Toni Brancatisano was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, as one of four siblings and the younger of twins. Her father, Giuseppe (Joe), was born in Calabria, Italy, to Vincenzo and Concetta, and is one of nine children (eight boys and one girl). While Vincenzo emigrated to Australia in 1950 with the two elder sons, Joe emigrated with his mother and six siblings in 1955.

After graduating as a registered nurse from the Royal Melbourne School of Nursing in 1993, Toni embarked on a working holiday in London in 1995 and her love for travel took her on an adventure that would shape her life in unexpected ways.

Originally planning to nanny two-year-old triplet girls for six months, she extended her stay in London to three years. Eventually, however, visa requirements led her to leave the country, prompting her next adventure in La Jolla, California. There, she worked for three months as a prep chef in a friend’s Italian restaurant, refining her culinary skills and passion for Italian cuisine.

In August 1998, Toni arrived in Tuscany for what she thought would be her final summer abroad before returning to Australia—but that plan quickly changed. A Tuscan wedding and two children later, her passion for cooking and baking flourished, and a simple hobby of creating birthday cakes for her children soon grew into a cake decorating business, making and selling cupcakes, celebration cakes, and tiered wedding cakes.

Toni’s culinary talent brought her to Italy’s first cooking reality show, La Scuola—Cucina di Classe on Gambero Rosso Channel (Sky) in 2009. After twelve weeks of intense culinary challenges, she emerged victorious, winning her own show on the network.

In 2010, she launched Le Torte di Toni, a cake decorating series featuring her daughter Annabella. Together, they made three series of the show, followed by two more series called Le Torte di Toni—Masterclass, where Toni invited guest decorators to join her each episode.

Toni’s first book, La Torta Perfetta di Toni, was published by Gribaudo Feltrinelli Publishing in 2012.

After nearly fifteen years in Tuscany, Toni relocated to Rome, where she continued to share her love for Italian cuisine by leading group food tours and cooking classes. Her work has led to exciting roles—from guest speaking to catering for Australian and New Zealand embassy events in Rome to working as a food stylist for advertising and publicity campaigns.

Today Toni concentrates on leading bespoke, private food tours in Rome, and collaborating with travel consultants worldwide. 

Toni is the proud mother of two children, Annabella and Joseph. Her journey, rooted in her love for Italian culture, food, and family, is a celebration of the unexpected paths life can take when passion and opportunity meet.

Toni’s passion for cooking is a heartfelt tribute to her extraordinary mother, Roslyn. Renowned for her exquisite dinner parties, flawless table settings, and mastery of savory and sweet creations, Roslyn was the epitome of culinary elegance. Her untimely passing left an indelible mark, inspiring Toni to carry forward her legacy of love through food.