The First Day We Got Our Stars: Marco Sacco

"Opened in 1974, this lakeside restaurant sits on stilts over the glittering waters of Lake Mergozzo near Verbania and focuses on modern interpretations and regional classics using ingredients from the surrounding Alpine valleys. At its helm is second-generation chef-owner Marco Sacco, who grew up in his father’s kitchen and later returned with a renewed style shaped by his travels. Under his watch, the kitchen leans into local produce and materials: freshwater fish from nearby lakes, extra-virgin olive oil from Umbria, Formazza butter served on chilled stones from the River Toce in Piedmont, and bread presented on heated gneiss rock from the Ossola valley. The approach soon caught the attention of MICHELIN inspectors, earning a first star in 2004 and a second in 2007." - Rachel Tan