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What I Ate in One Year
From Stanley Tucci, award-winning actor and New York Times bestselling author, a deliciously unique memoir chronicling a year’s worth of meals.
“Sharing food is one of the purest human acts.”
Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between scene rehearsals and costume fittings, to home-made pizza eaten with his children before bedtime.
Now, in What I Ate in One Year Tucci records twelve months of eating—in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself.
Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable to the comfortingly domestic and to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialised in this diary are a prism for him to reflect on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks—and mourns—the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and steels himself for what is to come.
Whether it’s duck a l’orange eaten with fellow actors and cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks barbequed at a gathering with friends, or meatballs made by his mother and son and shared at the table with three generations of his family, these meals give shape and add emotional richness to his days.
What I Ate in One Year is a funny, poignant, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying serving of memories and meals and an irresistible celebration of the profound role that food plays in all our lives.
“Sharing food is one of the purest human acts.”
Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between scene rehearsals and costume fittings, to home-made pizza eaten with his children before bedtime.
Now, in What I Ate in One Year Tucci records twelve months of eating—in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself.
Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable to the comfortingly domestic and to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialised in this diary are a prism for him to reflect on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks—and mourns—the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and steels himself for what is to come.
Whether it’s duck a l’orange eaten with fellow actors and cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks barbequed at a gathering with friends, or meatballs made by his mother and son and shared at the table with three generations of his family, these meals give shape and add emotional richness to his days.
What I Ate in One Year is a funny, poignant, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying serving of memories and meals and an irresistible celebration of the profound role that food plays in all our lives.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2024
About the author
Stanley Tucci
46 books1,168 followersActor Stanley Tucci was born on November 11, 1960, in Peekskill, New York. He is the son of Joan (Tropiano), a writer, and Stanley Tucci, an art teacher. His family is Italian-American, with origins in Calabria.
Tucci has three children with Kate Tucci, who passed away in 2009. Tucci married Felicity Blunt in August 2012.
Tucci has three children with Kate Tucci, who passed away in 2009. Tucci married Felicity Blunt in August 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
October 30, 2024
Re-read the synopsis. “Diary” is much closer to what you’re getting here than “food memoir.” And unfortunately, the brevity of most of the entries do not lend themselves well to a revelatory or immersive reader experience.
While there are some nice anecdotes and some interesting food and Tucci’s sense of humor is prominently featured, a large portion of the book reads like the perfunctory recitation of menus, with only occasional general notes about the food or the circumstances in which they were consumed. After the first couple of mentions of (I’m paraphrasing) drinking “red or white wine, but I can’t recall what they were,” “butter with cheese and pasta” that is constantly served to his young children, etc., it became repetitive and borderline tiresome. A dispassionate or partial list of ingredients isn’t up to scratch when you’re playing in this field, and I’m surprised that this book made it through the conception phase as is.
I suppose if you’re reading for the celebrity-ness of it all, and approached the author’s “Searching for Italy” with the same grace, this might be a more satisfying experience. There is an ongoing cast of famous dinner companions, though only rarely (and closer to the end) do those anecdotes provide the sense of companionship and communion and insight that you’d hope for. Actually, one of the closing chapters featuring a visit to Guy Ritchie’s English estate is really quite wonderful—from Ritchie’s exacting culinary skills to the the incredible inventiveness of the kitchen equipment he designed, I read about a side of him I’d never even imagined before (and I’ve met the man!). The description of him pushing Tucci into the kitchen so they could finish grilling a fish and ripping into it right then and there with their bare hands made my mouth water and my brain and my senses tingle. I could vividly imagine what it must have been like to be there—I loved that section so much, but I also felt cheated, because the rest of the book rarely ever approaches that in terms of describing food or the people Tucci is enjoying it with.
Which brings me to two more personal things: Tucci is charmingly cantankerous and persnickety, even more so than I expected him to be. It’s amusing when it’s self-directed and it’s even funnier when he’s speaking of or to his friends in a mock-vendetta kind of way. But he does spend an inordinate amount of time complaining about subpar food that he comes across, in hotels, in airplanes, in restaurants, at events, or sometimes about travel or interactions with the public. And I get it, I really do, but the amount of space dedicated to these rants—and the seeming lack of awareness that these are issues everyone endures, and some would count themselves lucky to “endure” given the way so many are struggling—comes off as off-puttingly privileged at best. The second part that took me aback concerns the many, many veiled digs at his wife. Some are meant to be funny, I guess, and he certainly does say positive things about her as well. But other barbs seemed extremely ungenerous or fraught with underlying tension. Several references are made to her supposed infidelity, which is none of my fucking business, except that it’s been made so by being casually and repeatedly dropped into this book—without explanation, without detail, and frankly, without need. Setting off this bomb, in this way, in this type of book, serves no purpose except petty ones. If any of this was meant to be some sort of inside joke, well, it’s just. not. funny.
Which brings me back to the book’s format—the short entries don’t do justice to the subject of food, they make his work/pleasure meals with movie people seem like not much more than name-dropping (even with the awareness that this is the world he inhabits), and they make the inclusion of whatever marital issues are going on just…baffling. Balancing out this stuff with material that was more fleshed out would have made more sense. It seems that his previous memoir was more of a true memoir, so perhaps I’ll check that out sometime.
