With much love for Liguria, Giorgio Mussini: from renting a mooring in Portofino to boat building
We arrive at Villa Ponti where we are staying, a magnificent villa…
A jewel boldly carved on the cliffs of Sori, an ancient fishing village in picturesque Liguria. With a terrace that seems to sail the waters of the Gulf of Paradise, this villa evokes the charm of 1960s cruises, with Italian design transforming spaces into works of art.
Designed by Gio Ponti, the father of Italian industrial design, Villa Ponti is a tribute to his distinctive style, with furnishings that blend clean lines and “psychedelic” patterns. From the colours of the azure sky to the blue of the sea, every detail evokes the atmosphere of an exclusive cruise.
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From here today, join us as we take you to see and “taste” a fascinating story between Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino.
Let’s start at the beginning. What do Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino have in common?
In addition to both being coastal, they are also both high-end holiday destinations, with a splendid 5km promenade that unites them. The first part is a paved road, then it transforms to a long pedestrian path immersed in greenery and rich in panoramic views, as well as splendid villas.
It is also known as the “path of kisses”, that kiss between land and sea. The idea is that the view of certain places can also make you want to kiss, if the company is right. Giorgio Mussini may have walked that path of kisses too, although the road that belongs to him most is the sea; and he will have crossed it in reverse as well, being originally from Portofino, one of the last born in the village on that promontory.
Mussini’s background is the sea. Descended from a family of fishermen and with a skipper father, to his familiarity with boats he added a fundamental ingredient: a vision. The family business expanded, thanks to his entrepreneurial, innovative, visionary thinking, providing what we would now call “offering the experience of a boat trip”.
In 1980, Utility Portofino was born, a boat made entirely of wood.
It was planned as a boat with an unmistakable character; the basis for the future of a family business that has become the hub for all activities related to the art of sailing.
An Italian adventure: from sea to table
This ‘Made in Italy’ Mussini family adventure was done in grand style. Their first restaurant was opened as a “pied dans l’eau” concept, allowing you to actually eat with your feet in the water.
In the past, the location of the restaurant was a boat shed. Today, it’s called ‘Ö Magazin’ and at the helm are Emilia and Simona Mussini, Giorgio’s daughters. Considering the proximity between table and sea, the offering is based on freshly caught fish, although there are also dishes with Cabannina beef, of strictly Ligurian origin.
In 2022, in Santa Margherita Ligure, the Österia ö Magazin was opened, with the Ligurian dialect “o”, and a kitchen even more oriented to flavours and regional traditions. The formula that defines the tavern is “cuisine of gratitude”: an eloquent business card.
On the menu there are items in local dialect and others like “sea salami” that blend different worlds and a kitchen from the land facing the sea. Try it to believe it.
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