SINATRA SAUCE
The COOKBOOK
SINATRA SAUCE
MUSIC MEATBALLS & MERRIEMENT
Daniel Bellino Zwicke is the
author of the cookbook Sinatra Sauce: Music Meatballs & Merriment, which features Italian-American recipes inspired by Frank Sinatra’s favorite foods. The book is about Sinatra’s love for Italian food and the meals from his childhood in Hoboken, New Jersey. It is not just a cookbook, but also includes stories about Sinatra’s life and dining experiences.
About the Book
- SINATRA SAUCE – The book explores the Italian dishes that Frank Sinatra enjoyed throughout his life, including those made by his mother, Dolly, and father, Martino, who was also a good cook.
- Recipes: It features recipes for classic Italian-American dishes that were a part of Sinatra’s life, such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Lasagna, and Spaghetti and Meatballs.
- Stories: Interspersed with the recipes are anecdotes and stories about Sinatra dining at famous restaurants like
Patsy’s
in Manhattan and
Jilly’sin New York
. - Availability: Sinatra Sauce is available for purchase on Amazon.
- About the author
- Daniel Bellino Zwicke: The author is a lifelong Sinatra fan and a prolific writer on Italian cuisine.
- Other works: Zwicke is also known for other cookbooks, including Sunday Sauce, La Tavola, and Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook. He also has a background as a wine and restaurant professional in New York City.
Frank Sinatra had a special relationship with several New York restaurants, especially Patsy’s on West 56th Street, and was a regular patron of Jilly’s, a nightclub owned by his friend
.
PATSY’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
New York
Favorite dishes: Sinatra’s go-to dishes at
Patsy’s
included clams posillipo, spaghetti and meatballs, and veal milanese
. He was known for having very specific preferences. The kitchen crew would prepare his favorite veal milanese, served crispy and lightly garlicked with an arugula salad, precisely to his liking.- Regular patron: He was such a regular that he had his own special table, and
Patsy’s
would even serve him on holidays like Thanksgiving
. - Celebrity gatherings: After performing in New York, Sinatra would bring his friends, including members of the Rat Pack like Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, to
Patsy’s
. There, they would dine and socialize upstairs in a private room
. - Legacy: The restaurant still honors Sinatra’s memory by serving his favorite veal milanese on his birthday, December 12th, even though it is no longer on the regular menu.
-
JILLY’S SALOON – (Jilly’s
)
- The nightclub: Located on West 52nd Street,
Jilly’s
was owned by Jilly Rizzo, a close friend of Sinatra
. It was a popular hangout spot for Sinatra and the Rat Pack during the 1960s.
- Relaxed atmosphere: While Patsy’s offered a dining experience,
Jilly’s
was more of a casual hangout where Sinatra could relax with his friends
. - Social hub: It was a place for drinks, music, and mingling with other celebrities and friends. While not specifically a culinary destination, it was a central part of Sinatra’s nightlife and social scene in New York.
- The stories in Sinatra SauceDaniel Bellino Zwicke’s book Sinatra Sauce draws on these stories and settings to give readers a taste of the Italian-American food and dining experiences that were central to Frank Sinatra’s life. It sets the recipes within the context of the restaurants and home kitchens that shaped Sinatra’s palate.
OTHER FAVORITE RESTAURANTS
P.J. CLARKE’S
- What he ordered: When visiting this historic saloon, Sinatra was known to sit at his preferred table and order a burger and a Bloody Mary.
- Historical context: Dating back to 1884, this establishment holds deep New York history, and a waitress who knew Sinatra worked there for over 44 years.
-
“21” CLUB
- The setting: The
’21’ Club
, known for its speakeasy-era history, was another of Sinatra’s destinations
. - His visit: He typically dined at a large table in the main room.
- PATSY’S PIZZERIA – Eat Harlem NYC
- The East Harlem Original: The legendary pizzeria in East Harlem was a favorite of Sinatra and other celebrities like Dean Martin and Joe DiMaggio.
- Loyalty from afar: Sinatra’s dedication was such that he had 45 pizzas flown to him in Las Vegas for a concert
GINO’S – Lexington AvenueGino’s was another favorite of Frank’s as well as numerous other Celebs, including : Marilyn Monroe, Ed Sullivan, and others. Gino’s was beloved by its loyal clientele who loved the solid Old School Italian dishes, and its old world charm, and naturally the famed Salamandre ZEBRA Wallpaper. It was also famous for its “Pasta Segreta” – Pasta with Secret Sauce.Like at Patsy’s, Sinatra would eat Clams Posillipo and Veal Milanese, and loved just a simple plate of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce.Basta ! - The setting: The
GINO’S of CAPRI
Inside GINO’S
Sinatra’s simple Pasta Sauce recipe –
While Bellino’s book contains many recipes inspired by Sinatra, the singer’s own straightforward tomato sauce recipe has been shared in other publications and on food websites. It is a simple marinara sauce, meant to coat the pasta lightly.
- Ingredients: Olive oil, thin-sliced onion, garlic, canned Italian-style tomatoes, salt, pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, and fresh grated parmesan cheese.
- Instructions: The recipe involves sautéing garlic in olive oil, then removing it before adding the onion. Canned tomatoes are briefly blended, then added to the pan and simmered with the herbs and seasonings. Butter is sometimes added to the cooked spaghetti before adding the sauce.
Cooking Italian 