This one, however, feels like both a missed opportunity as well as an incomplete portrayal of the author. Deleting half the entries and expanding the stories and themes would have made his intentions clearer, and made for a much richer, more rewarding experience. The format is, after all, completely arbitrary.
Audio Notes: If you like Stanley Tucci as an actor, you will enjoy the audiobook with him reading it. I did, even when I chafed at some of the material and wished for more depth.
While there are some nice anecdotes and some interesting food and Tucci’s sense of humor is prominently featured, a large portion of the book reads like the perfunctory recitation of menus, with only occasional general notes about the food or the circumstances in which they were consumed. After the first couple of mentions of (I’m paraphrasing) drinking “red or white wine, but I can’t recall what they were,” “butter with cheese and pasta” that is constantly served to his young children, etc., it became repetitive and borderline tiresome. A dispassionate or partial list of ingredients isn’t up to scratch when you’re playing in this field, and I’m surprised that this book made it through the conception phase as is.
I suppose if you’re reading for the celebrity-ness of it all, and approached the author’s “Searching for Italy” with the same grace, this might be a more satisfying experience. There is an ongoing cast of famous dinner companions, though only rarely (and closer to the end) do those anecdotes provide the sense of companionship and communion and insight that you’d hope for. Actually, one of the closing chapters featuring a visit to Guy Ritchie’s English estate is really quite wonderful—from Ritchie’s exacting culinary skills to the the incredible inventiveness of the kitchen equipment he designed, I read about a side of him I’d never even imagined before (and I’ve met the man!). The description of him pushing Tucci into the kitchen so they could finish grilling a fish and ripping into it right then and there with their bare hands made my mouth water and my brain and my senses tingle. I could vividly imagine what it must have been like to be there—I loved that section so much, but I also felt cheated, because the rest of the book rarely ever approaches that in terms of describing food or the people Tucci is enjoying it with.
Which brings me to two more personal things: Tucci is charmingly cantankerous and persnickety, even more so than I expected him to be. It’s amusing when it’s self-directed and it’s even funnier when he’s speaking of or to his friends in a mock-vendetta kind of way. But he does spend an inordinate amount of time complaining about subpar food that he comes across, in hotels, in airplanes, in restaurants, at events, or sometimes about travel or interactions with the public. And I get it, I really do, but the amount of space dedicated to these rants—and the seeming lack of awareness that these are issues everyone endures, and some would count themselves lucky to “endure” given the way so many are struggling—comes off as off-puttingly privileged at best. The second part that took me aback concerns the many, many veiled digs at his wife. Some are meant to be funny, I guess, and he certainly does say positive things about her as well. But other barbs seemed extremely ungenerous or fraught with underlying tension. Several references are made to her supposed infidelity, which is none of my fucking business, except that it’s been made so by being casually and repeatedly dropped into this book—without explanation, without detail, and frankly, without need. Setting off this bomb, in this way, in this type of book, serves no purpose except petty ones. If any of this was meant to be some sort of inside joke, well, it’s just. not. funny.
Which brings me back to the book’s format—the short entries don’t do justice to the subject of food, they make his work/pleasure meals with movie people seem like not much more than name-dropping (even with the awareness that this is the world he inhabits), and they make the inclusion of whatever marital issues are going on just…baffling. Balancing out this stuff with material that was more fleshed out would have made more sense. It seems that his previous memoir was more of a true memoir, so perhaps I’ll check that out sometime.
This one, however, feels like both a missed opportunity as well as an incomplete portrayal of the author. Deleting half the entries and expanding the stories and themes would have made his intentions clearer, and made for a much richer, more rewarding experience. The format is, after all, completely arbitrary.
Audio Notes: If you like Stanley Tucci as an actor, you will enjoy the audiobook with him reading it. I did, even when I chafed at some of the material and wished for more depth.
November 9, 2024
Me love you long time, Stanley Tucci — in fact, ever since I was first introduced to your acting and culinary skills in "Big Night." The movie you co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in back in 1996 remains one of my favorites today.
Tucci’s memoir Taste: My Life Through Food garnered 5-stars from me in 2022. His latest release What I Ate in One Year, offers a further glimpse into the actor and gourmand’s life.
Full of vignettes spanning a year, Tucci shares his love of food, tried-and-true recipes, as well as his thoughts on aging and his deep love for family. A thoroughly entertaining read.
July 27, 2024
3.5 stars
Stanley tucci writes of his life in the way you would most expect: he is often a little pretentious, but he is always charming. This man eats so much pasta!
Stanley tucci writes of his life in the way you would most expect: he is often a little pretentious, but he is always charming. This man eats so much pasta!
November 11, 2024
I read Mr. Tucci's last memoir, Taste, and absolutely loved it. This was another look at food, friendship, family, and film, and I enjoyed listening to every word the author read aloud to me. His life is certainly fascinating, and he has clearly learned that what matters most is that fascinating life. This makes him a relatable storyteller despite his fame and the fact that he is constantly hosting or being hosted by famous friends.
This memoir is delivered in more of a diary format, which I found a little more disjointed than the format of his previous memoir. If he writes another one, I'll devour it like a foodie being fed by a chef with three Michelin stars.
Thanks to @libro.fm for the gifted audiobook.
This memoir is delivered in more of a diary format, which I found a little more disjointed than the format of his previous memoir. If he writes another one, I'll devour it like a foodie being fed by a chef with three Michelin stars.
