutella, Oreo and white chocolate collide in true diner glory.

Try Our Ice Cream in Sliema

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What the Heck Is a Croffle Hot Dog?

Gemma_Joes — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 14:07:10 +0000

What the Heck Is a Croffle Hot Dog?

“It’s part croissant, part waffle, all juicy pork sausage. And no, we’re not kidding.”

How the Croffle Hot Dog Was Born

At Gemma Joe’s, we believe food should be fun — and nothing says “fun” like a buttery, golden croffle wrapped around a sizzling pork sausage. It’s the ultimate mash-up: flaky croissant dough, pressed in a waffle iron, giving you that crispy-outside, soft-inside bite that holds everything together like a dream.

Now imagine that wrapped around a juicy, perfectly seasoned pork sausage, grilled to perfection and tucked in like a cozy diner blanket. It’s not just a hot dog — it’s a flavor revelation. A brunch-dinner-late-night-snack all rolled into one.

We serve it warm, toasty, and optionally drizzled with sauce if you’re feelin’ fancy. Some people go sweet. Some go savory. But *everyone* who tries it says the same thing: “What even WAS that — and how do I get another?”

The Croffle Hot Dog from Gemma Joe’s

Get One in Sliema

Want to know where the Croffle Hot Dog gets its retro edge? It’s part of our whole diner movement — check out the story behind the Spaceburger too.

Craving one yet?
Come down to Gemma Joe’s in Sliema and taste the mash-up everyone’s talking about.

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The Story Behind the Spaceburger

Gemma_Joes — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 12:51:58 +0000

The Story Behind the Spaceburger

“One bite and you’re not in Sliema anymore — you’re somewhere between 1962 and the stars.”

When we created the Spaceburger, we didn’t just want a tasty burger — we wanted an icon. Something that would embody everything Gemma Joe’s stands for: heritage, hospitality, and that undeniable, intergalactic diner magic.

What Makes the Spaceburger So Special?

Our Spaceburger doesn’t just look like it landed from another planet — it kind of did. In 1962, at the Century 21 Exposition (aka the Seattle World’s Fair), a flying saucer-shaped sandwich known as the spaceburger debuted, sealed inside a spherical hot press that gave it a truly interstellar look. While America was dreaming of the moon and building the Space Needle, diners were getting their first taste of this futuristic burger format. Washington State became home to this handheld UFO — a hot-pressed burger locked between two soft rounds of bread, no mess, all mystery.

Fast forward to today: Gemma Joe’s is proudly bringing this retro oddity back to life with a Maltese twist. The shape is nostalgic. The flavor is next-level. And just like the 1960s, we’re reaching for the stars — only this time, it’s through food, faith, and a food truck on the streets of Sliema.

Inspired by classic Philly cheesesteaks and the legendary Sloppy Joe, the Spaceburger takes all the best bits — juicy, saucy, nostalgic goodness — and rockets them into the future. Built from triple-minced, grass-fed, hormone-free Black Angus Chuck Steak, it’s stacked high, simmered in our special house sauce, and topped with melted provolone cheese. We seal the whole thing inside a toasted brioche pocket — so the flavor stays in, and the mess stays out.

It’s not messy. It’s not ordinary. And it’s not from this Earth.

From the very first test run off the flat top, we knew this thing was something special. Locals started coming back just for it. Tourists started taking photos of it. It became our flagship — the dish that said, “This is Gemma Joe’s.”

Call it a burger. Call it a Philly. Call it a Sloppy Joe remix. Just don’t leave without trying one.

The Spaceburger from Gemma Joe’s

Launch to Gemma Joe’s

Hungry for more retro creations? Check out our croffle hot dog next — it’s part waffle, part croissant, and 100% Gemma Joe’s.

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Where to Eat in Sliema: 5 Hidden Gems Locals Love

Gemma_Joes — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 12:35:57 +0000

Where to Eat in Sliema — 5 Hidden Gems Locals Love

Sliema is packed with stunning seaside views, boutique shops, and, of course — some of Malta’s tastiest food spots. Whether you’re a local or visiting for the first time, here are five hidden gems to sink your teeth into. (P.S. One of them might just involve space burgers.)

