Ex-Mob Boss Cooks Mafia Style Holiday Stuffing (Christmas Special)
Dec 23, 2025
Sit Down with Michael Franzese
In this special holiday episode, Michael Franzese trades the street for the kitchen to share his personal recipes for the perfect holiday side dishes: Homemade Stuffing (without the bird!) and Italian Stuffed Peppers.
While cooking, Michael opens up the Q&A to answer your burning questions about food culture in the Mafia. He tells the story of the most expensive meal he ever paid for (a $15,000 tab for Fat Tony Salerno and Tom DiBella), discusses the reality of "sit-downs" over dinner, and reveals the one food he refuses to eat today.
1:18:07
0:00 - Introduction
3:17 - The "Turkey Leg" Soup Hack
6:30 - Why you need lots of butter
7:40 - My Life Story: From Pre-Med to Mob Captain
13:50 - Franzese Wine: The Noah's Ark Connection
21:58 - The $15,000 Dinner Tab (Fat Tony Salerno)
23:55 - Recipe: Stuffed Peppers (Rice & Mutti Tomatoes)
29:25 - "Last Supper" Moments: Did I fear for my life?
34:03 - Hollywood vs. Reality: How mobsters actually eat
35:15 - Knowing a guy wasn't going to make it (Roy DeMeo)
38:22 - Loyalty: Did I betray my oath?
41:49 - How my dad lived to 103 (His Secret)
43:53 - First meal after 3 years in solitary confinement
46:50 - The difference between Killers and Pastors
48:55 - The one food I refuse to eat
52:30 - The dangerous lie young men believe today
57:05 - The worst advice my father gave me
58:51 - Do I miss the guys from the old life?
1:02:01 - What I'd do if my son wanted to join the mob
1:03:19 - Do I miss the power?
1:05:10 - Famous people who secretly reach out to me
1:08:15 - The Dish That Gets You Killed
1:08:32 - My wish for 2026: Leadership & Unity
1:14:34 - The Taste Test: Stuffing & Peppers
1:16:34 - Conclusion