Japanese actress and talent, 野呂佳代, opened up about her concerns over aging and food consumption on the Japanese television show, '世界頂グルメ' (World Gourmet), which aired on February 19. The program featured 野呂 alongside her friend, actress 草刈民代, as they explored the culinary delights of Florence, Italy, known for its rich culinary heritage and local delicacies.
This episode showcased the scenic beauty of Florence, part of the Tuscany region, which is often touted for having some of the best local food globally. The host highlighted their experiences as they indulged in various dishes, with 野呂 expressing her passion for truffles, humorously stating, "I'm such a truffle lover, I have three types of truffle salt, truffle mayonnaise, truffle soy sauce, and truffle oil at home." Her enthusiasm was palpable as they tasted numerous dishes, including her favorite truffle pasta at the popular restaurant, Osteria Pastella.
Upon receiving the truffle pasta at their table, 野呂 was excited, exclaiming, "It smells so good, the aroma of truffles!" The dish was distinctly prepared with sage sautéed with cream sauce, combined with fresh tagliatelle. An appealing sight, the pasta was finished with flames of brandy on large cheese wheels at the table. Its reputation as the best truffle pasta was not unfounded; both actresses relished the flavors, with 草刈 marveling at the sauce's lightness, and 野呂 enthusiastically repeating, "It's so delicious! The Parmesan flavor lingers just right, and the truffle oil aroma just keeps coming back. Oh my, I cannot stop eating!"
野呂's appetite did not stop at one dish; she eagerly requested another serving of the pasta before moving on to the next delicacy, pappardelle pasta made with locally sourced wild boar. This dish typically involves slow-cooking the meat with vegetables and red wine for three hours, then serving it with thick pappardelle noodles topped with pecorino cheese. 草刈 praised the combination, saying, "The meat and pasta match perfectly!" 野呂 commented on the unique taste and texture of the wild boar meat alongside the thick pasta, both enjoying multiple servings without hesitation.
While tasting all these delights, the conversation took a serious turn as 野呂 confronted her concerns about aging. She asked, "Will I have to stop eating so much as I get older?" She expressed her worries, noting, "There are already so many unpleasant things about growing older. If I can't enjoy food either, what is there to live for?" This unexpected vulnerability created relatable content for viewers.
The studio audience reacted positively to her candor. 人気タレント佐藤栞里 nodded empathically, saying, "I totally understand, I feel the same way!" Fellow actress 広瀬すず chimed in, “I completely relate to what 野呂 is saying; with age, dealing with dietary restrictions is really concerning! It feels nice to hear someone voice those worries out loud.” This conversation struck a chord with many viewers, bringing forth the often silenced anxiety surrounding food choices as one ages.
This openness about personal fears elicited comments from the audience as well. One viewer remarked, "Everyone has their struggles; it's refreshing to see celebrities express their worries." Another chimed, “Unless we are restricted by health issues, we should enjoy our favorite foods at any age!”
By sharing her feelings about food and aging, 野呂 helped to verbalize what many people might experience but feel too apprehensive to discuss. This episode not only painted the delectable culinary experiences available at the heart of Italian gastronomy but also sparked necessary dialogues about food, lifestyle, and the reality of growing older.