Take it from us: You do not want to watch Luca on an empty stomach. A heartfelt celebration of Italian culture, Pixar's latest original feature (which splashes onto Disney+ this weekend), will make your mouth water with its unbelievably realistic depictions of gelato, fresh pasta, and large sandwiches.

The movie's director, Enrico Casarosa (who helmed the 2011 Oscar-nominated short La Luna), hails from the city of Genoa in the Liguria region of Italy, where pesto was originally invented. "I do love pesto. I would have to say pesto is really up top," he tells SYFY WIRE during a virtual junket interview when the conversation turns to the topic of his favorite native dish.