Giada De Laurentiis saves 'Entourage,' food coma style

Kudos to the music staff of HBO’s Entourage. That song played at the end of each episode during the credits seems to be the only thing worth looking forward to on that show these days. As our TV critic Ken Tucker agrees, the once sharply written series, which has been on a pretty steady decline since its third season, has had a particularly snooze-worthy sixth season with few laughs, boring plot lines (i.e. Turtle’s decision to go back to school), and distracting sub-plots, like Andrew Klein’s workplace affair and Lloyd’s attempt at a promotion.

So what are we to do when our Sunday night hopes are suddenly dashed? If you ask Food Network darling Giada De Laurentiis, her not-so-surprising answer is food. De Laurentiis, who keeps a Sunday Entourage-viewing ritual with her husband, pairs her go-to show with a food coma-inducing meal plan that is sure to help you forget how annoying Jamie-Lynn Sigler is.

“It’s a very simple menu of things that remind me of the show — the guys, Queens, Italian food,” she says. Her spread includes cold beer; fried zucchini; a huge antipasto platter of salami, cappicola, marinated artichokes, olives, cheese and crostini; spicy baked macaroni and cheese; and orange and chocolate zeppole (if there’s time) or gelato and cookies (if there isn’t).

Just thinking about the spicy baked mac and cheese is making me hungry. For more of De Laurentiis’ entertainment and food pairings and EW’s picks of the 15 best food shows on TV right now, check out the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands Aug. 8. Bon appétit!

IMAGE CREDIT: Food Network