Bruschetta with tomato

IF anyone can attest that the way to the heart is through the stomach, it’s Stanley Tucci. A shared “obsession” with food helped The Hunger Games star fall for British literary agent Felicity Blunt, who he married last year.

Tucci was introduced to his new wife by her famous sister, Emily, who he appeared with in The Devil Wears Prada. “We would go to different restaurants each night or we would cook. It was just so easy and we felt so comfortable with each other,” he says of their courtship.

Born to Italian-American parents who are both keen cooks, Italian cuisine is a big part of Tucci’s heritage. And his new book, The Tucci Cookbook, featuring family recipes passed down through generations, is testament to that.

Try this recipe from The Tucci Cookbook to get your heart racing this Valentine’s Day...

Bruschetta with tomato

Serves 4

4 tomatoes, roughly chopped

8 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped, plus 1 garlic clove, cut in half

4tbsp cold press or extra virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly-ground black pepper

4 slices Italian or farmhouse-style bread, toasted

Additional olive oil to drizzle on top (optional)

Method: In a medium-sized bowl, mix the tomatoes, basil, parsley, chopped garlic and olive oil together, and season with salt and pepper. Rub the toasted bread with the garlic halves, then top with equal portions of the tomato mixture. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil on top if wished, and serve immediately.