Thanks to @libro.fm for the gifted audiobook.
October 8, 2024
I won the book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I like the actor, Stanley Tucci. I really liked his show Searching for Italy.
This book, however, uncovered a tightly-wound food snob. If you struggle to put food on the table, you may feel morally outraged by the extravagance and waste depicted in this family’s everyday life.
And the bits about his wife’s “work trips” and thinly veiled hints at infidelity were unkind at best. If the woman is going on work trips, then these comments are disrespectful. If she is taking lovers, then stop being passive-aggressive and either accept it graciously or make some new choices. I ultimately decided Mr. Tucci is insecure.
I asked myself why this book existed and determined it is promotional material for his new series Tucci-Heart of Italy.
I like the actor, Stanley Tucci. I really liked his show Searching for Italy.
This book, however, uncovered a tightly-wound food snob. If you struggle to put food on the table, you may feel morally outraged by the extravagance and waste depicted in this family’s everyday life.
And the bits about his wife’s “work trips” and thinly veiled hints at infidelity were unkind at best. If the woman is going on work trips, then these comments are disrespectful. If she is taking lovers, then stop being passive-aggressive and either accept it graciously or make some new choices. I ultimately decided Mr. Tucci is insecure.
I asked myself why this book existed and determined it is promotional material for his new series Tucci-Heart of Italy.
November 6, 2024
2/5
Man atrodo, nepakeliui man su dienoraščiais. Bandžiau Rickmano, bandžiau Tucci ir nu blemba – arba žmogus man turi rūpėt pakankamai, kad norėčiau žinot ką jie valgo pusryčiam, pietum ir vakarienei ir dar ką valgo jų vaikai. Ir norėčiau pasakyt, kad Tucci čia turėjo žavingų istorijų ir/ar įdomybių, kažkokių negirdėtų receptų, bet jei jo pirmoji autobiografija buvo žavi, įdomi, įtraukianti ir visapusiškai malonumas skaityti, tai čia buvo 90 proc kasdienybės ir 10 proc skundų. Nes lėktuvas vėlavo, nes maistas buvo neskanus, nes žmona nuo kažkurio maisto viduriavo, nes buvo karšta, nes buvo kamščiai, nes kažkas jį renginį užkalbino, o jis kalbėtis nenorėjo, nes kažkas jį atpažino, kai nenorėjo būti atpažintas. Boohoo.
Gal knyga turėjo būti iš serijos „oi, visi mes žmonės“, bet biče, tu keliauji pirma klase, tu gali sau leisti geriausią pasaulio maistą. Boohoo, kad kažkokiam lėktuve lašiša buvo neskani. Kasdienybė? Taip. Bet kodėl man turėtų būti įdomu? Ir nors buvo kelios prošvaistės, kaip pavyzdžiui pasakojimas apie nuo karo bėgančias ukrainietes, nors buvo keli smagūs anekdotai iš gyvenimo, palyginus su Taste čia buvo vieno senstelėjusio vyro vienų metų meniu santrauka. O aš šiandien valgiau karštą sumuštinį, pyragėlį su vyšniom, kiaulienos troškinį su bulvių koše ir gėriau du puodelius kavos. Ai, dar daug vandens. Tai va.
Man atrodo, nepakeliui man su dienoraščiais. Bandžiau Rickmano, bandžiau Tucci ir nu blemba – arba žmogus man turi rūpėt pakankamai, kad norėčiau žinot ką jie valgo pusryčiam, pietum ir vakarienei ir dar ką valgo jų vaikai. Ir norėčiau pasakyt, kad Tucci čia turėjo žavingų istorijų ir/ar įdomybių, kažkokių negirdėtų receptų, bet jei jo pirmoji autobiografija buvo žavi, įdomi, įtraukianti ir visapusiškai malonumas skaityti, tai čia buvo 90 proc kasdienybės ir 10 proc skundų. Nes lėktuvas vėlavo, nes maistas buvo neskanus, nes žmona nuo kažkurio maisto viduriavo, nes buvo karšta, nes buvo kamščiai, nes kažkas jį renginį užkalbino, o jis kalbėtis nenorėjo, nes kažkas jį atpažino, kai nenorėjo būti atpažintas. Boohoo.
Gal knyga turėjo būti iš serijos „oi, visi mes žmonės“, bet biče, tu keliauji pirma klase, tu gali sau leisti geriausią pasaulio maistą. Boohoo, kad kažkokiam lėktuve lašiša buvo neskani. Kasdienybė? Taip. Bet kodėl man turėtų būti įdomu? Ir nors buvo kelios prošvaistės, kaip pavyzdžiui pasakojimas apie nuo karo bėgančias ukrainietes, nors buvo keli smagūs anekdotai iš gyvenimo, palyginus su Taste čia buvo vieno senstelėjusio vyro vienų metų meniu santrauka. O aš šiandien valgiau karštą sumuštinį, pyragėlį su vyšniom, kiaulienos troškinį su bulvių koše ir gėriau du puodelius kavos. Ai, dar daug vandens. Tai va.
October 25, 2024
I enjoyed Tucci’s other book, Taste, but this one was a horrendous bore. It’s just a man endlessly complaining and nitpicking everything from food (obviously), hotels, planes, travel accommodations, people, children, and more. I don’t enjoy that from people I know let alone from a celebrity I don’t.
