Stanley Tucci’s Ode to Food

By writing about the dishes I ate, cooked, and shared with friends and family over the course of a year, I want to pay homage to the food and the central role it plays in my life.

Stanley Tucci is not only recognized as an actor and director, but also as a devoted connoisseur. When he isn’t on set, you’ll find him at the stove or seated at a thoughtfully laid table.
In his latest book, Tucci offers a window into his culinary year, recounting evenings when he makes risotto for his friend Harry Styles, and detailing the simple meals he prepares for his young children — such as pasta with butter and cheese. He chats with his grown son Niccolò about getting the perfect meatball texture, while also griping that filmmaking sets rarely serve good food.

A love of language and a passion for cooking

Beyond the recipes, Tucci shares reflections on family, the passage of time, and the social practice of sharing meals. Between lighthearted anecdotes and contemplative moments, the book sketches a portrait of an artist who celebrates life in all its facets — with a particular affection for all things indulgent, human, and unpretentious.
“Zu Tisch mit Stanley Tucci” is now available in an English-language translation under the title What I Ate in One Year (and related thoughts). However, in this German edition, Anja Mehrmann provides the translation for the Hamburg-based Arche Literatur Verlag. The 432-page hardcover is priced at 26 euros, and the e-book at 19.99 euros. A sample can be read in the BücherWege-Shop.
Tucci, who has appeared in more than seventy films and numerous television series and stage productions, stands as one of Hollywood’s most versatile figures. He first gained broader recognition as the director of “Big Night,” a celebrated film about two brothers trying to run a failing restaurant, and he has since taken on roles in “The Devil W wears Prada” and “Supernova,” a story about a gay couple confronting an early-onset dementia. His work has earned him multiple Golden Globes and Emmys.
Through books like “Taste: My Life Through Food,” “The Tucci Table,” and “The Tucci Cookbook,” he weaves together his love of language with his passion for cooking — demonstrating that good food nourishes more than the body; it also tells stories. (dd/pm)