Roberto ‘Loli’ Linguanotto dead – Italian pastry chef who invented the iconic Tiramisu dessert dies aged 81

A PASTRY chef widely regarded as the inventor of tiramisu has died aged 81.

Roberto “Loli” Linguanotto passed away yesterday after a long illness.

Jam Press

Tiramisu inventor Roberto ‘Loli’ Linguanotto died yesterday[/caption]

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Italian dessert tiramisu is now a favourite of diners everywhere[/caption]

Jam Press

One story says Linguanotto accidentally dropped mascarpone in a bowl of sugar and eggs[/caption]

His name is indelibly connected with the decadent coffee-flavoured dessert tiramisu that emerged in the 1980s.

Linguanotto was a pastry chef at the renowned restaurant Le Beccherie in Treviso, Italy, when he allegedly invented it.

The coffee-flavoured pudding has a number of origin stories.

By one account, Linguanotto accidentally dropped mascarpone in a bowl of sugar and eggs.

Later, he and co-inventor Alba di Pillo-Campeol – wife of Le Beccherie owner Ado Campeol – added ladyfingers soaked in espresso.

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.”

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