Tintino’s Lasagne Day: Honouring the life of Suzie Florance in the most delicious way

Posted on 13 April, 2026

Lasagne is a dish which always brings comfort and warmth.

And in the hardest days of the Florance family, after their beloved daughter, sister, cousin, aunt and mum Suzanne (Suzie) lost her courageous fight with breast cancer, lasagne came to symbolise love.

Ben Florance is Suzie’s eldest brother and the co-owner of Kingston wine bar and eatery Tintino. On Wednesday 15 April, it will be six years since his vibrant and loving sister died, leaving three young children and a devoted fiancé, Steve.

Ben is hosting “Lasagne Day” dinner to honour Suzie and raise funds from the sale of each slice of lasagne for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NCBF).

It’s a reference to the way in which the Canberra community and all of Suzie’s friends came to embrace the family during their time of grief. They baked lasagnes!

Suzie and Ben

“It must be an Australian thing that when a loss so great is suffered, you drop off care packages, including food, to show you care. After Suzie passed, we had so many lasagnes delivered, every time there was a knock at the door we started looking at each other and saying ‘lasagne’ and it brought a smile to our faces during an incredibly tough time.”

So the family has marked each 15 April with a celebration of Suzie, remembering her love, loyalty and laughter, over a feast of lasagne.

This year Ben thought the date could take on even more significance by using Lasagne Day as a platform to raise funds for breast cancer research and support, and by spreading the word about how deeply loved his sister was.

“She was a force of nature, strong-willed, family-focussed and friend-focussed. We all know that she was the favourite (of five siblings) but she deserved it because she gave so much of herself to those she loved.”

More than anyone, she loved her children Lachlan, Zoe and Sonny, who were just seven, three and two years old when she passed.

“The catalyst for our event is Suzie, but we all know that there are thousands of other families who are going through the same thing and this feels like a really beautiful community event, as well as a good way to get funds rolling in to hopefully help make a difference for others.”

Every day, 56 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer and nine lose their life to it – the vast majority women.

Suzie, Steve and the kids.

The night will bring the large Florance family together, including Suzie’s mum and dad, Libby and Tony, who will raise a toast to their dearly loved daughter over a forkful of delicious lasagne.

Because honouring someone special requires effort, Tintino chef Brendan Hill has gone all out on the lasagne theme.

Diners will enjoy Wagyu Lasagne, Prawn + Bug Lasagne, and Eggplant Parmigiana, with the lasagne theme extending throughout the entire menu (lasagne croquettes, lasagne vinaigrette and some multi-layered desserts). Even the oyster entrée gets a lasagne treatment with Parmesan and tomato Mignonette.

“There is no doubt this night is going to be huge and busy, but the whole Tintino team is looking forward to it, and for the family it will be really important.”

Lasagne Day has sold strongly, and Ben said he only had room to squeeze a few more in. But donations to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in Suzie’s honour can still be made. Ben is hoping to make this even bigger in the years ahead, given the community support.

“I reckon Suzie would love the whole thing.”

Main image: Ben and his daughter Mia, ready to serve lasagne all night long in memory of Suzie.