…one of my favorite scenes from one of my all-time favorite movies. Whenever I’m blessed to drop into Pagliuca’s in Boston’s North End and sit with a lovely glass of the house chianti and a basket of fresh bread staring me in the face, that quote always comes back to me. And I order the veal. Parmagiana, no cheese.

[Ed. note: I know, that defeats the purpose of the parmagiana to begin with, but ever since I was a kid and my Mom would make veal cutlets whenever my godfather Milt (now there’s a connection!) would come by for supper, I always had them plain with just tomato sauce. Then I’d apply a little parm just for color.]

As far as The Godfather goes, I agree with the commentator that this is one of the all-time great scenes in cinema. The sights. The sounds. Al Pacino’s dark facial expressions and black eyes – it’s all top-notch acting and what movies are supposed to be all about.

I’m playing golf today and will probably have to settle for a burger or something quick afterwards, but this scene in The Godfather makes me long for a post-round dinner at Pagliuca’s and real Italian food. It doesn’t get a whole lot better.

And if you’re ever in Boston you have to make it to Pagliuca’s. And when you do, try the veal, it’s the best in the city.

I guarantee you’ll come out alive.