Stanley Tucci Calls for Fixing Society's Messed-Up Relationship with Food

Actor Stanley Tucci says society's relationship with food is messed up and needs fixing.

The second season of his Disney+ series Tucci in Italy, out May 12, shows nonnas, chefs and families urging him to eat more despite his protests. Tucci compares it to visits to his own nonna's house in Rome, where guests face enough pasta, bread and dishes to feed a family, with seconds pushed before the first plate ends.

Such scenes ring true for Italians, for whom food means affection, hospitality and identity. The show follows Tucci from Sicily and Sardinia to northern Italy, spotlighting regional cooking, local communities and family kitchens. It highlights seafood, market produce and delicacies amid stories of family and rituals binding people.

"We think we know what Italy is," Tucci says, "but it's incredibly complex and diverse."

That shows up in food and regional identity, he adds. Italians often tie themselves more to their city or region than the nation. "When you say to someone, 'You're from Italy', they'll say, 'No, I'm from Tuscany' or 'I'm from Florence', so they're very territorial, especially when it comes to food."

In Siena, one episode covers the city's historic contradas, or districts, with fierce local pride. "They all believe their contrada is the greatest," Tucci says with a laugh. "And they express that in many ways, including food."

Northern Italy brings different ingredients and dishes tied to climate and geography. "You go up north and you might only find tomatoes in the summer and you'll find the likes of goulash, polenta and buckwheat which you would never find in the south," he says.

These divides counter the idea that Italian food means just pizza and pasta. "It's not," Tucci states.

The 65-year-old fondly recalls standout dishes from filming, like pasta with various mozzarellas, though he first calls everything the best.

Tucci's passion shines through, but he worries society loses joy and emotional ties to food. On weight loss drugs shifting attitudes, he says eating ties have gone "really messed up." "We overthink it, and the idea of what we're supposed to look like has messed up our relationship with food."

Modern culture drives uniformity in people, places and food, he argues, as everything gets pushed to look, taste and stay generic. Diversity and imperfection matter, especially in food. We should celebrate tomatoes or onions that emerge imperfect from the ground.

Tucci rejects food fads and trends. He faults views that treat food as mere belly filler. "Our relationship with food now is it's just something you eat to feed your belly, but that's not what it is."

He agrees on food crimes against Italian cuisine: no pineapple on pizza. Carbonara with cream, bacon or cheddar draws shudders; guanciale, pecorino and egg yolk suffice. Breaking spaghetti in half before cooking? No, though some regional dishes and soups use it broken.