Content area
Full Text
Any serious fan of HBO's hit series "The Sopranos" sorry about the pun - probably will recall the episode in which conflicted New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano travels to Naples to discuss business with the head of the Neapolitan famiglia, Zi Vittorio.
While in Naples, Tony, Paulie "Walnuts" and Chris Moltisanti attend a private party given in their honor at a luxurious-looking local restaurant. Remember Paulie's comment, "Ain't ya got no macaroni with gravy?"
Anyway, it was pretty clear to anyone who watched the episode that the production team of "The Sopranos" had gone to some lengths to shoot much of it on location in Naples. But what most viewers probably don't realize is that one of those scenes inside that luxurious restaurant was shot several months later on the Soprano family's home turf of New Jersey.
The scene, to be precise, was filmed at the Pleasantdale Chateau, a corporate training center and conference resort in West Orange owned by another prominent New Jersey family, the Knowles - who also own top-rated restaurants The Manor, Highlawn Pavillion and Ram's Head Inn. And to hear Wade Knowles talk about it, the experience was more rewarding, if no less stressful, than a visit with Dr. Melfi, Tony's...