Tributes & Legacy

Through these honors, Ale’s spirit continues to inspire: her passion, her elegance, and the love she infused in every recipe are carried forward not only by her family and friends but also by entire communities on both sides of the ocean.

Ale Gambini, known as A Queen in the Kitchen and Bread Love and Dreams, was honored multiple times by The Taste Awards, often called “the Oscars of food, fashion, and lifestyle media.” Her passion for authentic Italian food and storytelling earned her recognition both as a finalist and as a winner across different years and categories:

2019 (10th Annual Taste Awards): A Queen in the Kitchen – Estate Italiana was a Finalist / Honoree in the category Best Ethnic Lifestyle Series, Program or Film.

2020 (11th Annual Taste Awards): The same series won a Taste Award in Best Ethnic Lifestyle Series, Program or Film.

2021 (12th Annual Taste Awards): Fresh Up Your Life (a web series based on her format Eatalians and co-produced with I Love Italian Food) won a Taste Award in Best Green or Organic Series, Program or Film.

2021: Ale personally received recognition as a Taste Award recipient for her work as host and producer.

2023: Ale was inducted into the Taste Awards Hall of Fame, honoring her creativity, authenticity, and contribution to food media.

2024 (posthumous): The award category Best Filmed at Home Episode or Film was officially renamed “The Ale Gambini Award for Best Filmed at Home Episode or Film.” A tribute of this kind is rare, and it stands as a testament to the respect and admiration she earned internationally.

📸 Media & Images

• Ale Gambini (Getty Images)

Ale’s name is also deeply tied to the story of Tiramisù, the dessert she helped elevate into a cultural symbol. On March 21, 2021, during the celebration of Tiramisù Day, she became a main founder of the very first Tiramisù Club, alongside Francesco Redi, with the support of Christina Conte and Cynthia McCloud Woodman. From this initiative, the Tiramisù Club California was officially established in Los Angeles. Later, on October 13, the club was dedicated to her and renamed Tiramisù Club California Ale Gambini, recognizing her as its Representative and Italian Food Ambassador.

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Ale Gambini – Resources & Legacy

📌 Interviews

• Rising Stars: Meet Ale Gambini (Voyage LA)
• Excellence in Authentic Italian Cuisine in America (We the Italians)
• Italian Food Tradition: In the Kitchen with Chef Ale Gambini (L’Italo-Americano)
• Meet Ale Gambini: Italian Food Ambassador, Author, and Cooking Instructor (Shoutout LA)
• 5 Italian Dishes That Influenced My Career (La Cucina Italiana USA)
• Italian Kitchen Royalty: The Granddaughter of a Queen (Cugine in Cucina)

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🕊️ In Memory Of

• Farewell to Ale Gambini, the Queen in the Kitchen (We the Italians)

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🌟 Features

• Alessandra “Ale” Gambini (Author Page, Appetito Magazine)
• Person of the Month: Ale Gambini (Magnifico Food)
• A Queen in the Kitchen at the Los Angeles Chocolate Salon
• Food Blog Spotlight: Bread, Love and Dreams (Italia Living)

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Celebration of Life (under construction)

A dedicated section will soon be available to honor Ale Gambini’s life in a more personal way.
This space will gather tributes, articles, photos, and memories shared by friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives she touched with her kindness, creativity, and passion.

It will serve as a living archive of love and gratitude—a celebration of Ale not only as a food writer, teacher, and ambassador of Italian culture, but also as a wife, mother, and friend.

Please check back soon to revisit her story through the words and memories of those who continue to carry her spirit forward.

February 26th, 2025

Honoring Ale Gambini, One Year Later

Letter From The Husband & Producer

Dear Family and Friends,

This week marks one year since Ale’s passing, the anniversary I never wanted to face, at least not so soon. Nearly 800 million precious moments have passed since our paths first crossed, moving in fast-forward. In contrast, this past year has dragged in slow motion, each moment cutting through me like a knife, reminding me of how fragile life truly is.

She left on February 26 at noon,her favorite time of day, il mezzogiorno italiano, when she would sit down for a meal. After nearly a year of battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer, enduring chemotherapy cycles that never truly worked, a major surgery, and a cutting-edge clinical trial she was lucky to be selected for, where she placed all her last hopes, even as her body was already paying the toll of the disease and chemo, her body could fight no longer.

Her brain and heart held on until the very last second. I was there, holding her hand as she took her final breath. And then, silence. The suffering was over. Those final five days in hospice at the hospital were the most intimate moments we had. I chose to be with her completely, caring for her myself, bathing her, reminiscing about our life, watching our wedding videos, reliving our love story in those final moments together. Just the two of us, as it all began. 

Since my eulogy, my daughter and I have chosen to cherish the good memories rather than drown in sorrow. We are grateful for having had her, not angry for losing her. Grief is deeply personal, and I respect the many ways people cope with loss. 

