December23,1983:JustdaysbeforeChristmas,theOliveriofamilyreadiestheirFeastoftheSevenFishes,anItaliantraditionstretchingbacktotheoldcountryofCalabria.Amidstthepreparations,TonyOliverio,ayoungmanwithbigdreamsandabiggerheart,wondersifhe'llfindlovethisChristmasseasonorspenditalonewithhisloudandlovingfamily-GreatGrandmaNonnie,GrandpaJohnny,GreatUnclesFrankieandCarmine,hisparents,hisbrother,andahostoffriends.WhenSarah,thegirlfriendofhisbestfriendAngelo,introducesTonytoBeth,itlookslikeTony'sholidayexperiencemighttakeaturnforthebetter.ThatisunlessNonniethinksBethisn'tgoodenoughforhergreat-grandson,andBeth'sIvyLeaguesuitordoesn'tstealherheartfirst.Comeoninside,whereit'swarm,andthesmellsofcookingfishpermeatetheair,andlet'shaveavisit.