We had the good fortune of connecting with Luca Manganaro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luca, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
Together with my wife, we have made a conscious effort to be in the moment when we are with our daughter, Luna. Not thinking about the past nor the future, the pending chores or obligations we have in our life. We want to show her by example that you can do it all, you can be the greatest parent, friend, son or daughter, entrepreneur, citizen…you can be a complete human being, if you value this very moment and give 100% to it. Of course, it’s easier said than done, but that’s our goal.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Nonna Tiramisù was born out of the love for my mother, who despite her lupus and weak joints never hesitated to make delicious meals for our family.

For those who don’t know, lupus is an autoimmune disorder which takes many forms. In my mom’s case, this illness makes her joints weak and often sore, and her skin is prone to very easy cuts. She has to take an enormous amount of meds every single day. Her hands look worn out as if she were 110 years old, but she’s only about to be 70.
Her blood circulation is the poorest and she suffers from cold because of it. I’ve seen her health deteriorate over the past 25 years, yet she’s always thrown herself into new culinary adventures, learning all sorts of new recipes from her relatives and friends, and recently she has even picked up crochet and has become a master at it, just in a few months.
She grew up in a small town, Supersano, in the south of Italy. Her culinary skills are the result of generations of mothers who poured their hearts and wisdom into the kitchen. Her tiramisù, in particular, is out of this world. Never soggy, never too sweet. You can truly enjoy the ladyfingers’ texture and the powerful clash of the bitter espresso and the flavorful cream.
When our daughter Luna was born, mamma Lena became Nonna (grandma) Lena.
She would have loved to be here more often to get to know her granddaughter, but those were the Covid years.
We were missing her and our relatives from Italy and Singapore. We were missing her tiramisù!
“How do you make it anyway, Nonna?”. She agreed to share her recipe with us, and the results astonished us. Using premium, imported ingredients, it was almost like having her here.
We brought our tiramisù to a couple of dinners, and the enthusiastic reactions made us see how there is a need for authentic Italian tiramisù, not just in Los Angeles, but in this country!
Nonna Tiramisù was born out of a desire to honor Italian tradition and innovate it based on fusions that make our hearts beat stronger. We created the matcha tiramisù, a daring blend of cultures and flavors, soon followed by the Liquor Tiramisù, with Southern Italian Rum “San Marzano”, and the Vegan Tiramisù, a daring leap into uncharted territories of supreme taste!
Our business is exclusively focused on making the best tiramisù.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take them to the SGI Friendship Center at 5899 Venice Blvd, where we could chant and elevate our life condition! From there, we’d go have some nice matcha latte and pastries at Urth Cafe in Santa Monica, up to the Palisades at Swarthmore and Via de Las Olas for a breathtaking view of the ocean. Then, eat some delicious pasta at Uovo in Marina Del Rey. Then, off to the Huntington Library in San Marino, such a beautiful place to stroll around. Then, grabbing some boba at Bubble Republic in San Gabriel, 800 W Las Tunas. Before hitting Kyochon at 3833 W 6th Street in Ktown for some of the best chicken wings you’ve ever had!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh yes absolutely! I’ve received SO much support throughout the years! My wife Yvonne and daughter Luna being on top of that list. Together with my mentor Daisaku Ikeda and my fellow SGI Buddhist members and nam-myoho-renge-kyo “chanters”, who walk the walk together with me, for a victorious life and a better society! I owe so much to my parents, my brother and my friends too, the list would be too long to share here!

I owe so much to Holly Min, owner of “Not Yo Mama’s Pantry”, who helped me get started and still gives me invaluable advice, as well as my business mentors Susan Petrella and Aja Beard, and my friend Fabian Alsultany who gives me great advice as well!

Website: https://nonnatiramisu.com/

Instagram: nonnatiramisu

Image Credits
Yvonne Ng

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