1. Gemma Joe’s Diner (Food Truck Magic)

Retro vibes. Creamy milkshakes. Space Burgers. Croffles. If you want diner-style comfort food with a Maltese twist, this place is a must. Parked in Sliema, it’s more than a food truck — it’s a time machine with extra cheese.

2. Tiffany’s Bistro

Elegant yet cozy, Tiffany’s is a great choice for breakfast, brunch, or a cheeky cocktail. Their views of the bay are just as delicious as the menu.

3. Ta’ Kris

Hidden down a side street, Ta’ Kris is where you’ll find rustic Maltese cooking done right. Think slow-braised stews, hearty portions, and real home-cooked soul.

4. Wasabi Sushi Express

Fast, fresh, and flavorful — Wasabi is your go-to for sushi lovers who want a quick fix without skimping on quality. Great for takeout or a bite on the go.

5. Giorgio’s Café

A local staple. Grab a coffee and people-watch on the promenade, or go for their famous toasties if you need a quick bite on the run.

Whether you’re after something fancy, fusion, or full-on diner comfort food, Sliema’s got your cravings covered. If you’re looking for something a little nostalgic (and a lot delicious), come say hi at Gemma Joe’s.

Find Us on Google Maps

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The Secret to Creamy Milkshakes (Hint: Itâ€™s Our Ice Cream)

Gemma_Joes — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 12:02:34 +0000

The Secret to Creamy Milkshakes (Hint: It’s Our Ice Cream)

“You can’t fake creamy — you’ve gotta churn it from the heart.”

At Gemma Joe’s, our milkshakes aren’t just cold and sweet — they’re legendary. Ask anyone who’s had one, and you’ll hear things like “That’s not a milkshake, that’s an experience.”

So what’s the secret? It all starts with our very own hand-crafted U.S.-style ice cream — made in-house, scooped fresh, and packed with love (and a whole lot of cream).

Every single shake we blend gets not one, but two giant scoops of our signature ice cream. That’s what gives it that dreamy, velvety texture and rich flavor that dances on your taste buds — and why people keep coming back for more.

We’re not cutting corners. No premix. No shortcuts. Just real ice cream, made the old-fashioned way, blended into every swirl of vanilla, chocolate, or peanut butter banana goodness.

Pair it with a Spaceburger, or just sip it solo while people-watching under the neon glow — either way, it’s pure Gemma Joe’s magic in a cup.

1950’s-style creamy milkshakes

Try One in Sliema

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What the Heck Is a Croffle?

Gemma_Joes — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 00:21:28 +0000

What the Heck Is a Croffle?

“If a croissant and a waffle fell in love… you’d get the croffle.”

And yes, it’s every bit as delicious as it sounds.

At Gemma Joe’s, we’re all about mixing nostalgia with novelty — and the croffle is the ultimate mash-up. Imagine golden, flaky croissant dough pressed in a waffle iron until it’s crispy on the outside, buttery and light on the inside.

Now top it with our hand-crafted U.S.-style ice cream, drizzle it in rich sauce, or go savory with a hot dog twist — and you’ve got yourself a show-stopper.

The James Dean Croffle from Gemma Joe’s

Visit Us in Sliema

More Than a Trend — It’s a Movement

This hybrid treat isn’t just a social media craze. Whether you’re a sweet tooth chasing syrupy satisfaction or a savory soul craving our croffle toasties or hot dogs, there’s a croffle for every craving.

From our food truck in Sliema, we’re serving croffles that bring the golden age of diners into the now.

So… What the Heck Is a Croffle?

It’s the new classic. A little French, a little American, a lot of Maltese magic — and at Gemma Joe’s, it’s the taste of retro reinvention in every bite.

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Traveling the US roads from NYC to LA

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:53:04 +0000

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”-Jack Kerouac (On the Road).
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For Steve and I, traveling the US roads from NYC to LA a couple times and numerous road trips around the country, made us come alive and helped us to keep moving forward. It was on the road that we encountered and befriended the US diner, and it was on the road that the idea of opening our own diner one day was birthed.

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Gemma Joeâ€™s is the namesake of these two wonderful human beings

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:53:04 +0000

Gemma Joeâ€s is the namesake of these two wonderful human beings weâ€ve been fortunate to call our mum and dad. 55 years married this December. And still in love. We hope our business will honor their names in the years to come â¤ï¸

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