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What happens when a former real-life mob boss steps into the kitchen with two YouTube chefs? You get one unforgettable episode of cooking, storytelling, and spilling secrets over wine.
In this special episode, Michael Franzese joins Andrew Gruel and Lauren Gruel to cook up a rustic, red wine-braised chicken dish — while dishing out stories from his old life, dropping truth bombs about the mafia’s role in the seafood and olive oil trades, and sharing how his family of 19 (!) influenced his love of food.
From laughter and legacy to the perfect Sunday gravy — this episode has everything: mob history, family vibes, amazing food, and the wine that’s rewriting the rules.
Andrew Gruel is an American chef and television personality. He was a judge on Food Network’s Food Truck Face Off, Chopped Jr (with Megan Markle) and hosted FYI’s Say It to My Face! He is the founder of Slapfish, a seafood restaurant franchise based out of Huntington Beach, California; Big Parm, a pizza restaurant in Tustin, California; Calico Fishhouse in Huntington Beach, California and Two Birds, a chicken restaurant in Irvine, California. He is a regular on Fox News and Fox Business.
0:00 Introduction: Cooking with Michael Franzese & YouTube Chefs
0:58 What Michael Is Cooking Today
1:32 Michael Only Cooks Twice a Year?!
2:32 The Secret Meatball Recipe Nobody Can Touch
3:35 Italian Meets Mexican: Family Food Fusion
5:48 The Mob and the Seafood Trade
8:04 Where Does Chef Source Ingredients?
9:55 Mafia’s Role in Olive Oil Trade, Beef Tallow, And Why Olive Oil Is Gold
16:32 Why Franzese Wine Is Unique
18:35 Inside the Meat Mafia: USDA + Big Business
22:34 Michael on Mafia Democracy and Government Corruption
24:47 Chicken Braise with Red Wine: The Final Build
29:33 Wine at Every Meal? Michael Explains Why
32:57 The Story Behind Franzese Wine
37:13 The Night Michael Took the Mafia Oath
40:12 29 Months in Solitary Confinement
41:37 First Meal After Prison & Why It Was Walmart
46:10 From Street Smarts to Speaking Worldwide
49:50 Final Dish Reveal + A Taste Test with Wine
50:30 Michael’s Favorite Kind of Cooking
52:24 Social Media Experts Critique Everything
53:55 Sealing the Deal Over Wine and Chicken
Backbone Media Group
49 Comments
Next time get a real Italian chef this guy is cringe
I didn't think that but I can see the resemblance now that you say it
I’m sorry to say but as a Mexican. I hear burritos and tacos and I think boring. So boring. Mexican food is now the new American food. Where is the real diversity?
I'm not a fan of red wine but id be open to trying this and it's not too expensive either can I get in Chicago area lemme know anyone if you know
I tried to buy the book and Amazon wouldn’t let me for some reason.
It would be amazing growing up when both your parents are trained chefs.
Corn starch can cook out on you. Potato starch is much better in that respect
Enjoyed this, good to see just speaking about anything and cooking good food. Need to get my hands on that Areni.
This is my kind of TV, excellent show from Franzese Wines Channel, subscribed!
Grandmothers meatballs..still love them no one can make them like she did..👍🏻
LOVE THIS VIDEO! (Been a subscriber for a while, but never commented before, and this one is definitely worth commenting about!!!) 🙌 🎉 👏
Michael, i enjoy all your content. Your very natural at this .God Bless sir.
I’m an Independent Latino. Thank you Michael!!❤❤❤ Your lessons in life stories are amazing! ❤
Michael I make Brosolie with rolling raw bacon 🥓 on the meat. I tie it with string
I cook Jasmine rice and I throw in a can of Rotel in for my Spanish rice
btw I also make all kinds of gravy and add cornstarch when I need to thicken it up
Open the pantry, refrigerator or freezer and I put together a great meal. I love the vino lesson, now I have a reason to use more wine 🍷
Omg I’m salivating watching you guys eat!! Lol. I love red wine 🍷
My mother from Brooklyn use to say to cook with your nose
My cousins came over every Sunday and they would call and say, Aunt Rozzie do you have a cold? Lol
As a New York Italian nothing is better than homemade Italian food….nothing!
I've been waiting for this love your videos Michael!
I still buy the Mutti canned tomatoes they really are the best!
