Tucci in Lombardy: Every Dish From Episode 2 of Tucci in Italy

High above Milan, Stanley Tucci stands atop one of the city’s vertical forest towers—Bosco Verticale—as he opens Episode 2 of Tucci in Italy. The lush skyline view sets the tone for the region ahead: a place where tradition and innovation grow side by side, from politics to the plate.

Planet Farms and Fine Dining at Da Vittorio

Though Lombardy is known more for industry than agriculture, Tucci zeroes in on culinary innovation at Da Vittorio, a family-run, three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bergamo. “One of the best restaurants in Italy—probably one of the best restaurants in the world,” Tucci says, introducing a tour of its groundbreaking in-house lab: Planet Farms. Founded by Luca Travaglini, the vertical farm is the first of its kind designed specifically for fine dining.

Travaglini grows up to 10 pounds of greens daily—pesticide-free and with minimal water. “They’re the only leaves that don’t need to be washed to be eaten,” he tells Tucci, noting the purity and intensified flavor. The result is the Planet Salad, which Tucci begins his meal with: a vibrant mix of 35 herbs and vegetables—including six varieties of basil—finished with red wine, cherry vinegar, and a balsamic vinaigrette.

Tucci continues his meal with an amberjack crudo taco, stuffed with Planet Farms herbs like shiso, red basil, and mint. Next comes a bright, garlic-free pesto—made from pulverized greens—that’s served in a nontraditional pairing with risotto, violet prawns, and salmon roe. “It’s beyond food,” Tucci says, visibly moved.

Autogrill and the Culture of Roadside Food

To contrast the haute cuisine of Da Vittorio, Tucci hits the autostrada, stopping at a 1958 Autogrill near Linate—Italy’s version of the roadside diner, reimagined in 1947 by Mario Pavesi. “You can tell a lot about a country by its service station,” says Thea Lenarduzzi, a local journalist who joins Tucci for lunch.

Over plates of spaghetti al pomodoro for her and risotto alla Milanese for him, the two discuss Italian culture, politics, and the surprisingly elevated nature of Autogrill fare. “It’s al dente—look at the amount of saffron in there,” Tucci marvels. At the brand’s test kitchen, he samples a vegan ragù that’s been in development for three years. “It smells like a ragù,” he says. “I wouldn’t know this was vegan—it tastes like minced veal.”

Calvisius Caviar and Il Gambero in Calvisano

In Calvisano, Tucci visits Calvisius Caviar, one of the world’s leading exporters of sturgeon roe—responsible for nearly a third of global consumption. The sustainable aquaculture farm breeds seven species of sturgeon, each selected for a specific variety of caviar. Tucci observes the extraction and cleaning process before heading to Il Gambero, the town’s oldest fine dining restaurant, where he begins with a personal tin of caviar served with a mother-of-pearl spoon.

“Caviar is not a traditional Lombardy ingredient,” Tucci admits, “but locals have embraced it in a dish that’s as simple as it is luxurious”: a generous mound of caviar over spaghetti and shrimp. “This is so incredibly decadent... it’s like a dream.”

Grana Padano and Punjabi Farmers

For a more traditional Lombard ingredient, Tucci travels to the Po Valley, home of Grana Padano—the world’s most widely consumed cheese. Milder, sweeter, and less expensive than Parmigiano Reggiano, its production was once in decline. But a new generation of Punjabi farmers has helped revive the craft.

“The influx of Punjabi farmers to Lombardy helped save what is now a $2 billion industry,” Tucci explains. “An openness to an evolving workforce helped save this industry.”