When Alessio Mezzetti landed in Australia in 2015, arriving from Città della Pieve, a medieval village in the province of Perugia, just a few kilometres from the Umbria-Tuscany border, he had no idea of the life-changing experience that awaited him.
With a background in e-commerce and marketing, he embarked on a journey to explore a continent that would eventually bring him immense satisfaction. Like many of his fellow Italians, Mezzetti arrived in Australia without knowing English, making the first few weeks a real challenge.
“It was a real shock,” he recalled, “Not being able to communicate freely made everything more difficult.”
Determined not to give up, Mezzetti found a job in a restaurant where he began improving his English and immersing himself in Australian culture.
“It was a humble beginning, but a necessary one,” he said.
“Every day, I learned something new in the kitchen, and it was a valuable experience - to step outside my comfort zone.”
During this time, Mezzetti also met the love of his life, the woman who would later become his wife.
Together, they navigated bureaucratic hurdles and today they are on the verge of securing permanent residency.
“We’re almost at the finish line. It’s been a long road, but we’re ready to settle here for good,” he said with enthusiasm.
Improving his English and building a stable life are just two of the goals Mezzetti has achieved recently. However, he had always harboured a loftier dream: to open his own restaurant.
Fuelled by his passion for cooking, he recently took the plunge and opened Il Palio, a restaurant in Mosman that blends traditional Italian cuisine with the best of Australian gastronomy.
“I wanted to create an experience that went beyond the typical Italian restaurant. This is my vision of what happens when two cultures meet and express themselves through food,” Mezzetti explained.
He also noted that it’s not just the famous city of Siena that has a Palio, but also his beloved Città della Pieve.
“I wanted to pay tribute to my roots and a local tradition where different neighbourhoods or factions compete to win a symbolic banner, known as the Palio,” he said.
“The customers love how I manage to combine local ingredients with Italian techniques and flavours. This blend of tastes reflects my own journey between these two seemingly distant worlds that actually have so much in common.”
Beyond running his restaurant, Mezzetti is deeply involved in the Italian-Australian community. He is part of the GIA Network, the Italian-Australian Youth Network, which allows him to maintain his connection to Italy and share experiences with other young Italians who have chosen Australia as their new home.
“Being part of this network gives me the opportunity to stay connected to my culture while also building something new here for Italian youths who arrive and feel a bit lost,” he shared.
With permanent residency now within reach, Mezzetti is proof that with determination, you can truly achieve any dream, no matter where in the world you are.
