Stanley Tucci, Master Actor and Master Chef

Stanley Tucci is one of the most versatile and talented actors of the modern film age. He can range from sparkling as in “The Devil Wears Prada” and downright creepy as seen in “The Lovely Bones”. Yet he shines when it comes to food and not just in the movies “Big Night “ or “Julie and Julia but as a great chef.

The celebrated actor and his family were the main subject of an article in Wednesday’s New York Times Dining section. The write up was by Dining regular and food critic , Frank Bruni .It tells not just of Stanley’s contribution to the culinary world but that of his grandmother, Concetta and his parents. He follows in his nonna’s footsteps by creating delicious homemade sauces and traditional Calabrian dishes. There are also Northern dishes in his arsenal too thanks to his parents moving the whole family to Florence Italy in the Seventies, Mr. Tucci has even carried the food to his art. He was one of the writers of the movie “Big Night” the Nineties classic that centers around an Italian owned family restaurant at 1950’s Jersey shore. His grandmother’s recipe for a type of everything in it calzone with timpani was one fo the film‘s highlights.The movie spawned a cookbook entitled appropriately enough “The Tucci Cookbook.” In it readers will find anecdotes and recipes.

Mr. Tucci loves to cook. His family’s home in Katonah , New York has a backyard pizza oven along with a huge gas grill. He also has a wood and aluminum roasting box (which sort of looks like a casket) called a caja China for cooking meats. He is a whiz at everything from roasting pig to making the elegant peaches in red wine. Mr. Tucci is so into food and drink that he has even befriended the renowned chef, Mario Batali and hosted a short lived wine show called “Vine Talk”. It will come as no surprise if he opens up a restaurant in Manhattan, considering his passion for food far surpasses his love of acting.

Stanley Tucc may be a very versatile actor but his talent for being a chef is also well known. If he does leave the movie business there will be a job in the culinary world waiting for him. Even better will be a new group of fans, - not film buffs but foodies who appreciate a good meal.