December23,1983:JustdaysbeforeChristmas,theOliveriofamilyreadiestheirFeastoftheSevenFishes,anItaliantraditionstretchingbacktotheoldcountryofCalabria.Amidstthepreparations,TonyOliverio,ayoungmanwithbigdreamsandabiggerheart,wondersifhellfindlovethisChristmasseasonorspenditalonewithhisloudandlovingfamily-GreatGrandmaNonnie,GrandpaJohnny,GreatUnclesFrankieandCarmine,hisparents,hisbrother,andahostoffriends.WhenSarah,thegirlfriendofhisbestfriendAngelo,introducesTonytoBeth,itlookslikeTonysholidayexperiencemighttakeaturnforthebetter.ThatisunlessNonniethinksBethisntgoodenoughforhergreat-grandson,andBethsIvyLeaguesuitordoesntstealherheartfirst.Comeoninside,whereitswarm,andthesmellsofcookingfishpermeatetheair,andletshaveavisit.