Whom You Know: TASTY TIDBITS: Patsy's!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

TASTY TIDBITS: Patsy's!

Patsy’s, the original, family owned and operated Italian restaurant at 236 West 56th Street on Manhattan’s West Side, has been a legendary dining destination in New York for over sixty years. Whom You Know loves Patsy's!

Founded in 1944 by Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo, Patsy’s has been in it’s current theater district location since 1954. In over 60 years of existence, Patsy’s has had only three chefs, the late Patsy himself, his son Joe Scognamillo, who has been at the establishment since the age of seven, and Joe’s son Sal Scognamillo, who has been manning the kitchen for the past 20 years. Frank, Joe and Sal are in the last photo.

Patsy’s attracts a varied clientele including an extremely loyal following of regular patrons, Italian food aficionados, tourists and celebrities. They enjoy the restaurant’s remarkable signature dishes including succulent Veal Chops Siciliano, spicy Lobster Fra Diavolo, tender Chicken Contadina, and savory Calamari stuffed with seafood. Spectacular seafood such as Striped Bass Marechiare, Lobster Arreganta and Shrimp Scampi are always requested, as are meat favorites like Sirloin Steak Pizzaiola with Peppers and Mushrooms, Stuffed Veal Chop Marsala, and Chicken Liver Cacciatora.

What great Neapolitan Italian restaurant doesn’t offer a vast array of mouth watering pasta dishes? Patsy’s, of course, serves some of the finest in the city including Linguine Puttanesca, Penne Alla Vodka, Tortellini Bolognese, Spaghetti or Wholewheat Pasta Marinara and Cannelloni with Meat Sauce.

Patsy’s award winning pasta sauces, made from the freshest, most mouth-watering ingredients, are available in better supermarkets and specialty food stores throughout the U.S. The tomato based sauces, 100% natural, with no preservatives or added sugar, are available in six varieties, including Marinara, Tomato Basil, Fra Diavolo, Puttanesca, Vodka, and Amatriciana.

Patsy’s has been known for years as Frank Sinatra’s favorite restaurant and, in fact, his family still enjoys dining at Patsy’s whenever they are in town. In addition to Sinatra and family, Patsy’s has become a favorite with countless stars on both the east and west coast who have come to regard Patsy’s as a mecca of Italian fine dining.

Some of Patsy’s high profile patrons include Al Pacino, Placido Domingo, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Madonna, George Clooney, Sean “P Diddy” Combs, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Lopez, Barbara Streisand, Tony Bennett, Robert DeNiro, Don Rickles, Josh Groban, Jacklyn Smith, Phyllis George, Calvin Klein, Jerry Seinfeld, James Gandolfini, Christie Brinkley, Jon Bon Jovi, Liza Minelli, Chris Noth, Tony Danza, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Hudson, Chevy Chase, Cheryl Ladd, and Patty LaBelle, to name several.

In 2002 Patsy’s published their best-selling cookbook, Patsy’s Cookbook-Classic Italian Recipes From A New York City Landmark Restaurant. The cookbook includes both a collection of secret family recipes and never-before-told stories from Frank Sinatra’s all-time favorite restaurant. Featuring 100 recipes and many heartwarming tales from family members and famous friends alike, Patsy’s Cookbook invites readers to experience the restaurant from an inside point of view.

Just steps from Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Theater District, a visit to New York City is not complete without a meal at Patsy’s. For lunch, dinner, business or pleasure, Patsy’s has been serving traditional Italian cuisine at the highest standards and in the warmest atmosphere for well over half a century.

Family owned and operated for over 60 years, the original Patsy’s, in it’s only location, 236 West 56th Street in New York City, has been the place for home style Neapolitan Italian food that has been enjoyed for generations. The restaurant’s hours of operation are 12PM to 10:15PM Sunday through Thursday, closing at 11:15PM on Friday and Saturday. For reservations call (212) 247-3491. For further information about Patsy’s contact Patsy’s at www.patsys.com.

Peachy Deegan chatted with Patsy's recently for Whom You Know!

