She's So the One!

It's always sad, on the brink of a brand new year, to read about those the world has lost. Even if we didn't know them, or even heard of them, it's the sudden silence, knowing that they've left the earth forever, that gives us pause. 

     But this year, I just had to smile at the cover of the New York Times Magazine, on December 29th, the last Sunday edition of 2013. There, in all its silver glory, was the Cadillac convertible, a "beat up, busted old bucket of bolts" that James Gandolfini bought from one of the guys who worked on "The Sopranos." 

     According to the article, "The Lives they Lived and the Things they Loved," the Cadillac was one of Gandolfini's favorite possessions. When he bought it, the top wouldn't go up. So Gandolfini said he'd just take it as it was. Isn't that exactly what a "Waste Management Executive" like Tony Soprano would do--except possibly to blow the guy away before he drove off?

     Well, the mourning has passed; I've removed my black arm band. But I loved "The Sopranos," every episode. Apart from the stories themselves, I loved the way those people ate. So it was a moment of true joy when I saw that there was a cookbook,  "The Sopranos Family Cookbook," compiled by "Artie Bucco." Remember him? He owned the family restaurant, always in financial trouble, that was frequented by the Sopranos. 

     There are excellent recipes from the whole cast, and rave comments, like this one, by "Bobby Baccale," "If I couldn't eat it, I'd f**-ing die." 

     None other than "Dr. Jennifer Melfi" has contributed an excerpt from a paper titled, "Rage, Guilt, Loneliness and Food."

    The cookbook  also includes photos of the cast, as well as a news clipping of a fire with the headline, "A Fire Destroys Famed Eatery. 'A heartbreak,' says owner. "Arson not ruled out." 

     Even "Uncle Junior," has agreed to an interview. He says that he grew up in Newark. "What was it like?" he says. "I'll tell you what it was like. It was Valhallla, it was the Golden Age of Life. My brother, Johnny, and I had what you'd call Carte Blanche, we'd go anywhere, do anything and we had a great time. We'd steal garlic from the vegetable peddler on the street and throw them at people we didn't like."

     Not incidentally, the mob features somewhat in "She's So the One! " and including recipes was one of the original ideas. There were a few in the beginning, but after a heated discussion among my creators, they were eliminated. I had an opinion about this, but I was just listening in. Eating is one of my favorite activities, and yet, I didn't want to have recipes. One of the writers strongly disagreed. But she can speak for herself.