On Sunday, April 8, Soprano's fans will watch the beginnings of the end of America's most infamous crime family. If you're one of those fans, you'll want to gather a few of your fellow enthusiasts to watch with you, if for no other reason than to help remember the details of where they left off in the last episode!
In setting the stage for this party, I'm not going to suggest you act like these television caricatures. Unless you were born in North Jersey and lived among mobsters it would take years to learn the slang and accent used on the show. And, of course, hosting the party while carrying firearms would be pretty antisocial, if not downright dangerous. But if you and your friends really like to play-act, you could practice some of the dialogue from the show. Warner Books published five scripts from the first three seasons in "The Sopranos: Selected Scripts from Three Seasons" (Compare Prices) .
But you should definitely serve a hearty Italian-American dinner as prelude to the episode. You can act like real Italian Americans instead of like TV characters by serving an abundant, delicious meal prepared with lots of love. Welcome your guests with gracious hospitality in a voice that reflects the region in which you live. You can choose a menu that represents traditional Italian American Trattoria food circa 1960 and that brings back fond memories from my childhood. Your other choice is to prepare a meal that represents the updated Italian American cuisine you will find in a restaurant today. You'll find menus for both choices on the next page.
Setting the Stage
To create the mood of an old style Trattoria cover your tables with red and white checked cloths and lay out red napkins. Use an old Chianti bottle as a candlestick holder. Be sure to burn a candle and let it drip down the sides of the bottle before your party. Place baskets of Italian bread and breadsticks on the table along with pats of butter.
For an updated table take your cue from Carmela on the show. Set your table using a crisp white linen table cloth and white napkins. Order a beautiful floral centerpiece and place candles in your loveliest candlestick holders. Sliced Italian bread can still grace your table, but serve olive oil, plain or flavored, for dipping. Add a basket of crostini or bruschetta to the plain Italian bread.
Music can really help set the tone at this party. Any of the following selections will be appropriate:
- Original Soundtrack from The Sopranos (Compare Prices) . Music is performed by a variety of artists.
- Music by Andrea Bocelli (Compare Prices), the Italian singing sensation.
- Don't forget music by "Ol' Blue Eyes", Frank Sinatra (Compare Prices) .
- Dominic Chianese (Compare Prices) , who plays Uncle Junior on the Sopranos, has his own recordings that would be interesting to play at your party.
- With his popularity growing greater than ever in recent years, Tony Bennett (Compare Prices) is an Italian American singer you shouldn't miss.