The tone goes beyond the delightfully pretentious Tucci you expect into complete snobbery. Past charming into alienating. And then entirely insecure with digs at his wife and allusions to her infidelity that he refuses to confront or face but instead shares with us in this diary-like setting. It’s bizarre and offputting.
Not enjoyable to read and a complete waste of the money I spent on the audiobook.
The tone goes beyond the delightfully pretentious Tucci you expect into complete snobbery. Past charming into alienating. And then entirely insecure with digs at his wife and allusions to her infidelity that he refuses to confront or face but instead shares with us in this diary-like setting. It’s bizarre and offputting.
Not enjoyable to read and a complete waste of the money I spent on the audiobook.
October 12, 2024
Savoring Life, One Bite at a Time
You know that feeling when you're tucking into a really good meal? The kind where every bite makes you close your eyes and go "Mmm"? Well, that's pretty much how I felt reading Stanley Tucci's latest book, "What I Ate in One Year." It's like sitting down to a long, leisurely dinner with your wittiest friend – the one who always has the best stories and knows exactly which wine to order.
Tucci, the silver fox of the culinary world (and, oh yeah, a pretty decent actor too), has already given us a taste of his foodie obsession in "Taste: My Life Through Food" and his cookbooks. But this time, he's serving up something a little different. It's part diary, part food journal, and entirely delicious.
The Main Course: A Year in the Life
So, what's on the menu? Basically, everything Tucci ate for an entire year. And let me tell you, this man eats well. From simple pasta dishes whipped up at home to elaborate feasts in far-flung locales, Tucci takes us on a gastronomic journey that'll have you salivating and booking flights to Italy (or at least ordering takeout) in equal measure.
But here's the thing – it's not just about the food. Oh no, Tucci's got more cooking than that. As he guides us through his culinary calendar, he serves up generous portions of family, friendship, and reflection. It's like... you know when you're eating something really good and you want to share it with someone? That's what Tucci's doing with his life.
Appetizers: The Familiar Flavors
Fans of Tucci's previous works will find plenty to savor here. His dry wit is as sharp as ever (seriously, this guy could cut prosciutto with his one-liners), and his passion for Italian cuisine remains undimmed. But there's a new depth to this offering, a richness that comes from marinating in life's experiences.
The Secret Ingredient: Vulnerability
What really sets this book apart is Tucci's willingness to get, well, a little raw. He doesn't shy away from the tough stuff – aging parents, the lingering effects of his cancer treatment, the bittersweet pangs of watching his children grow up. It's like he's invited us into his kitchen and is sharing not just the polished final dish, but all the messy prep work too.
A Tasting Menu of Highlights
Look, I could go on about this book all day (and night, and probably well into tomorrow's breakfast), but let's break it down into some bite-sized morsels:
1. The Family Recipes
Tucci's descriptions of cooking with his kids and sharing meals with his wife, Felicity, are enough to warm even the coldest leftovers. There's a moment where he talks about making pasta with his young son that'll have you reaching for the phone to call your own family.
2. The Celebrity Encounters
From casual dinners with Emily Blunt and John Krasinski to an surreal barbecue at Guy Ritchie's estate, Tucci's Hollywood connections add some serious spice to the mix. But he never name-drops for the sake of it – these people are part of his life, and the meals they share are genuine moments of connection.
3. The Travel Tales
Whether he's sampling street food in Moldova or indulging in a multi-course feast in Rome, Tucci's adventures will give you serious wanderlust. And don't even get me started on his descriptions of the food in Bordeaux – I may have actually licked the page.
4. The Home Cooking
Some of the best moments are the simplest – Tucci whipping up a quick pasta for his kids or experimenting with a new recipe. It's a reminder that great food doesn't always need Michelin stars or fancy ingredients.
5. The Reflections
Between courses, Tucci serves up some seriously thought-provoking stuff. His musings on mortality, legacy, and the passage of time add a bittersweet flavor that lingers long after you've turned the last page.
A Few Critiques (Because No Meal is Perfect)
Look, I loved this book. But if I'm being honest (and Tucci's honesty throughout this memoir inspires me to do the same), there are a couple of tiny bones I could pick:
1. Sometimes the pacing feels a bit... uneven. Like when you're really enjoying your appetizer and the main course arrives too quickly. There are moments where I wanted Tucci to linger a little longer on a particular story or reflection.
2. If you're not a foodie, some of the more detailed culinary descriptions might have you reaching for a dictionary (or Google). But hey, learning is part of the fun, right?
3. Occasionally, the name-dropping and luxurious meals can feel a tad... indulgent. But Tucci's self-awareness and humor usually balance it out.
The Dessert Course: Final Thoughts
"What I Ate in One Year" is more than just a food diary. It's a celebration of life's flavors – the sweet, the salty, the bitter, and everything in between. Tucci has crafted a memoir that's as nourishing as it is entertaining.
It's the kind of book that'll make you want to cook more, travel more, and most importantly, savor every moment (and meal) with the people you love. Because as Tucci so beautifully demonstrates, food is more than sustenance – it's a way to connect, to remember, and to create new memories.
Who Should Read This?