Great video MANGIA 🤌
Beautiful. “Turn weakness into strength” Can’t say I heard that before
I love Franzese wines! I bought the pomegranate wine but haven't tried it yet. Beautiful bottle!!
Fatty meat is healthier on its own. It's the carbs that you add that make it less healthy.
I love seafood, and I married a gal from Mexico City, so I find this all familiar, and my mouth is watering.
Oh so yum ❤❤❤
Enjoyed the coming segment! More!
Love you, brother🎉🎉
Great wine, food, company and conversation. You can’t beat it.
Michael Franzese, about the difference labels on store bought chicken eggs. I grew up on a farm & yes we raised laying eggs chickens which ran free around the yard plus in the pasture with the milk cows & horses. We would rather several dozen eggs in a day. When I left the farm life to be on my own, the horrible experience of buying store bought eggs & milk !!! It is very TURE it’s worth to extract dollars to buy “pasture organic eggs” you will get more essentials fatty acids 3-6-9 omega with them !!! Pastures eggs yokes are orange ‘not a lite yellow”. Do your own test buy the cheapest eggs & also the pasture eggs, mark the shells with magic markers which is which & than hard boil them. Cool down & peel the shells & cut in half the eggs & you will see for yourself the difference in color of the yolks. Key to easy peel shell boil eggs are about week old from store. Take them out of fridge about 2 hours, get to room temperature before boiling add one tablespoon of salt to your water and easy peel ❤️💯❤️
Michael Franzese, about the difference labels on store bought chicken eggs. I grew up on a farm & yes we raised laying eggs chickens which ran free around the yard plus in the pasture with the milk cows & horses. We would rather several dozen eggs in a day. When I left the farm life to be on my own, the horrible experience of buying store bought eggs & milk !!! It is very TURE it’s worth to extract dollars to buy “pasture organic eggs” you will get more essentials fatty acids 3-6-9 omega with them !!! Pastures eggs yokes are orange ‘not a lite yellow”. Do your own test buy the cheapest eggs & also the pasture eggs, mark the shells with magic markers which is which & than hard boil them. Cool down & peel the shells & cut in half the eggs & you will see for yourself the difference in color of the yolks. Key to easy peel shell boil eggs are about week old from store. Take them out of fridge about 2 hours, get to room temperature before boiling add one tablespoon of salt to your water and easy peel ❤️💯❤️
That lady is hot
Nope. Not menudo. Never. Everything else (mostly) ❤.
Wow. "Mostly pure" olive oil. Noted.
Thats sounds awesome growing up with both parents were trained chefs
Michael…you are the best
Italians are right at home in the kitchen.
Mike your looking a little thin are you feeling ok
when cooking u use real butter not olive oil..do it and taste the difference:)
u want a recipe for meatballs? ill get it to u as a swede:)
wonderful foods:)
Franzese was never the boss of the Colombo family
1/2 onion, fine chop
1 tsp olive oil
2 lbs ground pork (or beef)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 eggs
2 tbs fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground all spice
1 tsp garlic powder
1.5 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Sauce:
4 tbs butter
3 tbs flour
2 cups beef broth
1 tsp Dijon mustard
salt + pepper to taste
1 cup heavy cream
and plzz fry them with butter not oil and also u can do em in the oven np 10 to 12 mins in the oven on 200 degrees not farenheit:)
homemade potatomash:
1 to 1 1/2 kg of potatoes
2 tbs of butter
1 egg
parsley or dill if u want not necessary
salt and pepper
make it nice and smooth
if u can get it … lingonberry and pickled qucumber thin sliced
this is swedens recipe for meatballs:)
also i prefer beef.. better taste not so blend ..just my own opinion
More shows like this please! I love love loved it! Can̈t wait to try the wine, im such a Malbec fan🍷
glad I found this channel
Definitely do more cooking demonstrations, and show more of the actual ingredients and cooking.
The instructional part was lacking a bit.
Just found this channel. I love it. I have watched some interviews with Michael over the years about his former life. It is a subject I enjoy learning about.
A very big yes that Michael should do more cooking videos and maybe even a series with Chef Gruel and his wife. I'd watch that.
Subscribed to both channels and I will be supporting them by buying their products.
No one can cook Italian food like an Italian! Best food in the world!
Great video, thank you!
And Artie Bucco's son as the cook! 😉
Mexican food ❤
I read his book.AMAZING read!.
What a Beautiful Lady !!