Sandra Lee and her fiancé Ben Youcef couldn’t keep their hands off each other on Wednesday as they kissed and cuddled in a hot tub in Cernobbio, Italy.
The television chef, 56, showed off her figure in a striking gold one-piece while she and the Algerian actor, 43, soaked up the afternoon sun poolside during their romantic getaway.
The couple, who have been together for about a year, traveled to northern Italy earlier this month to celebrate Lee’s birthday — and they’ve been putting their love on display the entire trip.
Sandra Lee, 56, and her fiancé Ben Youcef, 43, packed on the PDA in Cernobbio, Italy, on Wednesday
Lee wrapped her legs around her beau’s waist while they shared a passionate kiss in a hot tub overlooking Lake Como
The couple gazed into each other’s eyes as they frolicked in the hot tub together
Lee looked as happy as can be leaning onto Youcef as they soaked up the afternoon sun
They have been staying at Villa d’Este, a five-star luxury resort overlooking Lake Como, and they happily took advantage of the hotel’s famous floating pool on the lake.
Lee wore a white cover-up that was tied at the waist over her shimmering swimsuit, and her blonde hair was pulled off of her face with a plastic clip and an elastic headband.
Youcef was dressed casually in a gray T-shirt, black board shorts, and a pair of slip-on canvas sneakers. Both of them had on sunglasses to shield their eyes from the blazing afternoon sun.
The couple stripped down to their swimsuits before hopping into the hot tub overlooking Lake Como, where they turned up the heat.
Youcef wrapped his arms around Lee and kissed her neck while she leaned back on his chest. At one point, her legs were wrapped around his waist as they shared a passionate kiss.
The couple traveled to northern Italy for Lee’s 56th birthday on July 3. They have been staying at Villa d’Este, a five-star luxury resort overlooking Lake Como
The couple held hands as they headed to the resort’s famous pool floating on the lake
Lee showed off her figure in a striking gold one-piece, while Youcef wore black board shorts
The couple couldn’t keep their hands off each other when they hopped into the hot tub
Lee held onto Youcef’s hand and chest as they hung out in the water together
The loved-up couple acted as if they were the only two people at the entire resort
Youcef affectionately kissed Lee’s neck and wrapped his arms around her waist
Lee’s blonde hair was pulled off of her face with a plastic clip and an elastic headband
When they weren’t frolicking in the hot tub, they were sharing a lounge chair by the pool. Lee sat facing her beau with her legs once again wrapped around his waist.
As they continued to pack on the PDA, she grabbed his chin with her hand and kissed him as if they were the only two people at the resort.
Youcef kept hydrated by gulping a bottle of water, while Lee was seen sipping on a drink that looked like either a cocktail or a soda.
On Saturday, the lovers were photographed getting handsy on their room’s balcony. Lee had a teacup in her hand as she stepped out in a black nightie.
A shirtless Youcef followed behind in his underwear and kissed her neck as she enjoyed the view. She welcomed her fiancé’s advances and leaned into him as he brushed his lips against her bare skin.
Lee’s one-strap swimsuit gave Youcef ample view of her décolletage when she was standing in front of him
Lee and Youcef both kept their shades to shield their eyes from the blazing afternoon sun
The couple have been dating for about a year and are rumored to be engaged
Lee ran her fingers through Youcef’s dark curls before leaning in for a sultry kiss
Youcef held onto Lee as she blissfully rested her back on his tan chest
When they weren’t enjoying the view of Lake Como, they were looking at each other and making out
Lee wrapped her arms around the actor’s neck and appeared to be sitting on top of him at one point
The couple playfully shared kiss after kiss during their romantic romp in the hot tub
The pair proceeded to playfully converse on the balcony before retiring back into the sprawling room at the resort.
Lee and Youcef put on an equally affectionate display when they were spotted leaving the Villa d’Este in a vintage 1956 Porsche Speedster. On another occasion, they were seen kissing on a boat on Lake Como.
The couple traveled to Italy to ring in her 56th birthday on July 3, starting with a pre-birthday visit to Verona.
The former Food Network star took to Instagram to share a photo of herself kissing Youcef on Juliet’s balcony while they enjoyed a ‘magical day’ in the city ahead of their arrival in Lake Como.
The renovated 13th-century residence was once occupied by the Cappellos — the family locals believe inspired the fictional Capulets in William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.
