The Gusto Group is a family-owned business which was set up in 1976 by Mario De Giorgi.

Mario grew up in the small coast town of Galatone (often referred to as the Florence of the South) in the province of Lecce at the southern tip of Italy, a place of abundant seafood, a huge variety of fresh vegetables and pulses, but not much in the way of work.

As the second son of a farming family, Mario came to England in 1956 to look for work and found himself in the steel mills of Jarrow and Consett. He fell in love, got married, had a family - but he was son of a farmer and a true Italian and he yearned for the fresh, hearty, well-flavoured food of his own region.

The North East of the 50's and most of the 60's was a place where there was tea and beer but no wine, limited choice of fresh fruit and vegetables and the only olive oil to be found was from Boots the Chemist! Mario De Giorgi dreamed of opening his own restaurant and of sharing the authentic tastes and textures of South Italian food and wine - and the sheer pleasure of eating - with his adopted country.

By 1970 Mario De Giorgi had opened a Continental Wine and Food Suppliers in Heaton to supply the city's already growing numbers of Italian restaurants and Italian population and in 1976 he branched out with his own pizzeria, Don Vitoes.

In 1996, the De Giorgis' added Paradiso, a relaxed and stylish place to enjoy good Italian coffee, typical Southern Italian savouries and sweets. In 1999 Mario finally retired and three of the younger generation of De Giorgis', Cristina, Joseph and Aldo took over the running of Don Vitoes.

Intermezzo was then opened in 2001 , a magnet for cinema-goers, lunchers, strollers, and just-finished-workers, with its great coffee, pastries, snacks and impressive choice of cocktails.

Then in 2002, the family embarked on a major restructuring of the businesses. First Paradiso was extended by the installation of a smart new balcony high above the city streets to allow alfresco dining.

Don Vitoes was transformed into Popolo, a New York style lounge bar which was designed by Joseph, and is the ultimate in relaxation with a large horseshoe bar and intimate corners furnished with leather sofas.

In 2004, once again Joseph turned his design skills to the opening of adjacent Secco Long Bar, Blue Room and Ristorante Salentino offering a haven of style, elegance and serious good food and drink.

2007 has seen the long awiated addition of a ground floor bar to Secco's original first and second floor.

The strength of the De Giorgi business lies in what they share; family and their love and knowledge of food and drink and their many various talents. This was acknowledged by Theme Magazine who presented them with the Best Contribution to Industry award

They share another passion, the arts. This is obvious from the originality of art work on their walls; they commissioned light boxes from local artists Imogen Cloet and Nik Barrera for Paradiso; the work of young Turkish artist Nur Belkur, a graduate student at Newcastle University, took pride of place in Don Vitoes. They have also hung various temporary exhibitions and are developing plans to show and promote more art and music in the future.

More recently The Gusto Group has played an integral part in launching Slow Food Newcastle which aims to protect the pleasures of the table from the standardisation of modern fast food and fast life – this supports the company's mission to serve only fresh, seasonal produce. Director Joseph De Giorgi is the Convivium leader.

For further information about The Gusto Group contact us.