- Foodies (obviously)
- Fans of Tucci's previous books and his "Searching for Italy" series
- Anyone who enjoys memoirs with a side of humor
- Armchair travelers
- People who appreciate good storytelling (and good eating)
Pairings
For the full experience, I recommend reading this book:
- With a glass of good Italian wine
- While snacking on some prosciutto and Parmigiano
- Before, during, or after cooking a meal from one of Tucci's cookbooks
The Digestif: A Toast to Tucci
In a world that often feels like it's moving too fast, "What I Ate in One Year" is an invitation to slow down, pull up a chair, and savor life's feast. It's honest, it's funny, it's poignant, and yes, it'll make you very, very hungry.
So here's to Stanley Tucci – actor, author, and culinary raconteur extraordinaire. May his pasta always be al dente, his wine cellar always full, and his stories always as rich and satisfying as this one.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sudden craving for Italian food and a burning desire to book a flight to Rome. Buon appetito!
You know that feeling when you're tucking into a really good meal? The kind where every bite makes you close your eyes and go "Mmm"? Well, that's pretty much how I felt reading Stanley Tucci's latest book, "What I Ate in One Year." It's like sitting down to a long, leisurely dinner with your wittiest friend – the one who always has the best stories and knows exactly which wine to order.
Tucci, the silver fox of the culinary world (and, oh yeah, a pretty decent actor too), has already given us a taste of his foodie obsession in "Taste: My Life Through Food" and his cookbooks. But this time, he's serving up something a little different. It's part diary, part food journal, and entirely delicious.
The Main Course: A Year in the Life
So, what's on the menu? Basically, everything Tucci ate for an entire year. And let me tell you, this man eats well. From simple pasta dishes whipped up at home to elaborate feasts in far-flung locales, Tucci takes us on a gastronomic journey that'll have you salivating and booking flights to Italy (or at least ordering takeout) in equal measure.
But here's the thing – it's not just about the food. Oh no, Tucci's got more cooking than that. As he guides us through his culinary calendar, he serves up generous portions of family, friendship, and reflection. It's like... you know when you're eating something really good and you want to share it with someone? That's what Tucci's doing with his life.
Appetizers: The Familiar Flavors
Fans of Tucci's previous works will find plenty to savor here. His dry wit is as sharp as ever (seriously, this guy could cut prosciutto with his one-liners), and his passion for Italian cuisine remains undimmed. But there's a new depth to this offering, a richness that comes from marinating in life's experiences.
The Secret Ingredient: Vulnerability
What really sets this book apart is Tucci's willingness to get, well, a little raw. He doesn't shy away from the tough stuff – aging parents, the lingering effects of his cancer treatment, the bittersweet pangs of watching his children grow up. It's like he's invited us into his kitchen and is sharing not just the polished final dish, but all the messy prep work too.
A Tasting Menu of Highlights
Look, I could go on about this book all day (and night, and probably well into tomorrow's breakfast), but let's break it down into some bite-sized morsels:
1. The Family Recipes
Tucci's descriptions of cooking with his kids and sharing meals with his wife, Felicity, are enough to warm even the coldest leftovers. There's a moment where he talks about making pasta with his young son that'll have you reaching for the phone to call your own family.
2. The Celebrity Encounters
From casual dinners with Emily Blunt and John Krasinski to an surreal barbecue at Guy Ritchie's estate, Tucci's Hollywood connections add some serious spice to the mix. But he never name-drops for the sake of it – these people are part of his life, and the meals they share are genuine moments of connection.
3. The Travel Tales
Whether he's sampling street food in Moldova or indulging in a multi-course feast in Rome, Tucci's adventures will give you serious wanderlust. And don't even get me started on his descriptions of the food in Bordeaux – I may have actually licked the page.
4. The Home Cooking
Some of the best moments are the simplest – Tucci whipping up a quick pasta for his kids or experimenting with a new recipe. It's a reminder that great food doesn't always need Michelin stars or fancy ingredients.
5. The Reflections
Between courses, Tucci serves up some seriously thought-provoking stuff. His musings on mortality, legacy, and the passage of time add a bittersweet flavor that lingers long after you've turned the last page.
A Few Critiques (Because No Meal is Perfect)
Look, I loved this book. But if I'm being honest (and Tucci's honesty throughout this memoir inspires me to do the same), there are a couple of tiny bones I could pick:
1. Sometimes the pacing feels a bit... uneven. Like when you're really enjoying your appetizer and the main course arrives too quickly. There are moments where I wanted Tucci to linger a little longer on a particular story or reflection.
2. If you're not a foodie, some of the more detailed culinary descriptions might have you reaching for a dictionary (or Google). But hey, learning is part of the fun, right?
3. Occasionally, the name-dropping and luxurious meals can feel a tad... indulgent. But Tucci's self-awareness and humor usually balance it out.
The Dessert Course: Final Thoughts
"What I Ate in One Year" is more than just a food diary. It's a celebration of life's flavors – the sweet, the salty, the bitter, and everything in between. Tucci has crafted a memoir that's as nourishing as it is entertaining.
It's the kind of book that'll make you want to cook more, travel more, and most importantly, savor every moment (and meal) with the people you love. Because as Tucci so beautifully demonstrates, food is more than sustenance – it's a way to connect, to remember, and to create new memories.
Who Should Read This?