Peachy Deegan: The Patsy's pizza is totally different, right?
Sal Scognamillo: Yes, Patsy’s Pizzeria is in NO WAY associated with Patsy’s Italian Restaurant. Patsy’s, on West 56th Street in Manhattan is the original family owned and operated Italian restaurant, the one Frank Sinatra coined his favorite hangout.

Are there any new menu items coming out? The Sopranos Wine Tasting Dinner is new [this is an upcoming Whom You Know piece.] Beginning on Monday, March 9th and running through Monday, April 6, The Sopranos Wines, the line of fine Italian wine inspired by the hit HBO series is partnering with Patsy’s to offer a special Sopranos Wine Tasting Menu.

What are some of the funniest dining stories Patsy's has had?
When comedian Sinbad sang happy birthday to Tony Bennett at the restaurant.
Another funny story is when Diddy (at the time Puff Daddy) came in with Jennifer Lopez for lunch. My Aunt Anna asked if it would be okay to ask him for his autograph. Sean Combs is a friendly guy and he always obliges with a smile, so I told her to go ahead. What does she say? She goes over to Sean Combs and says, “Excuse me Mr. Daddy. I would like your autograph for my grandchildren. They really like your music. Me, I don’t listen to that crazy music. I listen to Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.” Sean was very amused and laughed as he signed an autograph. In 2004, my Aunt Anna passed away and Sean Combs sent two dozen roses to the restaurant.

What future visions does Patsy's have?
We would like to continue to serve in the tradition our grandfather. In addition to the new Patsy’s Italian Restaurant at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino, we hope to open another place, but it must live up to the Patsy’s standards.

What does Patsy's attribute their staying power to the most?
Having family there all of the time. We have a really devoted loyal customer base (Frank Sinatra coming in and bringing old friends).

Are there any new menu items coming out?
In addition to the new Sopranos Wine Tasting Menu available from March 9 through April 6, Patsy’s Pasta is available in six cuts – Whole Wheat Spaghetti, Linguini, Fuziloni, Rigatoni, Penna, and Casarecce

What do most people not know about Patsy's?
That we started next door in 1944 and in 1954 we bought the building we’re in now.
When Patsy’s moved into our building, Atlantic Records was a tenant and we had to let them go to expand the restaurant (big mistake!)

PATSY’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

236 W. 56th Street (bet. Broadway & Eighth Ave.)

New York, NY 10019

(212) 247-3491

www.patsys.com

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

"No one has yet to express their taste for our cuisine better than Peachy Deegan on Whom You Know. Thank you for transforming our flavor into words, unlike any other before.
Sometimes WHOM YOU KNOW, really makes a difference and Ammos Estiatorio is grateful to know Peachy Deegan!"
-
Dimitris Nakos, Founder and Owner of
Ammos Estiatorio
https://ammosnewyork.com/

“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
www.FreshOrigins.com

"Peachy Deegan has the pulse of the nation and highlights exceptional opinion leaders in more than 23,000 inspiring and entertaining posts. Her 100,000 twitter followers are a true testimony to Peachy’s ability to inspire, motivate and entertain. She is a feminine force to be reckoned with and an exemplary example of an influential voice in today’s world."

-Mica Mosbacher, author of the new book The Hurricane Factor: Stormside Patriots and tv political commentator

"It was an honour to be chosen for Movers and Shakers by Peachy Deegan. The questions in the interview were intelligent and insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed answering them. The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped bring my art practice to a wider audience."
-Damien Flood, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
http://www.damienflood.ie/

"We were so fortunate to hit Peachy’s radar. Her review of our Warmies was spot-on and came at a great time in our company’s early history.
Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
of consumers."
-Scott Wehrs
President
Intelex U.S.A.
http://www.intelexusallc.com/

"We at Primola love working with Whom You Know and are proud to have been a highly-ranked Manhattan restaurant by Peachy Deegan since 2012, and are featured seasonally. We appreciate the fantastic work Peachy does highlighting our cuisine with her sublime writing style and the whole neighborhood of the Upper East side. Also, we are glad that she has started a Made in Italy column! If you have the opportunity to be considered for review, we'd highly recommend working with her."
-Giuliano Zuliani, Owner of Primola Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

-
Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/