For me, I want to highlight just how extraordinary Ale was. If you are reading this, there’s a good chance your path also crossed with hers. Even with our differences, which anyone who knew us could see, we balanced each other in ways that made our connection undeniable. She was still my perfect soulmate, complementing me in every way. Beautiful inside and out. Pure. Honest. Talented. Fun. Quiet yet impactful. Classy. Creative. Loving. Resilient. A fighter. Hopeful. Grateful. The best and most honest friend anyone could ask for.

The more I think about it, the more I miss her, the more I know, without a doubt, she was my soulmate. I always knew it, but grief has a way of deepening what was already certain. What I miss the most are the small, everyday things, the routines we built together, the quiet moments that held so much meaning. It’s ironic in a way; I was always the loud one, our daughter is loud too, and Ale was the quiet one. But her warmth, her laughter, and her smile were always the loudest in the room. That silence now is deafening. That void will never truly be filled, not in the way it was. And yet, I have to accept that while still encouraging good times ahead, for me and for our daughter, as Ale would have wanted above all else.

I am honored when people notice my strength and recognize how hard I am trying. But only a few see the part that isn’t showing: the crying, the sadness, the nights alone in a bed that once felt too small and now feels too large. Waking up in a house that used to be just the right size and now feels as vast as a castle, yet as silent as a temple. 

And once again, I want to thank my daughter for being here. She doesn’t even know how much she is holding me up, just by being there, by giving me a reason to wake up, by making me her dad and, in so many ways, trying my best to be her mom too. To cope, I started recording audio messages to her, what I now call my ‘wind phone.’ I call her every day, sometimes twice, leaving messages just like I did when she was alive. She never answered back then, always letting the answering machine pick up, and now, she never will. But speaking into the void has given me a sense of connection, a way to keep her presence alive. More than 500 messages this year, each one carrying a piece of my heart, a piece of our life. It has become part of my routine, a private ritual that helps me process my grief, reminding me that love doesn’t vanish, it transforms. 

Ale was not only an incredible writer, food ambassador, and recipe developer, she was also an amazing life partner. For almost a quarter of a century, we shared everything, our home, our travels, our jobs. We worked side by side, first as musicians, touring and performing on TV shows, and later as a producer and host for her cooking shows and channels. We never stayed apart for more than a month in 25 years. Our time together was intense, filled with shared experiences, challenges, laughter, and love. Even now, I continue working on her legacy, learning to cook from her books, sharing her work with the world, and keeping her passion alive. She may be physically gone, but her spirit, her influence, and her dreams are still here, stronger than ever. The queen is not going anywhere. Her legacy is alive, and there is so much more to come: #LongLiveTheQueen. 

Just a few days after she passed last year, the Taste Awards Academy, where Ale participated for several years and won multiple medals and awards, honored her in a way that would have deeply moved her. The year before she was also inducted into their Walk of Fame, and last year the ‘Best Video from Home’ award was renamed ‘The Ale Gambini Best Video from Home Award’ in her memory. I can’t wait to attend the upcoming ceremony this March in Beverly Hills to witness this tribute to her lasting impact. 

Additionally, the Tiramisu World Cup and Academy have honored her legacy by renaming the Tiramisu Club California, which Ale originally founded, as ‘The Ale Gambini Tiramisu Club California.’ It is heartwarming to see how much she is still cherished by the culinary world. Even now, many brands and collaborators continue to reach out, asking for participation and collaborations, further proving that her influence remains strong. Stay tuned. And in the meantime, please do not forget to check in on her social media channels and support keeping her work alive in any way you can:

Website  /  Facebook  /  Instagram

And finally, I thank you. I am endlessly grateful for everyone who has supported us in every small and big way throughout this past year. Your kindness helped us navigate the unimaginable, whether it was through organizing efforts, donating to the GoFundMe campaign to cover the overwhelming medical expenses, or simply being there for us. The financial burden of treatment in this country is staggering, the dark side of an otherwise outstanding healthcare system, with costs reaching hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in just one year. And yet, through all of it, we never felt alone. Throughout this past year, I have been reminded of the kindness and generosity of so many people. From the heartfelt messages to the quiet gestures of support, each one has meant more than I can express. I still remember the times when a simple text or call from a friend made an unbearable day a little lighter. 

If you’ve read this far, if you’ve taken the time to remember Ale, to think of her, to hold her in your thoughts, your time and love for her, for me, and for our family are deeply appreciated. It does not go unnoticed, and it is never taken for granted. #UntilWeMeetAgain.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Maurizio OTTO De Togni – Husband / Producer
Husband / Producer & Daughter

© 2013–2025: Alessandra Gambini – A Queen In The Kitchen – BLAD – Maurizio De Togni