The Sopranos Family Cookbook
As Compiled by Artie Bucco
By Allen Rucker, Michele Scicolone

     Ahh... The Sopranos. The HBO mega-hit created by David Chase has garnered prestigious awards, high ratings, and massive media attention. So, a cookbook was inevitable. Not just any cookbook. This cookbook is penned by Artie Bucco, the chef-owner of Nuovo Vesuvio, an Italian restaurant in central New Jersey. In fact, Mr. Bucco is a character from the show. The book is actually written by Allen Rucker, with recipes by Michelle Scicolone. The book is a combination of personal stories of characters on The Sopranos and a range of Italian recipes. While the book does cater to readers familiar with the show, anyone can jump right in and put together an Italian feast with this book.

There are a total of eleven chapters, with an introduction, an after-word, and an index. There are color photographs of some of the recipes. The cookbook is formatted so each chapter has a theme based on different aspects of the show with appropriate recipes and vignettes. The first chapter contains foundation recipes that are referenced throughout the book. The dishes range from known basics like Lasagna and Manicotti to Italian comfort foods like Pasta and Beans or Escarole and Little Meatballs Soup to more complicated fare such as Braciole (stuffed beef rolls in tomato sauce) and Ravioli alla Bucco (with handmade ravioli). There is a small selection of dessert recipes, including Cannoli and Tiramisu. Most recipes contain readily available ingredients. However, some recipes call for unusual seafood that might be difficult to find, such as baby octupus, conch, salted cod, and squid. While these dishes may require some legwork, their inclusion reflects the diverse richness of Italian cuisine.

This cookbook maintains a balance between being a glossy scrapbook for Sopranos devotees and a handsome collection of Italian and Italian-American recipes. The particular vernacular used in the show's dialog is incorporated in the book, including some blue language. Many of the recipes are directly referenced in the show. The Sopranos Family Cookbook is by no means an encyclopedic reference book of Italian cooking. Rather, this book is a love letter to Italian food from The Sopranos, for what it is worth.