- Foodies (obviously)
- Fans of Tucci's previous books and his "Searching for Italy" series
- Anyone who enjoys memoirs with a side of humor
- Armchair travelers
- People who appreciate good storytelling (and good eating)
Pairings
For the full experience, I recommend reading this book:
- With a glass of good Italian wine
- While snacking on some prosciutto and Parmigiano
- Before, during, or after cooking a meal from one of Tucci's cookbooks
The Digestif: A Toast to Tucci
In a world that often feels like it's moving too fast, "What I Ate in One Year" is an invitation to slow down, pull up a chair, and savor life's feast. It's honest, it's funny, it's poignant, and yes, it'll make you very, very hungry.
So here's to Stanley Tucci – actor, author, and culinary raconteur extraordinaire. May his pasta always be al dente, his wine cellar always full, and his stories always as rich and satisfying as this one.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sudden craving for Italian food and a burning desire to book a flight to Rome. Buon appetito!
October 18, 2024
I must admit I was disappointed by this one. I love Stanley Tucci and I loved his last book, but this was essentially written as a journal and a lot of the meals he ate were bad and/or disappointing to him?? Obviously I know that every meal he encounters isn’t going to be the best meal of his life, but I do wish this was more of the highlights of the year and less “I was running late so I ate a banana” and “airline food is disgusting.” In my opinion, if you order salmon on a flight and it’s gross, that one’s on you. Certain criticisms also felt a bit snobbish, so there was a lot less about the simple pleasures of food and the joys of cooking than his other works.
July 7, 2024
Stanley Tucci’s "What I Ate in One Year" is a delightful culinary memoir that offers an intimate glimpse into the actor's life through the lens of his gastronomic experiences over a year.
Tucci shares his passion for food with vivid descriptions and engaging anecdotes. The book is filled with mouth-watering details of meals ranging from simple home-cooked dishes to extravagant feasts at high-end restaurants. His writing style is warm and personable, I felt as though I was sharing a meal with an old friend.
What sets this memoir apart is Tucci's ability to connect food with personal memories and cultural insights. Recipes interspersed throughout the book invite readers to try their hand at some of his favorite dishes.
"What I Ate in One Year" is more than just a foodie’s diary; it’s a celebration of the joys of eating and the rich tapestry of life’s experiences that come with it. Tucci's narrative is a feast for the senses and a testament to the power of food to bring people together.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Gallery Books, and Stanley Tucci for the opportunity to read and review "What I Ate in One Year" prior to its publication date.
Tucci shares his passion for food with vivid descriptions and engaging anecdotes. The book is filled with mouth-watering details of meals ranging from simple home-cooked dishes to extravagant feasts at high-end restaurants. His writing style is warm and personable, I felt as though I was sharing a meal with an old friend.
What sets this memoir apart is Tucci's ability to connect food with personal memories and cultural insights. Recipes interspersed throughout the book invite readers to try their hand at some of his favorite dishes.
"What I Ate in One Year" is more than just a foodie’s diary; it’s a celebration of the joys of eating and the rich tapestry of life’s experiences that come with it. Tucci's narrative is a feast for the senses and a testament to the power of food to bring people together.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Gallery Books, and Stanley Tucci for the opportunity to read and review "What I Ate in One Year" prior to its publication date.
October 14, 2024
“Sharing food is one of the purest human acts.”
Truly a fantastic memoir!
Y’all know I’m a foodie and this is an ode to food and food lovers everywhere.
I am a huge fan of Tucci (super excited for his new movie Conclave coming out later this month), and found myself absorbed in his television series Searching for Italy. Tucci loves eating, drinking, and cooking in the same easy and joyful way that l do, and this is what made a glimpse into his life relatable and interesting. Not to mention you get to see him as an every day person just living life, cooking for his family and friends, venturing out to both fabulous and horrendous restaurants, and sharing antidotes and thoughts pertaining to life in general.
One of Tucci’s thoughts/questions that he post earlier in the book was when he was asked, “What do you touch most in a day?” Now I’m not bringing this up to be kinky or gross; but instead, I’m looking at this the way Tucci did. The fact that I’m interacting more with my phone than anything else in my day-to-day life really got me thinking.
If you can, grab the audiobook, since Tucci narrates it himself!
For those of you looking for a book to add to your Nonfiction November stack, grab this one and then start it in October!😂
Now I’m off to go re-create some of his recipes shared in the book!
P.S. Make sure you at least have 8 pounds of pasta on hand when you start listening to or reading this book, because you’re gonna wanna cook some up.
Truly a fantastic memoir!
Y’all know I’m a foodie and this is an ode to food and food lovers everywhere.
I am a huge fan of Tucci (super excited for his new movie Conclave coming out later this month), and found myself absorbed in his television series Searching for Italy. Tucci loves eating, drinking, and cooking in the same easy and joyful way that l do, and this is what made a glimpse into his life relatable and interesting. Not to mention you get to see him as an every day person just living life, cooking for his family and friends, venturing out to both fabulous and horrendous restaurants, and sharing antidotes and thoughts pertaining to life in general.
One of Tucci’s thoughts/questions that he post earlier in the book was when he was asked, “What do you touch most in a day?” Now I’m not bringing this up to be kinky or gross; but instead, I’m looking at this the way Tucci did. The fact that I’m interacting more with my phone than anything else in my day-to-day life really got me thinking.
If you can, grab the audiobook, since Tucci narrates it himself!
For those of you looking for a book to add to your Nonfiction November stack, grab this one and then start it in October!😂
Now I’m off to go re-create some of his recipes shared in the book!