Love has been in the air during the couple’s entire Italian vacation
Lee was the first to step out of the hot tub, and Youcef followed close behind her
The former Food Network host held his hand as they walked back to their lounge chair together
Youcef sweetly wrapped a fluffy blue towel around Lee to help her dry off after their dip in the hot tub
Lee through on a gauzy white cover-up over her gold swimsuit, while Youcef wrapped a towel around his waist
The Algerian actor couldn’t resist leaning over for another kiss while she was tying her cover-up
There were plenty of available lounge chairs by the pool, but they opted to share one
Lee curled up into Youcef, who had one hand under her legs and the other on her back
Lee had a drink in her hand, though it’s unclear if it was a cocktail or a soda
Lee, who battled breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy seven years ago, has spent the past four months recovering from a hysterectomy.
She explained on Instagram that she is focused on living her life to the fullest following her health scare, writing, ‘First and most importantly I am making my years count instead of counting the years.’
‘After this past year of health struggles, I know that life is too short not [to] celebrate every single chance I can get,’ she added. ‘So looking forward to Ben’s next surprise! Yay Birthdays, what a gift they are!!’
On her birthday, she posted a snapshot of her beau kissing her while cruising around Lake Como.
‘Romantic sunset cruise on Lake Como pre-party with my Ben,’ she captioned the image, which was taken the day before. ‘So romantic and special for my birthday!!’
At one point, Lee turned around and wrapped her legs around Youcef as he held onto her back
Every once and a while, the couple would stop to take a look at their surroundings before turning their attention back to each other
Lee’s cover-up was soon pulled off as she and Youcef started making out again
Lee leaned back on her hands and arched her back as she and Youcef shared more kisses
It’s unclear how long they are staying in Italy, but they appear to be having the time of their lives at the resort
Both Lee and Youcef were sporting deep summer tans after spending their afternoons in the Italian sun
Youcef guzzled a bottle of water to keep himself hydrated by the pool
Lee moved over to a different lounge chair at one point, but she kept her eyes on Youcef
‘Happy birthday everyone — may your kisses be filled with love and passion,’ she added. ‘Loving 56 so far! So grateful…Xoxo Sandy.’
A few days after her birthday, Lee returned to Instagram to post a photo of herself posing with Youcef in what looked like an Italian courtyard, saying she is ‘having the brightest of [birthdays]’ in Lake Como.
‘Villa d’Este is literally the most beautiful hotel I have [ever] seen,’ she gushed. ‘On my birthday Ben and I visited the neighboring village of Torno and made sure to stop at a gorgeous little church for a blessing before my July 3 party.
‘A few of my very dearest friends flew over in to help me celebrate and I got my own fireworks display followed by an incredible birthday cake covered in glittering white gum paste roses.
‘My wish for all is a peaceful and lovely life ahead full of health and happiness. Time to go make some more memories!’
The couple have been kissing their way through Italy since they arrived earlier this month
Youcef playfully reached for Lee’s hands as she leaned back onto the loung chair
Lee took off her sunglasses and held her hand on her cheek as she continued to kiss Youcef
Lee looked incredible in her gold swimsuit and ethereal white cover-up
The couple’s much-needed getaway comes four months after Lee underwent a hysterotomy
Lee, who battled breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy seven years ago, admittedly put off the surgery
The finally went through with the procedure after her gynecologist noticed a change in her cells that could have led to cancer
Lee said Youcef was by her side during her surgery and difficult recovery
Lee moved to Malibu, California, and fell for Youcef after she and her ex — disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo — split in September 2019.
She had dated the politician for 14 years and lived with him, but they never got engaged in their decade and a half as a couple.
Cuomo was by her side when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy in 2015
She has praised him for being incredibly supportive during her cancer battle and subsequent reconstructive surgeries, although they split up in 2019, leaving Lee heartbroken.
Lee developed an infection from her double mastectomy and was rushed to the hospital in August 2015.
