You hear Frank Sinatra. If Sinatra or any of the other notable Italian-American crooners are on the restaurant’s soundtrack, the restaurant is certainly not Italian; it is most likely Italian-American. Sinatra was not from Italy, but from the New York area and his music was American and something that those seeking to create a genuine Italian atmosphere, usually primarily with its menu and food, will not play. You don’t really hear Sinatra in the trattorie or ristoranti in Italy, after all.
His music is still great, and I am a huge fan. It and that of fellow mid-century Italian-Americans, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Louis Prima, Bobby Darin, and even sometimes Vic Damone and the overly smooth Perry Como, have helped to provide a very enjoyable and complementary musical background to restaurants here – mostly Italian-American and steakhouses – for decades, long after they’ve stopped recording. I’ve made note of that before.
I have enjoyed myself countless times when dining out with Sinatra and friends playing around. It just wasn’t with Italian food.
Tajarin with shaved white truffles a few years ago at Ristorante San Marco in Canelli near Asti. It wasn't bad.
His music is still great, and I am a huge fan. It and that of fellow mid-century Italian-Americans, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Louis Prima, Bobby Darin, and even sometimes Vic Damone and the overly smooth Perry Como, have helped to provide a very enjoyable and complementary musical background to restaurants here – mostly Italian-American and steakhouses – for decades, long after they’ve stopped recording. I’ve made note of that before.
I have enjoyed myself countless times when dining out with Sinatra and friends playing around. It just wasn’t with Italian food.
Tajarin with shaved white truffles a few years ago at Ristorante San Marco in Canelli near Asti. It wasn't bad.
