"CIAO MEIN PARK AVENUE"   SYNOPSIS

Giancarlo Romolo is the grand chef at Ma Bella's restaurant in Sicily. At 50 years old he is desperate to start a family. Unfortunately for him his nag of a wife, Rosina, is uninterested! Her attitude is like many of Italy's modern women that have decided to postpone their motherly roles, instead, opting for a career. Not only does this upset the Pope but Giancarlo as well. He gives Rosina an ultimatum of children or a divorce, just as Eduardo Sebastiani, Operations Manager for NYC's Tavern on the Green is savoring Giancarlo's exquisite cuisine.

After seeing the sparring between Giancarlo and Rosina, Sebastiani offers Giancarlo a way out of his domestic dilemma and thus Sicily. Giancarlo decides to divorce Rosina and becomes Tavern on the Green's new grand chef.

Back in Manhattan, the famous Manhattan restaurateur Walden LaMont, makes a deal with good friend and legendary real estate tycoon and developer Harley Hellby. The two agree to a "gentleman's agreement" to provide Giancarlo with a free apartment in one of Hellsby's buildings that is tied up in litigation. The only proviso is that it be immediately vacated, "when the time comes."

Newly settled in his Park Ave apartment and happy in his new job, Giancarlo begins to enjoy the various samplings of women in New York City. Although Giancarlo wants to settle down, he can't help but to fall for and fall into bed with the beautiful women he sees in the restaurant's dining room. Being the good Italian boy that he is, he confesses each of his indiscretions to Father Sergio Mora, priest at the parish next door.

After attempting to ignore the temptations of beautiful women and failing, Giancarlo tries to get advice from Sebastiani. He tells Giancarlo not to worry, that the right one will come along. Shortly after, he meets LiJing Wiu, a creative director from Kerlan-Maxwell Advertising Agency who is planning an event at Tavern on the Green. Giancarlo is entranced by this dazzling oriental Audrey Hepburn. A romance quickly stirs up between them and Giancarlo believes she is the one. Giancarlo and LiJing even discuss opening their own Chinese Italian restaurant together and calling it "Ciao Mein Park Avenue".

The success of the Kerlan-Maxwell event leads to a large promotion for LiJing. She offers Giancarlo a job as a food consultant and he agrees, if only to spend more time with her. However, after a misunderstanding between Giancarlo and LiJing, he begins playing the field again and she spurns him.

Giancarlo finds out that his divorce to Rosina has been finalized. When he goes to LiJing to tell her the good news, he is shocked to be introduced to her new man. Giancarlo instantly dislikes Joey Dee, the flashy commercial director who he now has to work with.

Sick in love with LiJing, Giancarlo goes to her and lays his heart out on the table. He tells LiJing he wants to start a family with her and asks her to marry him. Although LiJing is touched by his gesture, she says no and kindly informs him that he cannot be married again in the Catholic Church unless his marriage is annulled.

Father Mora confirms LiJing is correct and assists Giancarlo with his annulment. However, Mora tells Giancarlo that he cannot sin with LiJing if he sincerely wants this annulment. While awaiting the results of his annulment, Giancarlo goes on a downward spiral with some not so savory women, until one night when he gets the surprise of his life.

Willing to give Giancarlo one more chance, Father Mora instructs Giancarlo to say a novena, a prayer for absolution. Not long after, his devotion pays off and Giancarlo receives his annulment. Just as Giancarlo is riding high, LaMont informs him he must leave his beloved apartment as soon as possible. Distraught that he must give up the place he imagined LiJing and him raising a family, Giancarlo barricades himself inside his apartment.

LiJing finds out she is pregnant and realizes her true feelings for Giancarlo. She is unable to reach Giancarlo for a number of days and goes to the Tavern on the Green looking for him. LaMont meets with LiJing and explains to her what has been going on. After discussing the apartment situation with LaMont and Hellby, LiJing negotiates a million dollar buyout on behalf of Giancarlo and assures them he will vacate immediately.

Expecting the police to be breaking down his door, Giancarlo stands in the shadows with knives in hand ready to defend himself. He is shocked when he sees LiJing entering his apartment. LiJing explains everything to Giancarlo and the two passionately reunite.

Months later, we see the star studded grand opening of "Ciao Mein Park Avenue." Everyone is elegantly dressed for the occasion and very happy...especially LiJing, who is moments away from giving birth to a baby boy.