To truly appreciate our story, we need to take you back to 1957. Post-war Italy was still reeling from the devastation of World War II, and many families like ours faced little opportunity, political instability and financial hardship as the country struggled to recover.

That year, my grandparents, Nonna Maria and Nonno Marcello, made the courageous decision to leave their Italian hometown of Trieste in search of a better future. With determination, resilience, and an unshakable work ethic, they arrived in Australia ready to start a new life. They embraced their new home wholeheartedly, integrating into the Australian community while still holding tightly to the Italian cultural traditions that shaped them.

Food was always at the heart of our family gatherings characterised by laughter, conversation, and the comforting aromas of Italian cooking. Even as they built a life in a new land, my grandparents passed on their heritage through the traditions they celebrated, meals they prepared and the memories they created.

After Nonno Marcello passed away in 2018, and Nonna Maria a few years later in 2023, we felt a deep desire to honour their legacy. We always cooked together and cherished our family traditions, from making wine to our annual sauce days. Nonna was always at the centre, guiding, instructing, and pouring love into every dish. Nonno was the unofficial critic.

To me, Nonna Maria was the greatest cook on earth. It felt only natural to carry on her tradition by making crostoli, a beloved family favourite and a Triestine tradition. When I discovered her handwritten recipe book, I found her famous crostoli recipe only to realise it was more a collection of notes rather than a formal recipe. No measurements, no instructions. Just ingredients written on paper.

After twelve months of trial and error, experimenting and tweaking, we finally recreated her crostoli exactly as she made them.

Initially, we had no intention of selling them. We were simply making crostoli for family, friends, and special occasions just like Nonna always had. It was our way of keeping her legacy and memory alive. But after a few gatherings and celebrations, a relative suggested we start selling them. One thing led to another and in August 2024, we launched our first market stall.

We named our business Del Bello Biscotti - Del Bello being Nonna’s maiden name. It serves as a reminder of our purpose: to honour the memory of our Nonni, celebrate our Italian heritage and pay tribute to all the post-war Italian and European migrants that contributed immensely and made Australia their new home.

Since then, we’ve expanded our offerings to include a range of amaretti flavours, each with its own connection to our family. Our traditional Amaretti comes from my mother-in-law Connie’s cherished recipe, while the Hazelnut and Limoncello variations are creations my wife Jessica and I have enjoyed developing together.

At Del Bello, we use the finest ingredients and stay true to the authentic flavours of both Italy and Australia. We invite you to share in our heritage, our passion, and our story one bite at a time.

Benvenuti nella famiglia Del Bello.

Jordan - Founder / General Manager