Stanley Tucci Explored the Globe for Amazing Meals—Here Are His Top Picks

Over the last five years, Stanley Tucci has emerged as an unexpected cultural ambassador for Italy.

This role came to him naturally and was embraced with enthusiasm. Prior to 2020, Tucci was primarily recognized for his extensive acting career in films like Spotlight, The Devil Wears Prada, and Big Night. However, after a viral clip of him preparing a Negroni (a gin, vermouth, and Campari cocktail) during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, Tucci captured the internet's culinary affection. He started sharing delightful cooking videos on Instagram, igniting excitement among food lovers. Suddenly, everyone wanted to see Stanley Tucci enjoy a meal.

Tucci’s enthusiasm for showcasing culinary treasures led him back to Italy, his ancestral roots. In the CNN documentary Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, he embarked on an 18-episode quest to explore Italy’s rich food culture.

Throughout his journey, he also addressed intricate cultural and political themes such as immigration, the North-South divide in Italy, and climate change, linking these topics to the nation's culinary richness. While that series has concluded, Tucci continues to seek ways to tell authentic stories about Italian culture.

This quest took Tucci on an adventure across multiple countries, restaurants, and communities worldwide. Now, he’s sharing insights from that journey. His upcoming book, What I Ate in One Year (Gallery Books), set to launch on October 15, details the sights and tastes from his year of culinary exploration.

On November 11, Tucci will reveal yet another culinary venture: the actor-turned-chef is debuting his third holiday collaboration with S.Pellegrino, focusing on his passion for cheese. Officially named S.Pellegrino & Stanley Tucci’s Holiday Cheese “Cake,” this collaboration presents a delightful assortment of cheeses, including a creamy La Tur, a smooth mini Brie, a rich Cave Aged Reserve Cornelia, and a zesty Buonatavola provolone, all sourced from Murray’s Cheese in New York City, one of his favorite cheese shops globally.

I discussed with Tucci how his travels have influenced his recent endeavors.

This interview has been refined for clarity and conciseness.

Let’s start by exploring some of your travel habits.

Well, for one, I tend to overpack because I like to have choices. Living in England, you never really know what the weather will be like. So if we’re heading out to rent a house in the countryside or down in Cornwall, I need to bring clothes suitable for every season all at once... which means packing a lot of items.

You’ve traveled extensively over the past year while working on your upcoming book, What I Ate in One Year. How do you decide where to eat during your travels?

I typically try to ask locals for recommendations. While you can consult the hotel concierge, they often suggest places owned by their friends.

These days, thanks to social media and other resources, you can find options quickly. My wife usually does a lot of research before our trips, selecting and booking places, which is fantastic because I tend to think, “Oh no, I need to figure out dinner,” and then scramble to decide... I guess I’m a bit more spontaneous about it.

What were some of the standout restaurants you visited while writing What I Ate in One Year?

For me, a place like Pommidoro in Rome is a favorite... I also adore the River Cafe in London.

If I mention a restaurant in the book that I didn't enjoy, I would never reveal its name. That wouldn’t be fair. My focus is solely on the places I liked.

How does your culinary journey around the world deepen your connection to the communities you explore?

I believe food is perhaps the best bridge between people. It’s universal; we all need and desire it, and it dissolves barriers immediately. It fosters communication and connection. Conversations flow more freely over a meal or a glass of wine.

You’ve showcased many smaller, less-visited regions of Italy on a grand scale. How do you select the travel spots that you feature in your work?

It’s all about the stories. We gather numerous tales from the researchers involved with the show.

I often say, “If we’re in this area, I want to revisit a place I filmed before because the pasta there is exceptional, or the person running it has a fascinating story, or they offer a unique dish that you can't find elsewhere.”

With my ideas and the fantastic researchers we have, we curate a variety of stories. Occasionally, we might have two compelling stories, but we can't pursue both if they’re too alike... so we try to diversify a bit to avoid focusing solely on pasta throughout the entire segment.

From your travels, what lesser-known or hidden gem in Italy would you recommend?

I'm not sure how under-visited it is—many people do go there in winter—but I believe the Italian Alps and the Dolomites are among the most stunning places I've ever visited. You experience a blend of two distinct cultures: Austrian and Italian. The food is fantastic, the people are wonderful, and the scenery is breathtaking. It’s simply beautiful.

I hear cheese is your ultimate desert-island food, so I have to ask: What are your favorite places around the globe to find cheese?

[Laughs] In New York, there’s Murray’s Cheese Shop and Citarella.

In London, you have the Fromagerie. It’s incredible—many grocery stores there also feature an impressive cheese selection. The British really love their cheese.

In France, you can’t miss Le Bon Marché, which boasts walls filled with cheese.

And in Italy? You can find amazing cheese anywhere! Even supermarkets in Italy have an astonishing variety, including fresh sheep’s milk ricotta, which might just be one of the best things in the world.

I’m always on the lookout for cheese no matter where I travel.

Speaking of cheese, what can people anticipate from your new partnership with S.Pellegrino?

I really enjoy collaborating with San Pellegrino. They’re a lot of fun... I’ve been drinking their sparkling water for many years. When they approached me about a partnership, I was thrilled to say yes because it’s such great product.

I drink it frequently because it tastes fantastic. I love its slight saltiness, especially when paired with cheese! This marks the third year we've created a food basket alongside a bottle of S.Pellegrino. This time, we focused on cheese and developed an idea and package around it.