Award-winning actor Stanley Tucci gives us the exclusive scoop on his "cheesy" collaboration with San Pellegrino, his upcoming book and so much more
Exclusive: Stanley Tucci Makes a Case for Why Cheese Is the Best Dessert
Published on Oct. 10, 2024
We all know Stanley Tucci thanks to his standout roles in iconic films, including The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games and The Lovely Bones. Tucci’s impressive range has made him a household name and an award-winning actor, with four Emmys and two Golden Globes under his belt. But there’s another side to him that we can’t help but love—his passion for food, showcased in his hit TV series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy. The show takes us on Tucci’s journey through the heart of Italy, where he connects with his Italian roots and learns to cook flavorful dishes like anolini in brodo, frittata and risotto.
Now, Tucci is channeling his love for Italian cuisine to create a mouthwatering and delightfully cheesy holiday masterpiece. He’s teamed up with sparkling mineral water brand San Pellegrino (for the third year in a row!) to debut something truly unique: the S. Pellegrino & Stanley Tucci Holiday Cheese “Cake,” which officially goes on sale Nov. 11. The Cheese “Cake” is made entirely of cheese, including La Tur, mini brie, cave-aged reserve Cornelia and Buonatavola provolone.
If you’re a fan of Tucci, you’re in for a treat. Reader’s Digest sat down with the actor-turned-foodie to chat about this exciting new collaboration, his favorite Italian dishes, his upcoming book What I Ate in One Year being released on Oct. 15, and much more.
So, keep reading for a deeper dive into the world of Stanley Tucci—both on screen and in the kitchen!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Reader’s Digest: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stanley Tucci: Don’t take yourself so seriously.
Reader’s Digest: If you weren’t an actor or an author, what would you be doing?
Stanley Tucci: I’d probably be a painter or a visual artist.
Reader’s Digest: We hear you don’t enjoy sweets. What is it about cheese that makes it your go-to for special occasions and why might you prefer it over traditional desserts?
Stanley Tucci: I don’t have a sweet tooth, and sugar never sits comfortably with me for whatever reason. I like more savory things, and as we know, cheeses, with the exception of a couple of cheeses, are very savory. And I love that.
I love the fact that you can eat it before dinner, you can eat it with dinner, in dinner and you can have it after dinner. I particularly like it after dinner, which is something that my wife introduced me to. In Italy, a lot of times you’ll eat it before dinner. But here in England, because they’re more influenced by the French than the Italians, you’ll have it after dinner. [Editor’s note: Mr. Tucci lives in London with his wife, Felicity Blunt.]
Reader’s Digest: So this is your third year teaming up with San Pellegrino for the holidays. What inspired the creation of the S. Pellegrino & Stanley Tucci Holiday Cheese “Cake” and how you would say it differs from other holiday treats?
Stanley Tucci: It differs in the sense that you’re not cooking something. You just have this beautiful array of cheeses that you can display however you choose to display. But the the idea of a cake, form of a cake in different tiers, is really fun. And again, it can be enjoyed before or after dinner.
There’s just something very comforting about cheese. I don’t know what or why, but there is softness. It’s the fact that you can do so much with it—the fact that you can melt it. It just kind of brings you comfort. And I think that I really like this idea that we came up with, because I think it’s fun. And then coupled with, the water [S. Pellegrino water] itself, it’s great.
Reader’s Digest: I know the cheese “cake” has four artisanal cheeses, from provolone to La Tur. How did you decide which cheeses to include and do you have a personal favorite layer?
Stanley Tucci: I don’t have a personal favorite. I like them all. I like all different kinds of cheeses, and this sort of gives your palette four different ways of tasting—four different tastes. They’re distinctly different. Some are softer, some are harder, some are sweeter, some are creamier, some are more acidy—and I like that.
Reader’s Digest: Do you have a favorite meal from your upcoming book What I Ate in One Year?
Stanley Tucci: I don’t have a favorite meal. Honestly, I don’t have a favorite anything. I like a lot of things. [In the book], I talk about a place called Pommidoro in Rome, which I really love. I love the family there. They’re so nice. The food is great—typical Roman fare. I love all that.
At the beginning of last year, we went to the Dolomites, and it was absolutely incredible there. The food was really, really amazing. A lot of the food that I like, that I write about in the book, is really, really simple stuff that my mom makes, or my wife makes or that I made.
Reader’s Digest: This is a cute question: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only bring one type of cheese with you, what would it be and why?
Stanley Tucci: It’s a toss-up between Parmigiano—really good Parmigiano because you can use it in many different ways—or a really nice goat cheese.
Reader’s Digest: Are there any new culinary projects or collaborations on the horizon?
Stanley Tucci: I don’t have anything on the horizon. I’m filming a TV series now, the second season of Citadel for Amazon, and then, publicizing the book [and] working with San Pellegrino. But other than that, I don’t know what next year will hold.
You can get your hands on the S.Pellegrino & Stanley Tucci Holiday Cheese “Cake” for a limited time only at Murray’s Cheese. Starting Oct. 10, you can register for a sale reminder on Murray’s website.
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