Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy

In Season 1, Stanley Tucci enjoys the luxurious creamy carbonara of Rome, the delicious simplicity of Sicily’s pasta à la Norma, the saffron-infused silkiness of risotto in Milan, the crispy tenderness of bistecca à la fiorentina, the perfect classic ragu à la bolognese and the world’s best pizza in Naples.

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy Season 1 release dates →

1. E6

   6. Sicily

   Finale 5 years ago

   Stanley Tucci visits Sicily. Here, Stanley tries a salty crunchy sensation, tastes the grapes grown in the region’s unique soils, and reflects on Sicilian hospitality.

2. E5

   5. Tuscany

   5 years ago

   Stanley Tucci explores his former home: Tuscany. Stanley does a wine bar crawl, celebrates the importance of the lowly loaf and samples dishes which use stale bread as the key ingredient.

3. E4

   4. Milan

   5 years ago

   Stanley Tucci eats and drinks his way around Milan. Here, Stanley enjoys an aperitivo, feels inspired to make pizzoccheri – a noodle made from buckwheat, and enjoys classic Milanese – veal chops and risotto.

4. E3

   3. Bologna

   5 years ago

   Stanley Tucci explores Bologna, seen by many as the food capital of Italy. Bologna is home to globally renowned protected food products: parmigiano, prosciutto de parma and traditional balsamic vinegar to name but a few.

5. E2

   2. Rome

   5 years ago

   Stanley Tucci heads to Rome in search of the famous Four Pastas. Stanley orders rigatoni all’amatriciana, samples carbonara and tries a selection of cheeses and sausages made from the sheep and pigs farmed in the region.

6. E1

   1. Naples and the Amalfi Coast

   5 years ago

   Stanley Tucci feasts on pizza in Naples. Stanley embarks on a whirlwind tour to find the freshest mozzarella and the best San Marzano tomatoes, and enjoys a spectacular spaghetti and zucchini.

In Season 2, Stanley Tucci indulges his passion for Italian cooking as he explores the stories and people behind the world’s most popular cuisine. From the hearty, traditional dishes in Umbria to the unique cuisine of Venice, Tucci continues his journey to understand Italy’s culture and history through its food. In the second half of the season, Tucci navigates the diverse Italian regions of Puglia, Sardinia, Liguria and Calabria, with food as his compass. Each region offers its own unique culinary landscape, so we can expect plenty more memorable moments from our convivial host.

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy Season 2 release dates →

1. E8

   8. Liguria

   Finale 4 years ago

   In this episode, Stanley Tucci visits one of the most famous and frequented regions of Italy – the Italian Riviera – which is famous for the glitz and glamour of Portofino and stunning picture-perfect fishing villages of the Cinque Terre. Liguria is a thin strip of mountainous land, sandwiched between the Alps and Apennines, and lined with rugged scenery and stunning coastal views. The capital of Genoa, once a wealthy merchant empire, offers a richness of cuisine fit for a prince from personalized stamped pasta to its most internationally acclaimed export, Genoese pesto. Tucci will discover how Ligurians have learned to adapt to life in this difficult landscape and how they have found ingenious solutions to survive frugally yet thrive.

2. E7

   7. Puglia

   4 years ago

   In this episode, Stanley Tucci visits Puglia, a region famous for its fragrant olive oil, beautiful vegetables, cheeses, and durum wheat. Despite being such a fertile region, Puglia is also one of Italy’s poorest and Tucci discovers how today’s spirit of innovation was forged out of hard times. From Bari’s raw seafood to Cisternino’s Fornelli and Foggia’s burnt grain to cheesemaker Vito’s Apulian blue cheeses, it is clear that by reclaiming their past, the Pugliese are taking ownership of their past and embracing the future on their own terms.

3. E6

   6. Sardinia

   4 years ago

   In this episode, Stanley Tucci visits the Italian island of Sardinia. Famous for its harsh, rugged landscape, crystal blue ocean, and passionately preserved traditions, Tucci will learn how Sardinian food culture varies wildly throughout the island. He experiences the culinary delights of its coastal cities influenced by previous civilizations, and ventures inland to discover the rural heart of Sardinia, which remains untouched from outsider influence. This mysterious and mystical island is full of treasures and Sardinians are proud of their heritage and culinary diversity. One thing is certain: whoever steps foot on this island, will never want to leave.

4. E5

   5. Calabria

   4 years ago

   In this episode, Stanley Tucci travels through the Calabria region, discovering the history of this beautiful and troubled place, as well as the history of his own family. Joined by his parents and reunited with Italian relatives, he reflects on the inspiration people draw from Calabria, and why those who leave this region feel compelled to return.

5. E4

   4. London

   4 years ago

   Stanley sets out to explore how Italian immigration has transformed the food scene in his adopted hometown of London. Forget what you think you know about this city. London is a culinary mecca where Italian food from every region gets a chance to shine. The burrata is so creamy and pasta is so fresh that it may rival Italy itself. For over a century, Italians here have found inventive ways to create Italian food so good it’s enough to render Stanley speechless.

6. E3

   3. Umbria

   4 years ago

   While this small, predominantly rural region lives in the shadow of its more glamourous neighbor, Tuscany, Umbria has an ancient history that predates even the Romans. From wild boar hunts to incredible black truffle farms, Stanley explores the riches this land has to offer, while also questioning whether old traditions and centuries of religious orthodoxy are preventing younger generations from breaking through.

7. E2

   2. Piedmont

   4 years ago

   Stanley visits the region that made the dream of unified Italy a reality. Piedmont boasts refined French heritage and precious peasant traditions. Once the engine room of Italian industrialization, Piedmont is now spearheading a slow food revolution. Between reimagined risotto and the elusive white truffle, Stanley discovers a region with an illustrious past but with its sights firmly set on the future.

8. E1

   1. Venice

   4 years ago

   Stanley Tucci visits the Veneto, once the center of a world-trading empire, and home to the “Floating City,” Venice. Stanley explores the ingenuity of the Venetians, who have embraced the unexpected delights and challenges of the lagoon, in addition to the produce of Veneto’s fertile land.