Meet Ale Gambini: Italian Food Ambassador, author, and cooking instructor

As an Italian food advocate, author, and cooking instructor, I was quite shocked when I relocated to the US in seeing so many misunderstandings and misleading information about Italian cuisine. That’s the main reason why I started to write about Italian food and collaborating with Italian institutions, organizations, magazines, and brands.

I was born and raised in Italy and food has always played an important role in my life. Italian cuisine and food are not only delicious but considered among the healthiest in the world. Moving to another country is always a big change but I wasn’t expecting such a big difference in food habits. I can’t believe how many food products labeled as Italian are NOT, how many so-called Italian restaurants are bastardizing the extraordinary Italian taste. Looks like that labeling something as Italian sells more but that’s shameful. Preserving and promoting authenticity through my books, articles, keynote presentations, cooking classes, that’s my main goal! I recently won The Taste Awards with a series based on my original format Eatalians and co-produced with I Love Italian Food to promote the extraordinary European food quality. I’m also one of the founding members of the Tiramisú Academy California along with two food and travel experts Christina Conte and Cynthia McCloud Woodman. I’m currently promoting my new book No Ketchup on Spaghetti with a book tour in the US (virtual and in-person).

As far as Italian food, I always cook for them, but if I had to suggest some cool spots in town I’d say Gelateria Dolcenero in Santa.Monica for authentic Italian gelato, Pizzeria da Michele in Hollywood (great Neapolitan Pizza), Osteria Angelini for a delicious Lasagna alla Bolognese (made with spinach lasagne as per tradition), and LA Puglia, a new restaurant in Santa Monica that serves authentic Apulian food. I love Mexican food and I would suggest tacos at Tacos Tu Madre in Westwood and Salmon Taco and/or Filet Mignon Taco at Sonoritas Prime Tacos in Sawtelle.

I want to dedicate the shoutout to No Ketchup on Spaghetti, the book I wrote to celebrate the extraordinary Italian food culture. This book is the result of years of teaching how to cook as Italians do, it is a love letter to Italian cuisine and my way to thanks all the Italian food “warriors” around the globe (chefs, restaurateurs, food experts…).