Taste: My Life Through Food

Compare and contrast Tucci’s attitudes toward America versus his feelings about Europe or about Los Angeles versus New York. What do these differing opinions reveal about his values?

Tucci explores multiple relationships: between parents and children; between romantic partners; between friends; between customers and purveyors. How do food and cooking foster connections between people in various ways?

How are restaurants connected to the theater? There are both metaphorical and literal links between the two. Explore what Tucci suggests about these connections and what personal experience brings to mind.

Compare and contrast Tucci’s attitudes toward acting and his attitudes toward food. In what ways does he value both of these? Which passion does he favor? Why?

Tucci employs religious terminology in his discussions on food throughout the book. What is the significance of such language on the book's thematic concerns? How does it impact the reader?

Alcohol also plays a significant role in Tucci’s experience of eating and hosting. Describe its role in dining and in communion between friends and family. What might be lost if alcohol were prohibited?

Why are family recipes so important to Tucci? What do they signify? Choose one recipe to parse: how does it cohere with Tucci’s notion of authenticity and/or simplicity?

Travel is also an important part of Tucci’s memoir: how is travel linked to food? According to Tucci, what is significant about local restaurants and culturally specific cuisine? How are these values compromised by capitalist impulses and/or homogenization of resources?