How many different kinds of tiramisu can you think of?
Well, chef Marco Casula has to come up with 150 varieties of the traditional Italian dessert if he wants to wow observers at a Guinness World Records Official Event set for 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, at Café del Mar on Fort Lauderdale beach.
“It’s not enough to just change one ingredient,” Casula tells the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Each variation must have its own identity, its own balance and an emotion to convey. I worked day and night for months, testing, tasting and perfecting every detail. Reaching 150 variations is a record-breaking feat.”
Think mojito, Dubai chocolate, mango Baileys, peach and more. Much more. Oh, and another thing: The first 100 people get a free tiramisu taster.
Tiramisu, like Casula, comes from Italy. The dessert is made with ladyfinger sweet sponge cake — traditionally dipped in coffee — and layered with mascarpone custard, egg yolks, sugar and then topped with cocoa powder. Casula says he’s been fascinated by tiramisu for the last two decades.
“Since my early days in the kitchen, tiramisu has always been a personal passion of mine,” he recalls. “Over the years, I’ve studied every detail — textures, aromas, flavors — to reinvent it and transform it into a unique experience.”
He adds, “Tiramisu is a symbol of Italy, a dessert that evokes emotion. It’s more than just a dessert: It’s a sweet, elegant and universal embrace. I’ve always been fascinated by its ability to unite people from different cultures around a spoon.”
Uniting people through tiramisu is also exactly what the Padula family, who own Café del Mar and Gran Forno Bakery, wanted from this attempt for a Guinness World Record.
“The idea was born from our passion for bringing people together through food and culture,” explains Maurice Padula. “We wanted to celebrate the artistry of Italian desserts while creating something truly historic for South Florida. It is the perfect way to blend community, creativity and purpose.”
But getting a Guinness World Record is not so much about the vibe as much as it’s about the technicalities.
Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel
A golden tiramisu with 18-carat gold leaves is shown, made by chef Marco Casula of Cafe del Mar in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
“The biggest challenge will be perfect coordination: Each tiramisu must be documented, checked and presented impeccably,” Casula says. “It’s not enough to just cook, you have to create a historic event.”
Originally from Rome, Casula has been a chef for 25 years and “…worked in kitchens all over the world.” Next month he will go for another record, this time for the longest tiramisu, according to Tiramisu World Cup.
With an office in Pompano Beach and a home in Coral Gables, the chef has been bestowed with the moniker “The Million Dollar Chef” by food & beverage content creators after he made tiramisu desserts festooned in fabulous gold for a 2024 banquet hosted by a royal in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s all true! I created a completely edible tiramisu, decorated with 24-karat edible gold for a Saudi prince,” he says. “The entire event had a budget of $1 million. An unforgettable experience and proof that this dessert can become a world-class work of art.”
Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel
Maurice Padula, owner of Cafe del Mar in Fort Lauderdale, is shown Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. The cafe will also film a documentary when they – and chef Marco Casula – attempt a Guinness World Record by making more than 100 varieties of tiramisu. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Padula thinks the world record event staged in his family’s eatery on The Strip on Fort Lauderdale beach will be a perfect match of talent and location.
“Chef Marco Casula has been a long-time friend and collaborator with Café del Mar. His expertise in Italian cuisine and passion for culinary excellence made him the natural choice to lead this record-breaking project.”
As for the restaurant, he adds: “The beachside atmosphere perfectly complements the celebratory nature of this event. And its open-air layout makes it ideal for large-scale culinary showcases. There’s truly no better backdrop for something of this magnitude.”
They will also film a documentary.
“The documentary will capture the entire journey — from planning and ingredient sourcing to the final reveal of the record-breaking tiramisu,” Padula says. “It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the teamwork, precision and emotion involved in making history.”
Casula says of the future non-fiction film: “I want to share with the world the passion, energy and positive madness behind this dream. It’s not just a record, it’s an international celebration of taste. It will be a one-of-a-kind event, and I’m proud it’s taking place right here in Florida.”
IF YOU GO:
WHERE: Café del Mar, 101 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (between Poinsettia and Cortez streets)
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24
COST: Free, but you are encouraged to reserve a spot by calling 954-414-1024
INFORMATION: 954-414-1024, cafedelmarfll.com and tiramisuworldrecord.com
Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel
Chef Marco Casula, left, Erika Del Rio, event director, and Maurice Padula, owner of Cafe del Mar, show a variety of tiramisu in the oceanside restaurant on Fort Lauderdale beach on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel
A variety of tiramisu by Chef Marco Casula of Cafe del Mar restaurant is on display at the oceanfront eatery on Fort Lauderdale beach. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)