What I Ate in One Year

From the beloved, bestselling, Oscar-nominated author of Taste, What I Ate in One Year offers a delightful journey through a year in Stanley Tucci's life, chronicling his gastronomic adventures with humour, emotion, and an irresistible charm. This intensely personal diary is a heartfelt celebration of the profound role that food plays in our lives and memories.

"Sharing food is one of the purest human acts."

Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci's life—from stracciatella soup enjoyed in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce whipped up between rehearsals and costume fittings, to homemade pizza shared with his children before bedtime. What I Ate in One Year captures twelve months of Tucci's culinary experiences across various settings, including restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, and his own home. His meals are shared with friends, family, strangers, and occasionally savoured alone.

Ranging from mouth-wateringly memorable to comfortingly domestic, and occasionally infuriatingly inedible, these meals serve as a prism through which Tucci reflects on the ever-evolving nature of his life and family. Through food, he marks the passage of time, mourns the loss of loved ones, and prepares himself for the future. Each meal, whether duck à l'orange cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks grilled at a friendly gathering, or meatballs made by his mother and son, contributes to the shape and richness of his days.

Tucci's narrative is as much about the people and places that accompany these meals as it is about the food itself. Whether he's enjoying a simple dish with fellow actors or indulging in a feast with three generations of his family, each experience is a testament to the joys of sharing food and the profound connections it fosters.

What I Ate in One Year is more than just a memoir—it's a celebration of life, love, and the culinary treasures that bring us together. Stanley Tucci's storytelling, infused with wit and wisdom, offers readers a deeply satisfying serving of memories and meals, reminding us that food, in all its forms, nourishes the soul as well as the body.