November 25

Jerry Ferrara's Birthday
 

 

 

 

Jerry Ferrara was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He began studying theater in the College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY.  After moving to Los Angeles, the 5'4" Ferrara made his professional acting debut in an episode of  TV's King of Queens. Jerry was soon cast in the independent feature Cross Bronx  (2004).  His other film credits include Brooklyn Rules (1996), Where God Left his Shoes, (2008), and Eagle Eye (2008). He has also made guest appearances on several TV series such as Grounded for Life, and Leap of Faith.

Jerry is best known for his work as the pot-smoking Sal aka "Turtle" on the long-running HBO comedy series Entourage, a role that for which he was auditioned 17 times while he
was working at a Boston Market in Los Angeles. When he told his friends he had landed a major part in a television pilot, they asked, "What's a pilot?"

The Turtle character was based on Entourage's executive producer Mark Wahlberg's real-life assistant, Donnie "Donkey" Carroll. who carried Wahlberg's bags for more than 14 years.  Jerry  asked that Turtle's real name be "Sal" in tribute to a friend of his who died at a young age. His character's full name "Salvatore Assante" appears hidden under the boxlid, in the graffiti art, on the Nike Air Force Ones that Fukijama custom made for Turtle in episode 11 of Entourage's season 3.

Jerry stunned many of his fans when he dropped  55 pounds In 2009-2010 by going on a strict diet and exercise regimen and claimed that he lost weight by trading, “burgers and fries for tofu, fresh organic fruit and vegetables.” In a  September 1, 2011 interview in New York Magazine, Jerry commented that, " When I first started on this whole new regimen it didn’t really cross my mind, because I didn’t really know how far it would go. But once I was into it for about a year, that’s when it did start to kick in like, Uh, maybe this will be a little bit jarring for people. Doug Ellin, when I first walked back into the office after not having seen him for a few months, he was like, “Dude, what did you do?" Fortunately, it fit the way the character was going in terms of his evolution." His dramatic weight loss may  require Jerry to change the name Fat Sal's deli in Westwood, CA which he cofounded to Slim Sal's.

So to celebrate Jerry's birthday, we suggest a night of watching reruns of Entourage to see Turtle's evolution from a slacker to a millionaire entrepreneur while enjoying a slimming bowl of turtle soup.

 Turtle Soup

 

 

Ingredients
 
10 ounces (2&1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 pound turtle meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes *
1 cup minced celery (4 stalks)
2 cups green onions, chopped
1 TB garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1 tsp thyme
 
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 quart veal stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, as needed
1/2 cup lemon juice
5 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
2 TB minced parsley
 
Instructions
 
  1. Melt 8 ounces (2 sticks) butter in a heavy saucepan. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until the roux is light brown. Set aside.
  2. In a 5-quart saucepan, melt the remaining butter and add turtle meat. Cook over high heat until the meat is brown. Add celery, onions, garlic and seasonings, and cook until the vegetables are transparent.
  3. Add tomato paste, stir in well., lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the stock and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the roux and cook over low heat, stirring, until the soup is smooth and thickened. Correct seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice, eggs and parsley.
  4. Remove from heat and serve.

* Turtle meat can be ordered from   www.exoticmeat.com (1-877-398-0141 -toll-free)

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes