Tony Lip, Danny Aiello and Other Famous Italian-Americans Featured in A New Book, Shut Up And Eat!, To Be Published By Berkley Books in Fall 2005

Tony Lip, Danny Aiello and Other Famous Italian-Americans Featured in A New Book, Shut Up And Eat!, To Be Published By Berkley Books in Fall 2005

World renowned Italian-Americans reflect on their traditions and careers in this entertaining collection of stories and recipes

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Shut Up and Eat!, by Tony Lip and Steven Prigge, to be published by Berkley Books, features a who's-who list of famous Italian-Americans active in Hollywood, including Danny Aiello (Moonstruck, Do The Right Thing), James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos), Chazz Palminteri (The Bronx Tale), Drea de Matteo (Joey), Frank Vincent (Casino, Raging Bull) and Robert Loggia (Scarface, Prizzi's Honor), among many others. Actor/author Tony Lip, who has been called "The Crown Prince of Mob Movies" and most recently portrayed Carmine Lupertazzi on HBO's Emmy Award-winning series, The Sopranos, takes readers inside his and his friends' personal kitchens and lives. The foreword, written by Danny Aiello, kicks off all of the great conversations about food.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050208/NYTU221 )

Among the featured recipes are favorites of some of the cast members of The Sopranos, such as James Gandolfini's Osso Buco, Edie Falco's Fettucine Alfredo, Lorraine Bracco's Cozze E Cannellini and Michael Imperioli's Spaghetti Carbonara. Plus, there's Danny Aiello's Tortellini In Brodo, Burt Young's Red Snapper with Vegetables, and Joe Rigano's Porpette Di Uvi.

Shut Up and Eat! is much more than a book about food; it celebrates a way of life. The book reveals up-close-and-personal details about Tony Lip and his friends' careers, homes and old neighborhoods. The stars' stories that accompany the recipes read like private journal entries being shared for the first time.

Denise Silvestro, Executive Editor, Berkley Publishing Group, acquired world rights to Shut Up and Eat! from literary agents Ron Bard and Mitch Ducksworth of the Northeast Media Group. Berkley will publish the book in hardcover in Fall 2005.

Ms. Silvestro said, "When Tony Lip starts writing about Italian food, growing up in the Bronx and his life in the movies, you can't stop reading. All of the aromas of the meals he describes and the memories he shares come wafting off the page like you're sitting in his dining room listening to him talk. His friends' recipes and colorful tales have the same effect. This is one of those books that will do time both in kitchens and on bedroom nightstands."

Mr. Bard said, "Every friend of Tony Lip's knows about his gift for gab and love of food. But few knew he had what it took to put it all down on paper and that he could convince so many of his movie star friends to open up their lives and kitchens to the world in this book. Everything, including the kitchen sink, is in there. In the end, when Tony says, 'Shut Up and Eat,' you 'Shut Up and Eat!'"

This book is being launched as part of a national Shut Up and Eat! marketing campaign, which will include Shut Up and Eat! pasta, pasta sauces, antipasta, condiments, gelato and sorbets, aprons, chef's hats, women and men's apparel, music, and assorted novelty items.

Tony Lip is a true one-of-a-kind character. After 12 years of working at the world famous Copacabana nightclub in New York City, where he played host to famous personalities like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin, Tony Lip went on to a career in acting. His first big break happened when he was cast in the hit film, The Godfather. Tony's acting career really took off, and he appeared in major motion pictures like Crazy Joe, The Pope of Greenwich Village, The Year Of The Dragon, Honor Thy Father, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and, most recently, was featured as "the New York mob boss Carmine Lupertazzi," on the hit HBO television series, The Sopranos. He lives in New Jersey.

Steven Prigge is the author of Movie Moguls Speak, which was released in January 2005. The book profiles some of the most influential movie producers of our time and answers the age-old question, "What does a producer really do?" Some of the key producers interviewed include: David Brown (Jaws, A Few Good Men), Dino De Laurentiis (Hannibal, Red Dragon), Lauren Shuler Donner (X- Men, You've Got Mail), Robert Chartoff (Rocky, Raging Bull), and many others. Steven's second book, Tune In, will be released in Spring 2005. Steven also writes freelance articles for such popular magazines as Bon Appetit, Movie Maker and Written By. He lives in New York City.

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin Books, The Penguin Press, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group (http://www.penguin.com/) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050208/NYTU221
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

CONTACT: Marilyn Ducksworth, +1-212-366-2564,
marilyn.ducksworth@us.penguingroup.com, or Dave Zimmer, +1-212-366-2687,
david.zimmer@us.penguingroup.com, both of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Web site: http://www.penguinputnam.com/


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