THE INJESTER: Laugh Out Loud Stories & Recipes to Die For

A rip-roaring gastronomic memoir from Ugo Tognazzi, an icon of Italian cinema.

Translated by Dominic Siracusa & Gianluca Rizzo

• A mouth-watering journey through Italian cuisine with Tognazzi’s unique twist.
• Includes simple but ingenious recipes from ‘Cognac Risotto’ to ‘Grandma’s Soup.’
• Originally published in Italian in 1974 just after Tognazzi’s role in the classic movie La Grande Bouffe (The Big Feast), this is the first English translation.

About THE INJESTER: Laugh Out Loud Stories & Recipes to Die For

“For me, the kitchen is the most arousing part of the home…” writes Tognazzi, an icon of Italian cinema and gastronome extraordinaire. That feeling shines through in Tognazzi’s indulgent, pleasure-oriented recipes such as ‘Cognac Risotto’ and Fruit Salad with maraschino and whipped cream. Featured also are unique family recipes such as ‘Grandma’s Soup’ accompanied by Proustian recollections of his childhood home in Cremona.

Later in life, Tognazzi loved to gather friends, family, and colleagues at his home on the outskirts of Rome, entertaining them with his extravagant theatrics. In preparing those legendary feasts, he would stroll through his garden in search of artichokes and other seasonal delights; visit his chicken coop for fresh eggs; or reach into the massive family fridge that dominated his kitchen, which he considered the “family chapel.” The Injester was born out of Tognazzi’s passion for food and his experiences as a leading protagonist in the classic La Grande Bouffe, which co-starred Marcello Mastroianni. With childhood recollections, clever recipes, and movie set anecdotes, The Injester teaches us how eating well is one of life’s exquisite pleasures.

About the author

Later in life, Tognazzi loved to gather friends, family, and colleagues at his home on the outskirts of Rome, entertaining them with his extravagant theatrics. In preparing those legendary feasts, he would stroll through his garden in search of artichokes and other seasonal delights; visit his chicken coop for fresh eggs; or reach into the massive family fridge that dominated his kitchen, which he considered the “family chapel.” The Injester was born out of Tognazzi’s passion for food and his experiences as a leading protagonist in the classic La Grande Bouffe, which co-starred Marcello Mastroianni. With childhood recollections, clever recipes, and movie set anecdotes, The Injester teaches us how eating well is one of life’s exquisite pleasures.

Author timeline

1922 Born in the city of Cremona in northern Italy.
1939 Begins work as an accountant in a salami factory in Cremona.
1941 Drafted into the navy during WW2 and based in the port city of La
Spezia, Italy. Organizes theater and comedy shows for fellow soldiers.
1945 Moves to Milan, enrolls in a theatrical company led by actress and singer Wanda Orisis.
1950 Makes cinematic debut in Mario Mattoli’s I cadetti di Guascogna (The Cadets of Gascony).
1954 Begins comedy duo on Italian TV with Raimondo Vianello.
1961 After his successful role in Luciano Salce’s Il Federale (The Fascist), becomes one of the most renowned characters of Commedia all’ italiana.
1969 Stars in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Porcile
(Pigsty).
1973 Stars in Marco Ferreri’s cult classic La Grande Bouffe (The Big Feast).
1974 Publishes L’Abbuffone, the original Italian version of The Injester.
1978 Stars in La Cage aux Folles which becomes the highest-grossing
foreign film ever released in the U.S.
1981 Wins Best Male Actor at Cannes for Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man.
1990 Dies in Rome.