Shut Up and Eat!: Mangia with the Stories and Recipes from Your Favorite Italian-American Stars

I can't really put into words how perfect this cookbook is. Every story and every recipe brings back so many memories. If you are Italian American and love Italian American actors and Italian American food, this is THE BOOK to buy.

I am a proud Italian-American and this book "Shut Up and Eat" is as good as it gets. Ironically, I was born and raised in a town in western Penna. ( Ambridge) .. just a few miles from the birthplace of "The Lip" (Beaver Falls) In my family, Grandparents included, the term "Statta ziti, e Mangia" ( Shut up and Eat) was the watchword throughout my childhood. Not in the harsh tone one may think, but with love and tenderness, simply stating to not talk at the table and enjoy the food prepared for you. Each version in the book brought back memories of my childhood and remembering the '30's and the depression and the hard times that followed. But as in the book, my mother had a knack for taking the simplest of ingriedients and turning them into a fantastic "feast".Dad always provided a small garden and even with the short summer of PA we were able to have some fresh produce to enhance our meals. A window box "garden" as well provided the pungent herbs that made each meal an experience.The one item that was always necessary to be added while cooking was... Love. Love in the preparation and Love in the sharing of the food. The recipes contained in the book could very well have come from my mothers kitchen.My Mothers parents were from Naples and my Father came from Catanzaro, Reggio Calabria and the diversity of styles gave me the best of both worlds. After service in WWII and Korea I moved to Calif. and after 45 years in the Food Service business I utilized all I had learned from friends and relatives. Friends and family have enjoyed my cooking for years and I am proud to say ... no one has ever left my home hungry! My kitchen is my "palace" and my wife of 28 years teases me by stating .." the stove never cools off in our home". The smells that permeate the neighborhood are the same that eminate from the pages of this wonderful work of art. I have purchased two copies and plan on purchasing a few more for gifts for the Holidays. I look forward to the "Shut up and Eat" product line being present in our area. My personal contact with Ron Bard is an added bounus. My congratulations to Ron and the entire staff of contributors to this wonderful book It should be on everyones Coffe table ( or Kitchen Counter) Thank you gang for this exciting trip to my childhood.Keep up the good work, and God Bless Joe Folino (Papa Joe) Turlock, CA

My partner and I love to watch the sopranos but we cannot cook as good as those guys do. So my buddy said to me, hey Sherm lets buy this book about all the Italian stars and see if we can make the same food. It's hard getting some of the ingedients up where we live but we made do and we are enjoying the food. We read the pages and fantasize about sitting down with some of the actors . Sincerely, Seymour Sherm

As a kid who grew up in Brooklyn, NY, I always enjoyed running over to our Italian friends for dinner - our family is Jewish. These recipes remind me of the old style Italian cooking I used to enjoy at our neighbors and its great knowing what these big stars enjoy. If your kind of Italian food is a can of Ragu then this might not be for you but if you love to sautee garlic in olive and enjoy a real sauce then this is the source for your next meal. Evan S. Levine, MD Author of "What Your Doctor Won't (or Can't) Tell You "

What can I say beside Madone!! I grew up in the bronx and have traveled the world. Now, I live in upstate NY I have been married for 20 years and love my wife but she can't cook...until now, she bought "Shut Up And Eat" and thats what I do I shut Up Eat and read all of my favorite stars stories..wow I feel like I grew up with them....... I just ordered 11 more for christmas presents!!! ho ho ho