Stanley Tucci Unveils a Decadent ‘Cheese Cake’ Made Entirely of Cheeses
The holidays bring a myriad of different images to mind: hot cocoa, snow drift, gift-giving, and a cake made of cheese wheels. Right?
With help from s.pellegrino, Stanley Tucci has blessed us this holiday season with an Italian classic — a ‘Cheese Cake’ made entirely of cheese. We chatted with Tucci about his love for cheese, his new book What I Ate in One Year and Related Thoughts, and how he became the food and travel guru of a generation. S.Pellegrino & Stanley Tucci’s Holiday Cheese “Cake” features three layers from Murray’s Cheese: La Tur’s creamy tang, Mini Brie’s smooth earthiness, and Cave Aged Reserve Cornelia’s rich, buttery flavor, topped with zesty Buonatavola Provolone. Perfect as a holiday gift or entertaining showstopper.
Foodbeast: So where did this whole idea of an actual cheese cake come from? It’s very Foodbeast coded.
Tucci: Well, as you know, I’m much more of a savory person than a sweet person. And it’s actually something my wife and I had at our wedding. Our wedding cake was actually just large wheels of cheese. People just love to see meats and cheese and fish all laid out on a table.
Foodbeast: Well, and with all partnerships, it’s nice seeing this one have such a signature Stanley Tucci thumbprint on it.
Tucci: Oh, well thank you. Yes, we all throw out ideas and I throw in ideas and we just decide as a whole which one is best for us.
Foodbeast: Speaking of signature Tucci, your book What I Ate in One Year is coming out soon and we are beyond excited to read it. Obviously, the premise of the book is in the title but I’m curious what this book means to you apart from the others you’ve released.
Tucci: It means a lot to me, honestly. All of my publishers were wanting me to write another book and I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what I wanted to write about. I didn’t want to write a cookbook and so my wife said, “Well, why don’t you write about what you eat in one year?” And I thought oh that’s good! So it’s called What I Ate in One Year but also And Related Thoughts because as you’re eating something or cooking something or go into a particular restaurant, it’s basically about the passage of time through food.
Foodbeast: Last time we talked, you had mentioned how food was your love language and it’s exciting getting to see that translated into a tangible book for people to read.
Tucci: I hope it works because I really enjoyed writing it and I actually miss writing it! I never thought I would but I do.
Foodbeast: That’s interesting! Especially stemming from the fact that you didn’t know what the hell you wanted to write about at the start.
Tucci: You know, I’ve never really kept a diary but I do find that it really opens you up.
Foodbeast: Well good because it’s obvious that you’re an incredible multi-hyphenate: author, traveler, chef, actor, director. You have all of these things under your belt. What’s funny is a few weeks ago after I found out we’d be chatting again, we had a conversation in the office about how my generation and the one before it had the Anthony Bourdains of the world and the people who had these traveling experiences that became long-form shows and big books which led to us asking “Who is doing that for this generation?” And you were the first person we talked about. Did you ever expect your career to be where it is now?
Tucci: Oh really? Wow. No, I never expected it. I’ll be honest. I had always wanted to do a show traveling around Italy, breaking down the regions, and it was an idea I had about seventeen years ago. I talked to a few people about it once, but it wasn’t until CNN came to me and asked me about show ideas and that’s when it happened but I never thought it would’ve taken off the way it has and now we are doing it with Nat Geo and Disney. But really, I never expected to become that person people go to for references or suggestions. I never expected to become successful being myself as opposed to pretending to be someone else.
Foodbeast: Words to live by!
Tucci: And what’s nice is you get to bring people stories about a place that you love and explain to them why you love it.
At the end of the day, nothing says “I’ve made it” like having your name plastered on a beautiful, delicious cheese cake and getting to share it with the world.
Starting on November 11th, cheese mongers can get their hands on their own cheese cake kit here and share it with their friends and family in true Tucci fashion. Ain’t no holiday like a Tucci holiday because a Tucci holiday comes with a stack of cheese and a smile.
