Chillin’ With Alicia Coppola

Alicia Coppola joins the cast of the hit Showtime series, Shameless, for the new season. This beauty is best known for her role as Mimi on the cult favorite show Jericho.

Check out what this awesomely funny and cool mom of three daughters converted her baby-changing table into… We love it!

Tell us what you are working on.

Currently, I am recurring on Showtime’s Shameless. I am playing a character that I think will surprise people. It’s not one I have had the great fortune to have played before, but funny enough, it is very close to who I am. I am having the best time! I have also been writing and performing stand-up comedy around town and most recently headlined Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City. I’m pushing the ‘ol boundaries, keeping myself on my toes!

With your busy schedule, what do you like to do with your down time?

What’s that? What is this “downtime” you speak of? I work and I have three daughters, a husband and a dog. Not a whole hell of a lot of down time unless I’m sleeping! However, if I ever do get a moment of time to myself, I like to exercise and read.

When you go out to eat, where do you like to dine?

Where we live in Los Angeles, we are very lucky that we are within walking distance to some lovely restaurants. Granville, The Village, Laurel Tavern, and Firefly are some of my favorites. They have great bar areas. Especially Firefly-it’s cozy and dark and transports me back to my nights in NYC. There was something very sexy and romantically dark and brooding about those nights, about that whole period of my life. There was a sense of promise that filled the smoky air. I have beautiful memories of those bygone days and nights.

What types of dishes do you usually order?

Depends where I am and the mood I’m in. If I want something light, I love the chicken tacos and shrimp, mango lettuce cups at Granville. At The Village, I love the battered cauliflower. It’s amazing. If I want a more substantial dish, then I’d go to Laurel Tavern for a burger or Firefly for their filet mignon. I’m not a big dessert eater… I prefer to drink my calories.

Do you cook?

I am a very good cook. I like to fancy myself a home chef. I am also proud that my children have always eaten what I make and serve. There are no special “kid friendly” meals made for them. I am not a short-order cook. I make a homemade manicotti from my Great-Great Aunt Jennie that they and everyone who has ever had it LOVES! It’s light and airy and just delicious. I also brag that I can make three dinners from one roast chicken! I enjoy cooking. It is like therapy for me. It’s relaxing. I love to have a glass of wine and be at the stove. For me, cooking means love. When I feed people, especially my family, I’m giving them my love on a fork.

What types of drinks do you order when out?

You should ask my daughters.They are quite proficient at it: “Mommy will have a Ketel One Martini, very cold, one olive, and no mermoof.”

Do you prepare drinks at home?

I have three kids. Enough said.

Do you own a home bar?

Yes. When I was pregnant with our first daughter, my husband, Anthony, custom built me a beautiful changing table out of gorgeous mahogany, with a door to storage on the left side for the Diaper Genie and two spacious shelves on the right for diapers, wipes, etc. Three babies were changed on it. Now, it lives in our dining room and instead of baby stuff, it houses all our stemware and booze! Perfectly fitting!

What is it stocked with?

Ketel One, and Tito’s, Milagro Tequila, Agave, and of course various wines.

What is your favorite drink/cocktail?

Ketel One or Tito’s Martini with one olive, very cold, and no ‘mermoof.’

Have you ever been a bartender?

Indeed I have! My first two years of college were spent behind and on top of bars from the Upper East Side all the way down to SoHo. I would flamenco in Le Bilboquet on East 63rd and dance on the bar at I Tre Merli on West Broadway in SoHo… clothed, of course. I still got tipped $100 bills!

Ahhh… New York in the late 80s… when it was a time, not a place.