Tucci in Italy: Why Stanley Tucci’s Food Show Is the Only One That Matters Right Now

You know that feeling when you watch someone eat a piece of cheese and suddenly your life feels inadequate? That’s basically the Stanley Tucci experience. Honestly, the man could narrate a phone book and make it sound like a recipe for the best ragù you’ve ever tasted.

After CNN unceremoniously dropped Searching for Italy back in 2022—a move that still feels like a personal betrayal to anyone who enjoys beautiful cinematography and Negronis—fans were left in a bit of a lurch. But here’s the good news. We are officially in the era of Tucci in Italy, his new home on National Geographic.

It’s not just a copy-paste job. While the previous Stanley Tucci food show felt like a glamorous travelogue, this new iteration has a bit more grit to it. It’s deeper. More focused. If Searching for Italy was the appetizer, Tucci in Italy is the heavy, soul-warming main course.

The National Geographic Pivot: What’s Actually Different?

When Disney-owned National Geographic picked up the mantle, people worried they’d lose the magic. They didn't. In fact, they doubled down on the "exploration" part.

The new series, which premiered in May 2025 and has already been greenlit for a second season, doesn’t just show you the pretty parts of Florence or Rome. It goes to the "wildest" regions, like Abruzzo, where Tucci admits he’d never even set foot before filming.

It’s about the people, kinda.

Tucci has this way of talking to a "militant traditionalist" chef and a group of Tuscan cowboys in the same breath without it feeling forced. In the Tuscany episode, instead of just hitting the usual wine bars, he’s out on a ranch in Siena. He’s looking at how food identifies a person.

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"The history informs the food and the food informs the history," he said in a recent interview. He isn't wrong.

In the Lombardy episode, things get weirdly futuristic. You’ve got Tucci—the man who basically embodies old-world charm—looking at a space-age farm and tasting dishes at highway service stations. Yeah, you read that right. Italian gas station food is apparently a legitimate culinary destination if you’re Stanley Tucci.

The "Tucci Effect" Is Getting Complicated

You’ve probably heard of the "Tucci Effect." It’s great for business, but it’s starting to make the locals in Italy a little cranky.

Take Florence, for example. Ever since Stanley sipped wine through one of those tiny "wine windows" (buchette del vino), they’ve been swamped. We’re talking lines around the block and people sitting on doorsteps at 10:00 a.m. with a glass of Chianti.

• The Good: Incredible visibility for family-run spots like Osteria Cinghiale Bianco.
• The Bad: Overtourism. Some residents in Florence actually moved houses because they lived next to a wine bar featured on the show.
• The Reality: It's a fine line between celebrating culture and accidentally gentrifying a neighborhood’s lunch hour.

There’s a genuine debate happening in Italian gastronomy circles right now. Is this "gastronomic tourism" preserving these places or turning them into museum exhibits? Tucci himself seems aware of the weight he carries. He pushes back against the idea of being the "next Anthony Bourdain," insisting he’s just a guy who’s guided by his taste buds.

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Why Abruzzo and Lazio matter

In the 2025 season, the focus shifted toward the relationship between the city and the "rural heartland."

In Lazio, the show ventures way beyond the Colosseum. You see him in the countryside, eating springtime lamb and porchetta from Ariccia. These aren't the "four pastas of Rome" we saw in the CNN days. This is the stuff people eat when they want to forget the city exists.

Where to Watch the Stanley Tucci Food Show in 2026

If you’re trying to catch up, the streaming situation is a bit of a patchwork quilt. It’s annoying, but here’s the breakdown:

1. Tucci in Italy (The New One): This lives on National Geographic. If you missed the live airings, all five episodes of Season 1 are streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
2. Searching for Italy (The CNN OG): Because of licensing deals, these episodes often hop around. Currently, you can find them on HBO Max (or just Max, depending on where you live) and occasionally on Discovery+.
3. The International Crowd: In the UK, it’s been airing on National Geographic UK and streaming via Disney Plus.

The Dishes You’ll Actually Want to Cook

Let's be real: half the reason we watch is to steal ideas for dinner. The 2025 season gave us some weirdly specific cravings.

In Trentino-Alto Adige, Tucci tried "hay soup." It sounds like something you'd feed a horse, but apparently, it's a delicacy in the snowy mountains. He also fly-fished in a glacial river, which is very Nat Geo.

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Then there’s the lampredotto in Florence. It’s cow stomach. Specifically, the fourth stomach. It’s a working-class sandwich that Tucci calls a delicacy. It’s probably not going to replace your avocado toast anytime soon, but it’s a reminder that Italian food isn't just "pasta with red sauce." It’s resourceful. It’s often born out of poverty.

Practical Steps for Your Own "Tucci" Experience

If you're planning to follow in his footsteps, don't just book a flight to Rome and hope for the best.

• Go off-season: If you want to visit Armando al Pantheon or Osteria Cinghiale Bianco, avoid June and July. The "Tucci Effect" is real, and the crowds are no joke.
• Look for the "Slow Food" sign: Tucci often visits places affiliated with the Slow Food movement. They prioritize biodiversity and local ingredients.
• Watch the Abruzzo episode first: If you want to see the most "untouched" version of Italy featured in the series, start there. It’s the wilder side of the country that most tourists skip.
• Check the station: In the Lombardy episode, he actually recommends certain "service station" food. It sounds crazy to Americans, but in Italy, the Autogrill can actually be decent.

The beauty of the Stanley Tucci food show isn't just the food. It’s the way he looks at a plate of pasta like it’s a long-lost relative. It’s infectious. Whether he’s skiing down a mountain in a dirndl (yes, that happened) or making a martini in his kitchen, he reminds us that eating well is a form of respect—for the land, for the chef, and for yourself.

Next Steps for You:
Check your Disney+ subscription to see if Tucci in Italy is available in your region. If you're feeling adventurous, look up a recipe for Spaghetti alla Nerano—it’s the zucchini pasta from the first series that started the whole craze, and it’s still the best thing to make when you want to feel like you're on the Amalfi Coast.