Primo is chef and co-owner of the The Paradise Restaurant. Skilful and determined, he prepares the food; he isn’t just making a meal, he is investing in his future. He has come with his brother Secundo from Italy to the land of boundless opportunity in the hope of getting rich. His brother thinks very commercially and American, but for Primo, who still clings to old world habits, the quality of the food is most important. Unfortunately the inhabitants of the small town are not interested in authentic Italian cuisine. They want macaroni with (meat) balls and over the road, competitor Pascal has no scruples about what he serves up. The ambitious Secundo admires Pascal because of his success, but is also having an affair with his girlfriend Gabriella. When Secundo hears from Pascal that the famous Italian-American singer Louis Prima is coming to town, the brothers decide to organise a ‘big night’ for the star. It is their last hope to avoid bankruptcy.The début film by Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott is a nicely acted, bitter-sweet and often funny story of two brothers in search of the American dream. In addition, the film is a lust for the taste buds: for instance the big-night menu includes crostini with goat’s cheese and roasted artichokes. Tucci: ‘There is an old saying: Italians live to eat, other people eat to life.’
