Named a Notable Book of 2021 by NPR and The Washington Post
From award-winning actor and food obsessiveStanley Tucci comes an intimate and charming memoir of life in and out of the kitchen.
Stanley Tucci grew up in an Italian American family that spent every night around the kitchen table. He shared the magic of those meals with us in The Tucci Cookbook and The Tucci Table, and now he takes us beyond the savory recipes and into the compelling stories behind them.
Taste is a reflection on the intersection of food and life, filled with anecdotes about his growing up in Westchester, New York; preparing for and shooting the foodie films Big Night and Julie & Julia; falling in love over dinner; and teaming up with his wife to create meals for a multitude of children. Each morsel of this gastronomic journey through good times and bad, five-star meals and burned dishes, is as heartfelt and delicious as the last.
Written with Stanley’s signature wry humor, Taste is for fans of Bill Buford, Gabrielle Hamilton, and Ruth Reichl—and anyone who knows the power of a home-cooked meal.
Taste: My Life through Food by Stanley Tucci is a delightful food memoir, full of recipes, humor, and just a bit of name-dropping by one of Hollywood’s favorite character actors.
Story Recap:
Award-winning actor Stanley Tucci writes a food-centered memoir that includes his life growing up in an Italian-American household in Westchester county New York, where food. From birth, food was a central theme in his boyhood. This book features his descriptions of his family, their favorite recipes, and how he grew up obsessed with good quality food.
My Thoughts:
This was so much fun to listen to. Stanley Tucci has a wonderful sense of humor and it showed up in his book. Stanley Tucci is close to my age, so I especially enjoyed his stories of growing up as I grew up in the same time period. There was a lot of nostalgia in this book. Although not perfect, he enjoyed his childhood and his family and his love for his family shines in this book. The stories of his mother’s meals and his family get-togethers are so endearing.
The book also chronicles his life as an actor and the many film sets and countries he visited as an actor. I thought it was amazing how he remembered so many dishes during his travels and where and when he ate them. And his descriptions of the dishes are absolutely mouth-watering.
He also shares stories about his family, his children, and his wives as well as some of his own personal health issues. There was never a dull moment during the entire book.
Narration:
I can’t imagine anyone other than Stanley Tucci himself narrating this book. As an award-winning actor, he knows how to narrate, and his tone, cadence, and Italian pronunciations were spot on. But, it’s his charm and self-deprecating humor that comes through the best, making this such an entertaining audiobook.
About Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is an actor, writer, director, and producer. He has directed five films and appeared in over seventy films, countless television shows, and a dozen plays on and off Broadway. He has been nominated for an Academy Award, a Tony, and a spoken word Grammy; is a winner of two Golden Globes and two Emmys; and has received numerous other critical and professional awards and accolades.
A lover of all things culinary Stanley wrote and directed Big Night, the critically acclaimed movie about two brothers running a failing restaurant, starred in Julie and Julia and is the host of Emmy nominated Searching for Italy. He is also pretty adept with a cocktail shaker.
He is the author of Taste: My Life Through Food and two cookbooks, The Tucci Table and The Tucci Cookbook.
I saw this book around, but wasn’t sure what to expect. Now, after reading your review, I am going to add the audiobook to my TBR. It sounds wonderful and I love humor in a memoir. Glad to hear his narration was good as well.
So wonderful to hear your thoughts on this book. I have this one on my list and I’m actually going to check out the audiobook now that you mention it! Thank you for sharing!
I don’t normally read books like these, but I love Stanley Tucci and I once watched a documentary of him doing food things in Italy and other countries. It was great.
This sounds a lovely and entertaining read. I have seen the related tv show with his trip to Italy and exploration of the food he enjoyed as a child, so this is a book I definitely want to read. Glad you enjoyed it so much Wendy🙂🍝
I loved his Searching For Italy show. I think there’s a new season I haven’t watched yet. I think I’d enjoy this book. I’m probably the same age as him. 52?
I don’t follow actors closely, but I do enjoy foodie movies so I’ll have to look for him and his works. This book sounds like a nonfiction that is as engaging as fiction.
I saw this book around, but wasn’t sure what to expect. Now, after reading your review, I am going to add the audiobook to my TBR. It sounds wonderful and I love humor in a memoir. Glad to hear his narration was good as well.
This has been very popular, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I’m going to have to get this one. Great review!
Sounds like a perfect book for foodies and those who love to cook. Great review!
So wonderful to hear your thoughts on this book. I have this one on my list and I’m actually going to check out the audiobook now that you mention it! Thank you for sharing!
I don’t normally read books like these, but I love Stanley Tucci and I once watched a documentary of him doing food things in Italy and other countries. It was great.
I like celebrity memoirs, but haven’t read this one. I’ll keep the audiobook in mind, since it’s read by the author himself. Great review!
Yes, it’s much better when the author narrates.
I’ve seen this book around. It looks interesting. I have to admit that I don’t really know who Stanley Tucci is, but I will be having a look on IMDB…
Have a great week!
He was in The Devil Wears Prada. He’s more of a character actor than a leading man.
It was available at the library – now I have something to listen to on my drive home. Yay!
Oh good! I hope you enjoy it!
I’m always looking for a good audio book and this sounds excellent – great review and I’m off to the library!
Thank you, Terrie!
This sounds a lovely and entertaining read. I have seen the related tv show with his trip to Italy and exploration of the food he enjoyed as a child, so this is a book I definitely want to read. Glad you enjoyed it so much Wendy🙂🍝
Thank you, Mallika. If you enjoy the show, I think you’d enjoy this book
It’s wonderful that Stanley Tucci narrated it himself. That alone makes it intriguing to me. Excellent review, Wendy!
He’s a wonderful narrator, and he’s so down to earth.
I loved his Searching For Italy show. I think there’s a new season I haven’t watched yet. I think I’d enjoy this book. I’m probably the same age as him. 52?
He’s my age, 62. If you. like his show, I think you’d enjoy the book.
I don’t follow actors closely, but I do enjoy foodie movies so I’ll have to look for him and his works. This book sounds like a nonfiction that is as engaging as fiction.
Yes! He’s a wonderful storyteller and it did feel like I was listening to fiction
I love it when a book is narrated by the author! This sounds like a good one. Great review, Wendy!
Thank you, Jolene!
I’m so glad that you loved this book as much as I did Wendy! I’m a huge Stanley Tucci fan for all the same reasons.
I never would have thought to read this until I read your review! Thanks, Jodie.
I really enjoyed this when I read it. I bet it was fun listening to him narrate it
Yes, with Stanley Tucci as the narrator, it makes it so good.
I absolutely adore Stanley Tucci. Wonderful review, Wendy!
Thank you, Rae!
Stanley Tucci is wonderful. I usually don’t read memoirs, but his is one I’d love to listen to. Glad you enjoyed it!
He’s such a good writer and narrator!
I’m glad you enjoyed this one, it sounds great! And I’m sure his narrating it himself makes it even better.
Yes, I can’t imagine I could have enjoyed this with someone else narrating.
I grew up the same way in my Sicilian family in New Jersey! Excellent review Wendy!📚💜
Oh wow! Then you would really enjoy this book!
Another interesting book, seems like a good person to hear about his life, great review 💕
Thank. you, Jenny!
Great review, Wendy.
Did you watch his foody tour of Italy? Hubby and I really enjoy his down-to-earth manner.
I’ve seen parts of it, but I want to watch it all in order .
I’m glad you enjoyed this one! I liked it fairly well when I listened to it.
It really kept my attention!