P.S. Make sure you at least have 8 pounds of pasta on hand when you start listening to or reading this book, because you’re gonna wanna cook some up.
October 22, 2024
God I love Stanley Tucci. A memoir that’s a celebration of life’s flavors - the sweet, the salty, the sour, and everything in between. Once again, chef’s kiss.
October 20, 2024
Half this book is about food and the other half is Tucci complaining: food, public transit, people doing their jobs with the rules he’s aware of but doesn’t care to follow, his job… I kind of wish I hadn’t read this— I can handle someone being a food snob, but being an all around snob is just annoying.
November 8, 2024
Stanley Tucci is so unabashedly curmudgeonly. Mostly, it's hilarious -- but a few times I felt like there were odd digs at his wife.
Inevitably, this made me so hungry. Plus the name-dropping is fun.
Inevitably, this made me so hungry. Plus the name-dropping is fun.
November 4, 2024
I love Stanley Tucci and now I’m hungry
October 30, 2024
*Audiobook*
I wanted to LOVE this book like I loved “Taste”…I liked it. But also…Stanley Tucci…tell me you’re a middle-aged, privileged, white man, without telling me you’re a middle-aged, privileged, white man.
This book made Tucci seem more like what he is (sorry, not sorry) and outside of the name-dropping and the semi-pretentious commentary at-times…it was good. And I still like him. I think the veil was lifted, however, on him being a person you could relate to, to an actor, an upper-class person, and extremely privileged human.
I wanted to LOVE this book like I loved “Taste”…I liked it. But also…Stanley Tucci…tell me you’re a middle-aged, privileged, white man, without telling me you’re a middle-aged, privileged, white man.
This book made Tucci seem more like what he is (sorry, not sorry) and outside of the name-dropping and the semi-pretentious commentary at-times…it was good. And I still like him. I think the veil was lifted, however, on him being a person you could relate to, to an actor, an upper-class person, and extremely privileged human.
October 26, 2024
Stan went from charming to snob real quick.
Read
October 22, 2024Once again, Mr. Stanley Tucci did not disappoint me. I loved TASTE so much on audio that I had to buy the physical book just to have in my collection (and for the recipes). The same may happen with this one.
I love hearing him talk about travel, wine, and food. He is so darn passionate and without a doubt he inspires me to get my butt to the grocery store for some cheese or the ingredients to make a pasta sauce. No joke. It is the culinary equivalent of "you say jump, I say how high".
I love that Stanley welcomes us, the reader (or listener), to join him and his family and friends around the dinner table or our for a celebratory meal. He makes you feel like a part of his world in a really organic way.
Because this audiobook honesty made me so hungry every single time I listened to it, I would start and stop it multiple times throughout my day or ALL I could think about was food and eating.
I already can't wait for his next food themed book.
(Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC of this audiobook)
I love hearing him talk about travel, wine, and food. He is so darn passionate and without a doubt he inspires me to get my butt to the grocery store for some cheese or the ingredients to make a pasta sauce. No joke. It is the culinary equivalent of "you say jump, I say how high".
I love that Stanley welcomes us, the reader (or listener), to join him and his family and friends around the dinner table or our for a celebratory meal. He makes you feel like a part of his world in a really organic way.
Because this audiobook honesty made me so hungry every single time I listened to it, I would start and stop it multiple times throughout my day or ALL I could think about was food and eating.
I already can't wait for his next food themed book.
(Thank you to Libro.fm for the ALC of this audiobook)
November 10, 2024
fun audiobook experience, but unfortunately I found that tucci’s pretension outweighs his charm in this one. while his love for food shines through, his entries often feel repetitive, revolving mostly around pasta and familiar italian staples without much culinary variety, and slightly out of touch.
October 22, 2024
I would give it like a 65%.
The man can write about food that’s for sure. It was a bit of fun and interesting and maybe I’m just not the right audience but I didn’t really like the complaining and how out of touch it was in certain parts of the book. I still enjoyed it, I just was cringing a lot
ALSO am I crazy or did Tucci out himself as a cuck????
The man can write about food that’s for sure. It was a bit of fun and interesting and maybe I’m just not the right audience but I didn’t really like the complaining and how out of touch it was in certain parts of the book. I still enjoyed it, I just was cringing a lot
ALSO am I crazy or did Tucci out himself as a cuck????
October 30, 2024
This book was fun at first, then quickly got very boring. I don't think it was entirely necessary. It only served to make me realize maybe I don't like Stanley Tucci as much as I thought I did.
November 5, 2024
stanley tucci is great, but this book wasn't for me. the book was a nice idea in theory, but the execution of it was seven hours of stanley complaining about 90% of the restaurants he visited, ranting about flights, airport staff, and general people he crossed paths with, and making the same pasta recipes. not what i expected after i loved his last book so much! it was (as an audiobook, anyways!) a mundane and unenthusiastically-read diary, with frequent persnickety comments that made it impossible for me to not roll my eyes. a shame though; he has such an interesting group of people around him that he is always hosting, this could have been something really special!
