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Luana Belmondo opens up about the holidays, family rituals and the quiet work of rebuilding her life. In a candid conversation with Gala, the Italian-born chef reflects on the small traditions that make Christmas meaningful, what she still loves about the season, and how she plans to move forward into 2026.
Childhood magic and the Santa ritual she still remembers fondly
Luana recalls a vivid childhood atmosphere that shaped how she celebrates today. She describes living outside Paris in a house with a chimney, cutting a real tree, and recreating that cinematic, almost American-style Christmas for her children.
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“When my boys were small and believed in Santa, we would write letters and leave them out,” she says. “On the 24th I would wait until they slept, then set a plate of biscuits and a glass of milk by the fireplace.”
The story took a tender turn when her eldest, Alessandro, caught her in the act. He understood the truth but quietly agreed to keep it from his younger brothers. Luana calls that memory one of the sweetest moments of motherhood.
What she listens to, watches, and cooks during the holidays
Favorite songs and festive soundtrack picks
While Mariah Carey’s seasonal hits dominate playlists, Luana prefers a different classic. She confesses a soft spot for “Last Christmas” by Wham! because of her teenage admiration for George Michael and its 1980s nostalgia.
Holiday films she returns to
- The Holiday — a romantic comedy she enjoys for its warmth and escape.
- How the Grinch (2000) — she appreciates the Whoville energy and the film’s playful obsession with Christmas.
The family recipe that defines her Christmas table
Food is central to Luana’s celebrations. Her go-to festive dish is tortellini in brodo, the family recipe her mother used to make. She explains how the pasta is filled and served in a rich broth made from several meats simmered for days.
“We eat tortellini on the 25th with a broth that has been cooking for three or four days,” she explains. “The smells and the warmth are what make it feel like Christmas.”
Gifts and the small wishes she lets herself have
Luana does not ask for extravagant presents. Most gifts she receives revolve around cookware and kitchen gadgets. This year she hinted at one particular tool.
- A compact oven for home-based pizza and bread baking, similar to baker’s ovens but adapted for a household.
- A shared family trip — she suggests a joint getaway as a gift for her sons, to enjoy time together.
She laughs at the idea that practical items bring her real joy, and that culinary tools often top her wish list.
Two hard years behind her and a forward-looking 2026
Luana acknowledges the past two years have been testing. Her public separation was intense and she describes the last period as one of emotional work and recovery. Yet she frames the experience as a time of personal growth.
She says the year was about rebuilding, finding inner strength, and learning to accept help. “I could have stayed in sorrow, but I chose to move on,” she told the magazine.
Her optimism is practical. Beyond healing, Luana is focused on concrete projects. Her cookbook, La Nostra Pasta, published by Cherche Midi, is just a starting point for plans she wants to bring to life in the coming months.
Plans, projects, and the personal goals she names for the new year
Looking toward 2026, Luana expresses a clear desire to protect her family and to see professional ambitions realized. She frames the new year as a second spring — a fresh chapter after difficult seasons.
- Expand culinary projects linked to her book and public appearances.
- Keep investing in family time and the little rituals that sustain them.
- Maintain the personal resilience she discovered during recovery.
She welcomes 2026 with open arms, hoping for health and happiness for her children and grandson, and for the realization of plans she has quietly cultivated.
