Benny Blanco celebrated Selena Gomez’s 34th birthday with handmade pasta, stuffed squash blossoms and eggplant parmesan during the couple’s romantic trip through Italy.
The music producer shared a TikTok on July 22 documenting a private cooking class with his wife. “Let’s make an Italian feast for my wife’s birthday,” he announced as the video opened.
Gomez cracked an egg into pasta dough, kneaded it by hand and helped feed it through a machine before the couple turned the dough into spaghetti.
They also prepared cheese-stuffed squash blossoms and assembled eggplant parmesan together.
Blanco Called Their Eggplant Parmesan the Best Thing He Ate in Italy
@itsbennyblancobirthday cooking♬ sonido original – Angel Garcia Trumpet
Blanco cheered as Gomez worked on the pasta before taking his own turn at the machine. He later grated lemon zest and herbs into soft cheese for the squash-blossom filling while Gomez helped layer slices of eggplant and marinara sauce.
“My baby makes the best eggplant parmesan,” Blanco said as he showed the finished dish. After tasting it on a piece of bread, he told Gomez, “That’s the best thing I’ve tasted in Italy so far, and you made it.”
“No, you made it,” Gomez replied. The video also included views of villas, fountains and greenery. Blanco jokingly complained about the “s—-y view” before ending the post with footage of Gomez resting after the class. “Happy birthday, baby. I love you,” he whispered.
HOLA! identified the setting as Il Borro, a luxury estate and restored village in Tuscany. Blanco also shared a separate birthday tribute featuring photographs from the trip and promised Gomez, “I’ll carry u wherever u wanna go forever.”
They Chose an Outdoor Table in Bologna
One day before Gomez’s birthday, the couple dined at Trattoria della Santa in Bologna. A member of Blanco’s team had reserved a private table, but the pair chose to sit outdoors beneath the city’s historic porticoes.
Restaurant owner Riccardo Lelli told PEOPLE that they were “absolutely amazing, very lovely, good-hearted people” who complimented both the food and service.
Their meal included eggplant parmesan, arugula salad, mushroom tagliatelle, buffalo-cheese ravioli, tortelloni with butter and sage, lasagna and balanzoni, a filled pasta associated with Bologna. Blanco reportedly enjoyed the dishes enough to get up and share them with members of his team.
Gomez Celebrated Six Years of the Rare Impact Fund
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“First, I have to thank each of you immensely for your support, kindness and all the bday wishes,” she wrote. “Every single day I get to create because of all of you. Thank you for always making me the happiest girlie in the world.”
Her birthday also marked six years since the launch of the Rare Impact Fund, which works to expand young people’s access to mental health services and education.
“Watching this community come together to support youth mental health has been the greatest gift,” Gomez wrote. “Thank you for believing in this work and for being part of this journey.”