A Nonna's Recipe, a Family's Legacy
Mascarpone Cake By Benassi is still run by just one woman and a small, dedicated team — Katia Benassi-de Guzman. Born to an Italian father and a Filipina mother, Katia grew up in the small Italian town of Massa, Tuscany, where tiramisu was known simply as "mascarpone cake" and was lovingly prepared by Italian nonnas at every family gathering.
Her own nonna passed down the recipe — a piece of home that traveled with Katia's family when they moved to Manila. For years, the cake was made only for family dinners and close friends. It first gained a wider audience at the Benassi family's Italian restaurant in Ortigas. Even after the restaurant closed, the craving for it never did.
The turning point came when an influencer discovered the cake at a friend's gathering. Orders began to surge, an Instagram account was created in 2019, and the rest, as they say, is delicious history. Today, Mascarpone Cake By Benassi features on several "Best Tiramisu in Manila" lists — from influencers to major publications like Tatler PH, Rappler, and When In Manila.
