Even though the global recession has probably taken a bite out of restaurant revenues in every country around the world, in all of these markets there are no doubt some in the business who think the picture is much brighter somewhere else. One particularly piquant example of this involves Budapest and the Mediterranean nation of Malta.

Longtime Budapest eaters may remember Allen Diwan (above right), who was very visibly associated with several local Indian restaurants, and even gave cooking classes for those interested in making Subcontinental cuisine at home. Sometime last year Diwan told me he had finally decided to quit Hungary. Then, a few months ago, he dropped me a line to let me know he had set up shop in Malta. Finally, the other week he pinged me again, to mention that the website of his new restaurant was up and running.

While this isn't unusual - these days there seem to be more Indian restaurants in Budapest than Bangalore - what is a bit weird is that the same day Allen wrote me I came across this story in the Times of Malta in which the proprietor of the Malta-based pub chain Café Jubilee announced plans to open up its first mainland European outlet in Budapest.

Adding to the weirdness is the question of where the Budapest Jubilee will be located. The article suggests that it will sit inside the (Maltese-owned) Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal on Erzsébet körút in Pest's District VII. But when we called the hotel earlier today to confirm the news, they said it was all news to them. Anyway, if the location falls through or they otherwise decide the grass isn't actually greener in Budapest, they still have plenty of other options, including some conveniently located as far as possible from Budapest.