Taste: My Life Through Food

Written by Stanley Tucci

Narrated by Stanley Tucci

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Named a Notable Book of 2021 by NPR and The Washington Post

From award-winning actor and food obsessive Stanley 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797123479

Stanley Tucci

Italian American actor Stanley Tucci was born in New York in 1960. He has directed five films and appeared over seventy films, including The Devil Wears Prada, Easy A, The Terminal, and Road to Perdition, as well as more than a dozen plays, on and off Broadway. He starred in Julie & Julia, opposite Meryl Streep, and The Lovely Bones, for which he earned his first Academy Award nomination, for Best Supporting Actor. He is the winner of two Golden Globes and two Emmys. Tucci’s foodie TV show, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, recently aired on CBS and is nominated for an Emmy. 

Reviews for Taste

[Michelle Tollefson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author’s complete honesty about all things food related. His opinionated text was enjoyable to hear and gave insight to the world of food on sets.

[Barbara Wolfe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this book, read by its author. I rarely like a book read by its author but after an NPR review I took a chance. It was DELIGHTFUL. I’ve even tried some of the recipes. I mean really, I’m eagerly reviewing a book in which someone read recipes!! It has to be good.

This is the highest praise I think I can give….it was so enthralling that I even listened to the “thank yous” and “acknowledgements.”

It was charming and informative. I chuckled and I teared up. Just get it and listen.

Oh. And I’ve ordered a hard copy to try more recipes.

[Dannie KJW · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent listen!! I laughed,cried and imagined throughout this book. I just loved how he narrated his book. I felt so unpretentious and so authentic to who he seems to be in person. Great read!

[Rose Mancuso · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly enjoyable! So many of my own memories relived. Laugh out loud funny. I felt like he was in the room telling the story directly to me.

[Melissa Pereira · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Um livro tão enriquecedor a tantos níveis. Aconselho a todos os amantes de comida e aos que não são, pois passaram a ser.

[Rohit Nallapeta · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is a rambling of thoughts, life's experience through the angle of food. I almost sacked this book with disappointment, but the last chapter gave the book it's meaning and purpose. The audio book made it with Tucci narration made it possible for me to reach the last chapter.

[Matt O'Toole · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fabulous listen. Recommend to any food (or Stanley Tucci) lovers!

[CHERYL Lew · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Uplifting and a life well eaten, I would recommend to anyone who loves food and wants to hear a feel good read that's not sugar coated

[judith weston · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just a pleasure from start to finish. Though I’d have liked to hear more about George Clooney, Colin Firth, and Ryan Reynolds, but since there’s no such thing as a perfect book, I’ll happily settle for this one.

[Libby · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great read/listen! Hearing Stanley Tucci tell stories about his life, food, both tremendous and humble, and his experiences was really enjoyable. Especially enjoyable if you love Italian cuisine and culture, as I do. Cheers!

[Holly Rusch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed it thoroughly. Lovely to have an inside view into this man’s life and love of food. Makes you wish you could pull up a chair at his table.

[Bethany Bruder · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book. I love his voice and he has such an interesting life. It does include a few recipes and lots of food stories(my favorite kind). The audiobook is pure comfort.

[Tina Carpenter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved his discriptions of food, people and places. Not a fan of the swearing.

[Katie-Gray Landham · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant. Glorious. Witty. Refreshing. I fully enjoyed this listen. Grateful.

[Amy Willard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A huge fan regardless, I am even more so now!

[Zane Oja · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Must read/listen for food nerds. Funny, emotional and so tasty

[Lydia Brown · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it!! Now, starving I want to make all of the recipes talked about in this book.

[Linda Lowry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Inspiring, entertaining, perceptive, insightful, candid, and playful, with a transcendent passion for food, for family, and for life.

[nadinerashad · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have literally devoured this book. Pun intended. What an amazing journey. What a mouth watering page turner. I loved how the beginning and the end knot together and found myself and my familiy’s eating culture on many pages. Get well Stanley Tucci enjoy food. Preparing cooking sharing.

[Brittany Hale · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Part memoir, part cookbook, and part love letter to all things food, cooking, and eating. Stanley Tucci narrates his book and unlike most authors that narrate their books, Tucci puts his emotions and feelings into his narration. As a reader I felt as if I was sitting in his kitchen while he told me his parents and maternal grandparents story all while he was preparing his family’s heirloom recipes and describing their exquisite taste.

This book is a memoir, but the memories are centered around food, family, and traditions. One section Tucci describes the time his family moved to Italy while he was in high school and another he describes the food he ate on different film sets and the dinners he ate while on location. Towards the end, Tucci describes his battle with cancer and the treatments that effected his life.

If you’ve never read a food memoir, this is the one to try! Each chapter is filled with delicious sounding food, humor, and love (whether it be love of food, family, or cocktails).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Linda Laddin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved listening to Stanley Tucci talk about food, life, family and friends. He has such a wonderful voice and a great sense of humor. The descriptions of food and the recipes are mouthwateringly fabulous. I’ve always loved seeing him in films, especially Big Night and The Devil Wears Prada, and now I love his writing (and reading) as well.
I mainly listened to this book while making my own meals and loved hearing the lists of ingredients that went into each dish. I’m going to recommend this book to all my friends who love good food as much as I do.

[Jón Agnar Ólason · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A continuous delight from start to finish - poignant and thought provoking as well, you’ll know when you get there - but just treat yourself to this wonderful book. It makes for absolutely delectable reading / listening ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Barbara N Jabba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite of 2021. Bought it for 10 people for Christmas.

[Leigh-Anne Kelly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A rich and delicious account! It was unexpected and satisfying to read.

[Vanessa Campbell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Captured all the more vividly when read by the author. I will however need a copy now to make sure I have the recipes as they sound divine.

[Ross Anderson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Delicious read! Highly recommend! May even get a hard copy.

[Mrs. Sweeney · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Don’t eat puffins and whales please and write about it as if your audience will not be appalled by your lack of empathy for these animals.

[Anne Mowat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

YUM. The way the author has knit together the dominant strands if his life with food and cooking will inspire home cooks; I am going to buy it in print for the recipes. The surprise, for me, was his wit and warmth: they permeate the book. And I can’t help but feel a frisson of pride when he recommends some Canadian eateries.

[Helene Olav · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heartwarming and surprisingly funny and honest - food for thought

[Kimberly McIntosh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tucci delivers his personal story with warmth and humor. I read the book and loved it so much that, when I found the audiobook read by him, I just had to listen. I would highly recommend both to everyone especially for his family recipes along with special ones he has discovered in his travels. Excellent, excellent, EXCELLENT!