Stanley Tucci on Italy's Regional Food Diversity and Society's 'Messed Up' Relationship with Eating

Stanley Tucci returns for the second season of 'Tucci in Italy,' premiering on Disney+ on May 12. The series travels from Sicily to Sardinia to northern Italy, exploring regional cooking traditions, local communities, and family-run kitchens. Tucci highlights Italy's complex regional identities, noting that Italians often identify more with their city or region than the country itself, especially regarding food. He criticizes modern society's relationship with eating as 'really messed up,' blaming overthinking and unrealistic body standards. Tucci also denounces food uniformity and trends, emphasizing that food is more than just fuel—it is affection, hospitality, and identity. He debunks the misconception that Italian food is 'just pizza and pasta,' pointing to regional dishes like goulash, polenta, and buckwheat in the north. The season features visits to Siena's historic contradas, fly fishing in a glacial river in Italy's northernmost region, and meeting 92-year-old Tonino Bertoleoni on Tavolara island. Tucci also shares strong opinions on culinary crimes: no pineapple on pizza, no cream in carbonara, and never cracking spaghetti in half.