Viva Italia!

Misti See Broussard works on one of the trendiest streets in San Diego. One of the founders of Mixture on Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy, she wines and dines there, too. Luckily, her husband/cofounder, Brumby, is a trained chef, and he loves to indulge her, the staff and clients with southern specialties, cupcakes and other treats, whipped up in Mixture’s working Scavolini kitchen.

A great way to showcase their modern kitchen solutions from Italy, the Scavolini demo kitchen is equipped with two dishwashers and a full line of appliances, meaning the staff has “lots of lunches and breakfasts there,” Broussard says. When she has time to explore Little Italy, she makes Chi Chocolat her first stop for a delicious breakfast panini. Then she’s off to Assenti’s Pasta for sauces and fresh-made pastas.

Little Italy recently nicknamed itself San Diego’s Art & Design District, so a day here wouldn’t be complete without perusing the galleries—and there are plenty of them. “The 2400 building alone has so many new galleries and artist studios, it’s hard not to want to see all of them,” says Broussard, who is especially fond of David Zapf Gallery and Scott White Contemporary Art.

While contemporary art complements Mixture’s collection of clean-line furnishings and playful accessories, Broussard says adopting a modern style doesn’t mean you have to get rid of family heirlooms. “You should mix your old and new, and your house shouldn’t look like our showroom,” she says. “The great thing about design today is that it’s about who you are. So take the old or the antique and accent it by working it in with modern purchases. A home should be a collection of different styles, reflecting different parts of life.”

When looking for items with history, Broussard likes to shop India Street Antiques and Architectural Salvage. “Antique stores remind me of my grandmother, and that’s always a good thing,” she says.

For modern design, however, Little Italy has an array of shops bringing the cutting edge to San Diego, including DNA European De­sign Studio, Boomerang for Modern, Zazou Home, Disegno Italiano and Adorn. The choices can be overwhelming. Can’t decide between the Ghost Chair and the Spoon Stool from Kartell? Wondering if that Moooi chandelier will work in your loft? Just ask Broussard or one of the other folks at Mixture, which also provides interior design services.

And if, at the end of a day in Little Italy, you’ve got too many purchases weighing you down, there are plenty of places to recharge—from Zia’s Bistro to the Waterfront to Indigo Grill. Or follow Broussard’s lead and have a glass of wine at Tango before heading back to Mixture for a home-cooked meal.

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