London acts as a bustling stage where the Italian diaspora has woven its culinary tradition into the heart of British life. This episode explores how immigrants—chefs, shop owners, artisans—have preserved Italian heritage while shaping a vibrant, modern food scene far from home.
From Heritage to Hearth: A Taste of Italian London
Stanley Tucci turns his lens on London, the city he’s called home for years. He meets chefs and delis that represent every corner of Italy, from Calabria to Emilia-Romagna, revealing how immigrant communities have transformed this global city’s palate. In places like Clerkenwell, Soho, and Savile Row, he explores how Italian flavors—prosciutto, ‘nduja, cappellaci, mozzarella—have found renewed vigor in British kitchens, restaurants, and markets.
Bites of London: What Tucci Eats
Tailor-made
Tucci visits Sartoria, run by Calabrian-born chef Francesco Mazzei, who introduced nduja—a spicy, spreadable Calabrian pork sausage—to London in 2006. Mazzei reflects on how London gave him freedom to innovate while staying true to his roots. Tucci tries scallops topped with creamy ‘nduja-salsa verde, a perfect blend of luxury and southern heat.
Places & Dishes:
- Sartoria (Savile Row) – Scallops with creamy nduja (Calabrian sausage) salsa verde
Hail Pasta
London’s Italian delis—over 300 strong—are more than shops; they’re pillars of cultural identity. Tucci visits a historic deli, explores a church-turned-food hall with chef Gennaro Contaldo, and stops by the Roman Wall in search of wild rocket, blending flavors with the city’s deep-rooted past.
Places & Dishes:
- L. Terroni & Sons (Clerkenwell) – Established in 1878, London’s oldest Italian deli offering artisan pasta, San Daniele prosciutto, and preserved specialties
- Mercato Mayfair – A grand Italian food hall inside a former Catholic church. Staffed almost entirely by Italians, it reflects the recent wave of young Italian migrants—whose numbers in London have tripled over the past decade—helping to push Italian cuisine further into the mainstream.
- Roman Wall – A scenic detour in search of wild rocket. Though unsuccessful, Tucci returns home to make a simple, zesty pasta with rocket and Amalfi lemon—a bright, bittersweet reminder of Italy in London.
A Trail of Breadcrumbs
Tucci meets chef Angela Hartnett, whose family emigrated from Bardi in northern Italy to South Wales in search of work. There, in mining towns, Italian traditions endured through hardship—especially at the table during Christmas, when humble ingredients had to replace more festive ones.
Places & Dishes:
- Angela Hartnett’s Home Kitchen – Angela and her family prepare agnolini in brodo, a traditional holiday pasta usually filled with meat. In their Welsh-Italian version, the filling is made with vegetables, cheese, and breadcrumbs—a creative adaptation born from post-migration scarcity.
Mamma Mia
Tucci steps into La Mia Mamma, where real Italian mothers bring regional flavors from their hometowns to London. These women—many of whom came to join family—represent the patchwork of Italy’s diverse culinary map, reassembled one dish at a time by the immigrant community in a new home.
Places & Dishes:
- La Mia Mamma – A rotating team of real “mammas” from across Italy prepare home-style dishes, including handmade archetti, arancini, and rich, slow-cooked ragu, offering a taste of Italy rooted in memory and family.
The French Connection
At Quo Vadis, founded in 1926, Tucci discovers how Italian food once needed a French veneer to gain acceptance in London’s high society. The menu maintains that charming cross-cultural twist.
Places & Dishes:
- Quo Vadis – Italian classics served under French-style names, bridging culinary traditions with elegance.
Mother of Pearl
In Acton’s La Latteria, Tucci meets cheesemaker Simona di Vietri, who transforms local milk into mozzarella, burrata, and ricotta. This is Italian cheesemaking, authentically crafted in London.
Places & Dishes:
- La Latteria – Fresh mozzarella, creamy burrata, and delicate ricotta, all crafted from British milk with Italian technique.
Beyond the Plate: Reflections on London
Before visiting London, my idea of British food was shaped by contrasts—fish and chips for workers, elegant afternoon teas, and the rise of Indian cuisine through colonial ties. I never gave much thought to how continental European traditions, like Italian food, took root here.
Through Tucci’s lens, I discovered how Italians from towns like Bardi made their way to South Wales, then slowly spread to places like London. Instead of clustering into isolated ethnic zones, many blended into the wider city, bringing their food and traditions with them. That quiet integration helped Italian cuisine evolve in the UK while staying deeply connected to its roots.
Watching families make agnolini filled with vegetables and breadcrumbs, or real Italian mammas cooking regional dishes far from home, I saw not just food—but endurance, adaptation, and pride. The Italian community’s ability to preserve its culture and identity, even across generations and borders, is something to admire.
Next Episode Tease
Next up: Tucci heads to Calabria—where fiery peppers, ancient olive groves, and age‑old mountain traditions set a new stage for Italian culinary discovery.