Tucci in Italy

Stanley revels in the culinary artistry of this picturesque region. The spirit of creativity is alive in the birthplace of the Renaissance. In Florence, where he spent a memorable year of his youth, he samples a famous—yet unexpected—breakfast dish. He heads out on the ranch with traditional Tuscan cowboys and experiences a grand outdoor feast in Siena at the world-famous Palio.

Stanley exposes the pioneering spirit of Italy’s industrial heartland, where the cuisine and ingredients are defiantly forward-thinking. He samples a futuristic menu made possible by a space-age farm, taste-tests new dishes at the country’s famed service stations and discovers one of the world’s most expensive ingredients being grown in the shadow of a steel factory.

Stanley delves into the complex identity of Italy’s northernmost region, where many speak German as well as Italian. He samples an unexpectedly delicious hay soup, skis down a mountain to experience Dirndl Day, eats slope-side polenta, and fly-fishes in a glacial river. Along the way, he uncovers a history of border conflict, which has left its mark on the people and their food.

Stanley discovers unexpected delights in this wildest of regions, one he’s never visited before. He explores how the rugged terrain impacts its food and culture. High up in sheep country, he cooks mutton on a traditional barbecue, savors a Sunday lunch with an unexpected French influence, and reveals the surprising—and deliciously sweet—origins of confetti.

Stanley ventures beyond Rome to Lazio’s less visited countryside to understand the relationship between the ancient metropolis and rural heartland. He samples a Roman pizza, porchetta from Ariccia, a rustic fish soup, and springtime lamb—dishes that share a culinary soul with beautiful ingredients allowed to speak for themselves.

Stanley discovers how adversity has shaped this famed region and its capital, revealing a history of hardship that has resulted in creative culinary inventions. He explores the dark story behind Campania’s famous tomatoes, reveals how buffalo milk went from zero to hero, and celebrates a once-forgotten wine grape. And on one of its lesser-known islands, Procida, he samples a very different take on pesto that is made with lemons.

Stanley discovers that Sicily is an island of contrasts and multiple influences, where its multicultural history has left a delicious mark on its food and people. He feasts on blood oranges, originally introduced to the region by the ancient Greeks; saffron-rich arancini, which came with the Arabs; and red prawns pulled from the ocean, thanks to the skills of the island’s Tunisian fishers.

The region of Le Marche sits on the Adriatic coast of Italy, and though it’s lesser known to international tourists, Stanley unearths culinary treasures worthy of recognition. He samples mosciole, plump hand-fished mussels, served in a surprising recipe and discovers three-star Michelin food in a beachside hut. He also tastes vincigrassi, a dish resembling lasagna but regarded as far superior by locals, which originates from one of the earliest cookbooks on record.

Stanley immerses himself in the myths and mysteries of this wild island, discovering a cuisine that’s as unique as its geography. He travels into the hills to reveal the secrets of longevity, shares a seaside pasta meal with royalty, cooks a pig underground, and learns how a much-loved recipe has its roots in ancient “fairy caves.”

Stanley digs into the time-honored recipes of this famous region and discovers how these dishes are being kept alive and reinvigorated for the future. He goes behind bars to meet lawbreakers making high-end cakes, takes Sunday lunch with a Nigerian-born local chef who is renowned for making some of the region’s most protected recipes, and wades into the controversy over the origins of tiramisu. ns of tiramisu.