November 6, 2024
This is probs actually a three star rating but tbh this one kind of pissed me off. Tucci, who I normally find charming if not confounding in a charming way, read arrogant to me. I think a general lack of narrative arc (the structure being essentially chronological diary entries that are food-forward) made the usually-situated-in-a-story-arrogance come across as out of touch more than anecdotal. I suppose in the tenor of life right now I'm not amused by Tucci's complaints of his wife's sexual deviance (I pray they are in a healthy open marriage because he casually discloses instances of her promiscuity that felt like he was exposing affairs publicly?), airlines, bad meals, or money struggles (!!!?). ANYWHO, the classic lesson in celebrity stan culture--it's a balance and I am a flippant audience. Fly to close to the sun and I become a Hater. (I'll come back around, just less whole heartedly).
October 1, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and LibroFm for this ALC.
Stanley Tucci has done it again. He once again blended memoir and food into a delectable read that I listened to in just one day.
Stanley Tucci has done it again. He once again blended memoir and food into a delectable read that I listened to in just one day.
October 27, 2024
What I Ate in One Year (And Other Related Thoughts) by Stanley Tucci
Audio Version
Overall Grade: A-
Information/Memoir: B+
Writing/Organization: A
Narration: A
Food/Recipe: B
Best Aspect: A great memoir with so much fun and food.
Worst Aspect: Not as good as taste and some squeamish moments regarding animals for meat.
Recommend: Yes.
Audio Version
Overall Grade: A-
Information/Memoir: B+
Writing/Organization: A
Narration: A
Food/Recipe: B
Best Aspect: A great memoir with so much fun and food.
Worst Aspect: Not as good as taste and some squeamish moments regarding animals for meat.
Recommend: Yes.
November 8, 2024
the things i would give to share a meal with this man
October 20, 2024
Well, the title says it all. Like reading a diary and not an entertaining one at that. Much preferred his memoir, Taste.
November 1, 2024
I honestly enjoyed the book overall, it felt so intimate and relaxed in the sense that I was just learning about his daily routine/meals eaten. I hope more chefs decide to do journal entries of what they eat in a day rather than solely writing a cookbook. I loved that Tucci also fan girls over other actors/actresses because it shows he’s like everyone else. You can also tell that he has a lot of grief/trauma to work through when it comes to his late wife but what can be expected when you lose the love of your life. I did find it strange that he would make passive aggressive comments on his current wife’s whereabouts and what she was really up to. Also I do think his food critiques seemed kind of pretentious at times but what can be expected from a celebrity or a person who usually dines on the finer side. The biggest critique is that I wished he was more adventurous in what he ate and cooked, rather than limiting himself to what he’s familiar with. I can’t wait to read his other book “Taste”, and to see how it compares to this one.
November 5, 2024
Look. I loved Taste. I felt it was the perfect balance of food, humor, history, and BTS actor stuff. I very much hoped this would be more of the same.
A few pages in, I realized the repetitive entries were laden with name-dropping (kinda cringe) and excessive complaining (super cringe considering he has a net worth of $25 million). I had the evil wish that the universe would force him into a life situation where he'd have to eat McDonald's and Olive Garden every day for a very long time.
Not all was lost. There were several LOL lines, and I loved anything he wrote about his wives. But yeah. Overall I'm disappointed.
A few pages in, I realized the repetitive entries were laden with name-dropping (kinda cringe) and excessive complaining (super cringe considering he has a net worth of $25 million). I had the evil wish that the universe would force him into a life situation where he'd have to eat McDonald's and Olive Garden every day for a very long time.
Not all was lost. There were several LOL lines, and I loved anything he wrote about his wives. But yeah. Overall I'm disappointed.
November 17, 2024
4.5
Taste is one of my favourite books of all time, and Stanley Tucci is just one of my favourite people of all time, so if you expect an objective review please look elsewhere. With that out of the way, this is another excellent book full of warmth, humour, food and family. Stanley offers us a year in his life, regaling us with plentiful anecdotes covering the delicious meals he enjoyed and those he shared them with. The mood is mainly light and comic, although there are more sombre moments covering his battle with cancer and memories of his late wife, as well as some cringe-inducing accounts of struggles with airports. However, his joyous love of fine food and fine company shines through. Reading this book feels like having a sumptuous meal with the author; an engaging and delightful experience, perfect for those long autumn and winter evenings as the festive season gathers inexorable pace. I sometimes feel like there's no joy to be found in our current world, so being able to tune out the various disasters occupying the news columns and focus on the simple pleasures of food and family is more welcome now than ever before. My only real complaint; do not under any circumstances read this book without having eaten a substantial meal beforehand otherwise you won't make it very far without your stomach rebelling.
Taste is one of my favourite books of all time, and Stanley Tucci is just one of my favourite people of all time, so if you expect an objective review please look elsewhere. With that out of the way, this is another excellent book full of warmth, humour, food and family. Stanley offers us a year in his life, regaling us with plentiful anecdotes covering the delicious meals he enjoyed and those he shared them with. The mood is mainly light and comic, although there are more sombre moments covering his battle with cancer and memories of his late wife, as well as some cringe-inducing accounts of struggles with airports. However, his joyous love of fine food and fine company shines through. Reading this book feels like having a sumptuous meal with the author; an engaging and delightful experience, perfect for those long autumn and winter evenings as the festive season gathers inexorable pace. I sometimes feel like there's no joy to be found in our current world, so being able to tune out the various disasters occupying the news columns and focus on the simple pleasures of food and family is more welcome now than ever before. My only real complaint; do not under any circumstances read this book without having eaten a substantial meal beforehand otherwise you won't make it very far without your stomach rebelling.
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