Gusto Artisan Food Market: An Interview with Giusy Fusco

Giusy Fusco, and her partner, Daniel Pessina, originally from Milan, Italy, spent four years traveling before visiting Sayulita two and a half years ago. They fell in love with the town and decided to stay and put down some roots. In June of 2014, Giusy and Daniel opened Gusto Artisan Food Market, an authentic Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Giusy tells El Sayulero more about opening Gusto, their signature appetizer, daily specials, and more. 

How did you get your start in the restaurant business?

Well, we both had worked in restaurants before moving to Sayulita. When we first moved here, we started selling pizza on the beach. For 4 months we did this everyday. We made a little money and then we were able to open our restaurant.

What made you want to open a restaurant in Sayulita?

Two years ago, Sayulita was a very small town and there were only 3 Italian restaurants. So, we thought, “Let’s give it a try and we’ll see what happens.”

How would you describe the ambiance of Gusto?

It’s cozy and it feels like my home. The recipes we use are passed down from my grandmother and Daniel’s grandmother. The flavor of the food, the smell of the Italian food, the traditional Italian coffee, the Italian wine, it’s home.

What is your menu like?

We have homemade fresh pasta, fresh bread, and traditional Italian pizza. We incorporate seafood into both the pizza and pasta, and we also offer salads.  

Does your menu cater to those who are gluten free or vegetarian? If so, what are some of the dishes you offer?

Yes, we have gluten free pasta and we also have vegetable pasta and vegetable pizza.

You use both fresh Sayulita ingredients and imported Italian ingredients and wine. Will you tell me more about this?

We have a garden in Sayulita that we get fresh basil, tomatoes, eggplant, and other produce from. The fish comes from the La Cruz fish market. We import the wine from Italy, as well as cheese, Italian meats, and porcini mushrooms.

Tell me about your daily specials?

We offer an appetizer, pasta, pizza, and desert special everyday. The specials change daily and none of the specials are on the normal menu.

You have a signature appetizer. What is it and how do you describe it?

Burrata Croccante – it’s a fresh, buffalo mozzarella wrapped into a phyllo dough pasta, baked in the oven, and served with prosciutto aged 48 months. It’s one of the most popular items on the menu. It’s soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, with a nice contrast between milky and salty.

What sets Gusto apart from other restaurants in Sayulita?

The idea is we are an Artisan food market. We are very proud of everything we make and we want you to enjoy it. It’s like when you cook for yourself at home – we want to create the same atmosphere here at Gusto. We also try to take authentic Italian dishes and create a slightly different plate, setting us apart from the typical Italian restaurants.