We're swooning to the silky sounds of Frank Sinatra's greatest hits and celebrating his 100th birthday on December 12 (this week!) with an honorary listening party. Oh, and f-o-o-d. We've paired recipes to famous song lyrics for the man who practically lived for the fusilli with fileto di pomodoro at Patsy's, who was known to down a martini or three at The Savoy, and who was praised for his signature eggplant Parmesan. So let's crank up the volume on our speakers (or earbuds), and raise our lasagna-filled plates to Ol' Blue Eyes, because you only turn 100 once.
Everyone knows you can't fly without wings.
"I want to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep. And find I'm king of the hill. Top of the heap." Only a Manhattan will do.
"Even when I'm old and gray, I'm going to feel the way I do today. Because you make me feel so young." So does this gooey grilled cheese and tomato soup.
"Your looks are laughable / Unphotographable / Yet you're my favorite work of art." It's true, it's hard to Instagram lasagna. Eat it? Not so difficult.
"It's no matter, darling, where you are. I think of you day and night." We're 1000 percent positive he was talking about late-night pizza.
"I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die." Oof, getting a little dark with that one, Frankie, why not have a big ball of cheese instead?
"I heard somebody whisper 'Please adore me.'" Yeah, that someone was this savory galette, which just wants you to love it unconditionally.
"She could laugh away the dark clouds, cry away the snow." "Laugh away" the dark cherry concrete means "eat away."
"For once I can touch what my heart used to dream of. Long before I knew, oh, someone like you would make my dream come true."
All dreams are made of salted caramel.
"Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew, when I bit off more than I could chew." You can have this whole platter to yourself, Frank. We don't judge.
"My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me." Oh, hi, huckleberry (shrub) friend. Didn't see you there.
"I've got you under my (crispy chicken) skin. I've you got you deep in the heart of me."
"With each word your tenderness grows, tearing my fear apart." Then they fall off the bone, because that's what awesome ribs do.
"Still, it's a real good bet. The best is yet to come." Yeah, we know, it's delayed gratification city. See you three months from now, plum wine.
"It turned out so right for strangers in the night." Exactly what we say to our oats in the morning, after we've left them alone all night.
"Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away. If you could use some exotic booze..." Exotic booze has frequent flyer miles—we don't.
"It doesn't show signs of stopping, and I've bought some corn for popping." He probably didn't bring nutritional yeast, but let's call it poetic license.
Are you a die-hard fan of The Sultan of Swoon? Then you'll definitely want this Vanity Fair Special Edition Magazine on Frank Sinatra.