“Checkpoint Ciao Osteria Debuts With Italian Roots and Local Influence“
The Tulum Times
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Checkpoint Ciao Osteria
“A Gastronomic Manifesto in the Heart of Tulum”
Born from a passion for teamwork alongside the talented Chef Marco Sforza, who hails from Saporium, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Florence. Inspired by the Italian Masseria (farmhouse) of Puglia, the space speaks through classical shapes and curves, evoking memories of ancient rural homes. It is a place that stimulates the mind and soul, fusing gastronomy, aesthetics, and nature.
Osteria, which in Italian means house of wine and good food, is a sanctuary where one shares, converses, and time passes differently. Here, wood-fired ovens, live ferments, and knowledgeable hands converse with the exuberance of the Mexican Caribbean. More than just a restaurant, it is a meeting point between histories. A contemporary osteria with a Mediterranean soul, sustained by refined technique, honest products, and a narrative that celebrates Mestizaje (cultural mixing) as an art and as a destination.
“Cuisine is not just an act of nutrition, but an expression of civilization.”
Our proposal is deeply rooted in the most authentic Mediterranean Italy—the one that still breathes in sunny terraces, family gardens, and sourdough bread—and is projected toward a sustainable future, where respect for the earth guides every decision.
Under the guidance of Chef Marco Sforza, an artisan of flavor and an alchemist of memory, the menu intertwines ancestral recipes with contemporary techniques. Every dish is a testament: to the seasons that set the rhythm, to ingredients that tell their own story, and to a culinary art that aspires to reconcile the eternal with the ephemeral.
Born in Turin in 1983, he began his culinary journey at 17, training alongside renowned chefs such as Gualtiero Marchesi and Gordon Ramsay. In 2007, he left his position as sous chef at the historic Del Cambio restaurant to dedicate himself entirely to pastry, working in the laboratory of the Alajmo family at Le Calandre (**Michelin), and collaborating with Nobu in New York and Villa Joya (*Michelin, Portugal). In 2013, he relocated to Lima, where he worked with Pedro Miguel Schaffino at Malabar, deepening his expertise in Amazonian techniques and experimental cuisine.
Upon returning to Italy, he specialized in fermentation, chocolate-making, and sourdough, participating in high-level bakery projects, consulting work, and training programs with Slow Food. In 2020, Panettone was born—a collaboration with Matteo Ferrantino (Bianc, **Michelin), focused on 100% natural fermentation and modern techniques. He currently serves as Executive Pastry Chef at Saporium Firenze and Saporium Chiusdino (Red and Green Michelin Star), and as a baking and pastry consultant for Epi Plage, Saint Tropez.
Beach Road, Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila KM 7.5 Tulum Beach, 77760 Tulum, Q.R.
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