"Taste: My Life Through Food"

Witty, personable, cultured, and tasteful - all qualities that describe both Stanley Tucci and his writing.

Summary:

Known for his brilliant acting career, particularly in foodie films like Julie & Julia and The Big Night, Stanley Tucci is also a passionate cook. In this biography/cookbook, Tucci chronicles different phases of his life and the recipes and culinary experiences that accompanied his journey. His tales span the globe from lamb in Iceland to French cheese and American picnics and cover everything in between: cocktails, fish, suckling pig, pastries, and of course, authentic Italian food.

Verdict: 9.5/10

I'm starting to think the best and only way to read a biography is in an audiobook where the author reads it themselves. It's literally them telling you their life story. Tucci put so much personality into the family dialogues, the travelogues, and even the recipes.

I can't say I fully understood the recipes in verbal form (probably the sole drawback to the audiobook). Still, I gleaned a plethora of useful tidbits, like the difference between a roasted potato in the UK vs. the USA, or how pasta shape determines what sauce to pair it with, or that smaller zucchinis are more flavorful. Plus now that I know I love this book, I can buy the physical copy and go back for the recipes (and the helpful and humorous anecdotes) whenever I like.

This was so much more than a foodie book! Tucci discusses how connections are made around the dinner table (family relationships, romances, workplace networking, etc.). And he shares his relatable childhood stories as well as his more unique experiences working with actors and restauranteurs around the world. I got a taste of what it was like to grow up in an Italian household, live in an apartment in NYC, compare how movie sets are run in different countries. Tucci is able to capture an entire lifetime of joyous celebrations to heartbreaking losses within marriage, parenthood, COVID, and cancer.

Not only did I not know about his first wife's fatal cancer struggle, but Tucci saves his own battle with a tumor on his tongue until the very last chapter. Losing and regaining his taste inspired this entire book, showing him, and by extension the reader, what a vital role cooking played in his life.

This book gave me a greater appreciation for food and made me view sharing a meal in an entirely different light. I love this book and am sure to go back for Taste often.