Rising Stars: Meet Ale Gambini

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ale Gambini.

Ale, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Italy (Milan) and I moved to the US fifteen years ago to follow my husband’s career. In my previous life (the one in Italy), I was a professional musician but I’ve always had a soft spot for our extraordinary food culture. I started cooking when I was a kid and everything I’ve learned about good and healthy food is because of my grandmother Fernanda. She was an amazing cook, I would say the best I’ve ever known at least about classic Italian cuisine. She didn’t like to bake though, so I filled the gap by making any kind of dessert. Here in the US, I decided that my passion for food was bigger than one for music, so I started taking classes, writing about Italian food on a blog, collaborating with Italian food organizations and institutions, developing recipes for Italian and international brands, and so on. In 2016 I published my first cookbook A Queen in the Kitchen, followed by leading cooking classes at the Italian Cultural Insitute in LA. I’m a lifelong learner so I’ve never stopped implementing my knowledge about food. I’m a certified chocolate taster and tea master. I studied French Pastry and I’m currently the official chef brand ambassador for Matilde Vicenzi USA, the worldwide leader in Italian fine pastries. I’m also one of the founding members of the Tiramisù Academy California. In 2020 I’ve published my second cookbook No Ketchup on Spaghetti.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, no business has a smooth road, There are always bumps along the way but perseverance pays off. I’ve met many people in these years, and some of them turned out to be negatives and opportunists. I think that in the food business, like any other business, it is important to separate the job from friendship. I’ve learned that LA is a very competitive city and that not everything that shines is gold. It is called La la land for a reason.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to define myself as an Italian food advocate. My main goal is to protect and promote the REAL Italian agri-food products, and that’s why I’ve written No Ketchup on Spaghetti, a guide on how to shop, eat, and cook like an Italian. On the other hand, I’m a chocolate sommelier and cacao facilitator. The passion for this incredibly sacred bean grew up in me over the past years and has become an important part of my profession. Recently I had the honor and privilege to be one of the judges of the International Chocolate Awards Americas.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have no secret in my kitchen, but probably some people don’t know about my previous career as a musician. In the end, cooking is a form of art as much as playing an instrument.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aqueeninthekitchen.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/alegambinidt & instagram.com/noketchuponspaghetti
• Facebook: Facebook.com/aqueeninthekitchen
• Other: Vimeo.com/aqueeninthekitchen

Image Credits
Maurizio De Togni