Roberto ‘Loli’ Linguanotto, the Italian pastry chef believed to have invented the iconic tiramisu dessert, died on Sunday aged 81.
Dubbed the ‘father of tiramisu’, Linguanotto passed away in Italy after a long-term battle with an unspecified illness.
The famous pastry chef created the culinary classic in the early 1970s while working at Alle Beccherie, a renowned restaurant in Treviso, northern Italy.
The sweet treat has several origin stories, including one that says Linguanotto had accidentally dropped mascarpone in to a bowl of sugar and eggs.
According to locals, Linguanotto then perfected the coffee-flavoured dessert recipe with the help of Alba di Pillo-Campeol, the wife of Alle Beccherie owner Ado Campeol.
Dubbed the ‘father of tiramisu’, Roberto Linguanotto passed away in Italy after a long-term battle with an unspecified illness
The famous pastry chef created the culinary classic in the early 1970s while working at Alle Beccherie, a renowned restaurant in Treviso, northern Italy. Pictured: Roberto ‘Loli’ Linguanotto in the 80’s (right)
She allegedly later added ladyfingers soaked in espresso to the dessert.
Made with just six ingredients – eggs, savoiardi, sugar, mascarpone, coffee and cocoa – the dessert was originally christened ‘Tirame Sù’, a name that translates to ‘pick me up’.
Journalist Gigi Padovani, who became Linguanotto’s close friend, co-authored the book ‘Tiramisù’ with his wife Clara.
He recalled: ‘In no time, that dessert became a staple at Le Beccherie.
‘It was served on a round tray with ladyfingers soaked in coffee, and two layers of cream and mascarpone.
‘A few years later, in 1983, the tiramisu recipe was published in a Treviso gastronomic magazine for the first time.
‘Le Beccherie then took it to Venice and later spread it around the world.
‘From the 1990s onwards, the dessert became famous everywhere.’
Linguanotto was reportedly popular among his colleagues despite being shy and reserved.
He had spent several years working abroad before returning home to his native Veneto.
One tiramisu origin story claims Linguanotto accidentally dropped mascarpone in a bowl of sugar and eggs
Linguanotto was reportedly very popular among his colleagues despite being shy and reserved
Paying tribute to Linguanotto, the governor of the Veneto region Luca Zaia said: ‘I join in mourning the passing of Roberto Linguanotto, who made a significant impact in the world of pastry.
‘Tiramisù today is a culinary excellence recognised throughout the world and the credit for such a success also goes to [Linguanotto’s] mastery as a pastry chef and his desire to make our Venetian delicacy unique and inimitable, making tiramisù stand out among national and international desserts’.
Also paying tribute to the late chef was Francesco Redi , organiser of the Tiramisù World Cup.
He said: ‘We remember him with affection and with that sweetness that has always distinguished his ways.
‘He and his family have supported us from the beginning and we are grateful to him because without his invention this global movement of tiramisù lovers would not exist’.
Other competing claims to the invention of the dessert come from a 19th-century Treviso brothel madam and even Siena in the 17th century in honour of Grand Duke.