Lee recently explained on Instagram that she is focused on living her life to the fullest following her health scare
Lee also gushed that Villa d’Este is the ‘most beautiful hotel’ she has ever seen
Lee and Youcef are believed to have met at a charity event in Santa Monica back in March 2021
The actor is a father to five-year-old twins with his soon-to-be ex-wife, California-based realtor Apryl Stephenson. Though the pair are still legally married, they separated in 2019 and they filed for divorce in January 2020
Youcef was rumored to have proposed to Lee in August 2021 during their whirlwind trip to France
Lee has never confirmed nor denied their engagement, but she has made it clear that she is head-over-heels in love with him
‘I did my very best to avoid this (when I tell you I did everything, I mean everything — modern, Eastern and holistic) but infection is an incredible monster,’ she wrote in a Facebook message to fans at the time.
‘I am a long way from where I was and a long way from where I need to be, but at this point I understand that right now I just need to complete this unexpected phase of a tough journey.’
Lee started her reconstructive surgeries in 2016, and it took four years for them to be completed due to complications.
‘It’s a really intense thing, having that operation,’ she told People in June 2016. ‘Being put out, it’s lights out. You go, “Oh God, please sweet Lord, take care of me while I’m here.”‘
Lee — who was dubbed ‘First Girlfriend’ while she was with Cuomo — kept a low profile during most of his first two terms as governor, but she emerged as an advocate for cancer screening after her own diagnosis.
They announced their split in September 2019.
The couple started their trip with a pre-birthday visit to Verona and shared a romantic kiss on Juliet’s balcony, a tourist attraction inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
The day before Lee turned 56, Youcef surprised her with a sunset cruise on Lake Como
Lee and Youcef spent the day of her birthday visiting the village of Torno, where they stopped at a church for a blessing. She later enjoyed a party and fireworks with her closest friends
Lee and Youcef are believed to have met at a charity event in Santa Monica back in March 2021. He is a father to five-year-old twins with his soon-to-be ex-wife, California-based realtor Apryl Stephenson.
Though the pair are still legally married, they separated in 2019 and they filed for divorce in January 2020.
Youcef was rumored to have proposed to Lee in August 2021 during their whirlwind trip to France that coincided with the sexual harassment scandal surrounding Cuomo.
‘Ben really wanted to distract Sandra from all the news, so he whisked her away to Paris,’ an unnamed source close to Youcef told the New York Post at the time.
Lee has never confirmed nor denied their engagement.
Youcef cared for her when she underwent a hysterotomy in early March after her gynecologist noticed a change in her cells that could have led to cancer.
‘Soooooo this is happening! Several years ago I was supposed to have quite an intense surgery. It was a follow up to my breast cancer surgery, but I had repeatedly put it off and then COVID hit,’ she explained on Instagram.
Lee announced on Instagram in March that she was having a full hysterectomy, writing: ‘I admit, I am a little embarrassed that I hadn’t had the courage to get this final stage done until now’
Two days after the procedure, she returned to Instagram to share a heartfelt message with her fans and gave them an update on her health, saying she had a ‘long road of recovery ahead’
Lee (pictured with her ex, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2012) was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015
Cuomo was with her in the hospital when she underwent a double mastectomy in 2015 and started reconstructive surgery a year later
‘Fast forward to now, during a routine appointment with my gynecologist, she noticed a change in some of my cells. I went for a second and third opinion and they all confirmed the same.’
Lee said she immediately thought of a conversation she had with a friend who told her years ago that she could consider getting a complete hysterectomy.
‘But after all of the issues I had experienced with my breast cancer surgery, the last thing I wanted to do was have another major operation — so I didn’t!’ she shared.
‘I admit, I am a little embarrassed that I hadn’t had the courage to get this final stage done until now,’ she admitted. ‘So while you’re reading this post I am undergoing hysterectomy surgery. A surgery that so many brave women before me have had to do.’
Two days after the procedure, she returned to Instagram to share a heartfelt message with her fans and gave them an update on her health.
‘Hello everyone, just quick note to sincerely say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of love and well wishes,’ Lee wrote.
‘It makes me so happy to read your notes… Regarding the surgery — honestly it was a bit rough, but I am resting (hard for me you know I like to work), I am sleeping a lot and I have set my alarm to stay ahead of the pain relief medication, Lordy this is painful I have to say.’
Lee went on to thank her loved ones, including her fiancé, Youcef, who was by her side when she had the surgery.
‘Although I have a long road of recovery ahead I am grateful that this is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, and I am so thankful to be writing this today and to my family, friends, sweet Ben and ALL OF YOU for the wonderful support,’ she concluded her post. ‘Thank you so so much — with lots of love and appreciation!!’