With Negroni cocktails in hand, the smell of fresh pasta in the air and the sun setting in the distance, you’d swear we had just been transported to Italy. Luckily, thanks to Gusto 101, Torontonians can save themselves a flight and head to the restaurant’s rooftop for a taste of authentic Southern Italian cuisine. With King West’s iconic buildings serving as the backdrop of the rooftop soiree, there’s no mistaking this spot for any other place, nor city for that matter.

The Toronto-based restaurateur Janet Zuccarini is following in the footsteps of her father, who first introduced the wood-burning pizza oven and espresso machine to Toronto in 1954. Zuccarini’s group currently houses Gusto 101, Trattoria Nervosa and a partnership with Pai Northern Thai Kitchen. They are now introducing a catering division.

On June 23, guests from Toronto’s food and media industries gathered to celebrate the launch of Gusto 54 Global Restaurant Group (Gusto 54).

The menu is focused on Southern Italian dishes with a twist – a great option for stylish parties. FAJO sampled freshly made mushroom mafaldi, irresistible gnocchi and wood oven baked pizza. Throughout the course of the night, guests drank cocktails and Prosecco, indulged in Italian donuts and gelato, and mingled over the delicious medley of flavours. Suffice to say, any event with fresh pasta being made right before your eyes is bound to be a favourite. And for the record, we’ll gladly ditch a carb-free summer diet for a sweet bite of Gusto 54’s delights!