There’s something about Italian food that makes me miss my mother. It’s the comfort of sitting down to a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs or a plate of cheesy lasagna that feels like home, no matter where one eats. My go-to place for authentic Italian food is Patsy’s Italian Restaurant, the family owned and operated restaurant on West 56^thStreet, which is celebrating its 75^thAnniversary this year .  

 Nothing says Happy Mother’s Day more than having your mother’s best home cooked dish on the Mother’s Day menu at Patsy’s Italian Restaurant. Patsy’s is hosting a Mother’s Day contest on their Facebook and Instagram channels @PatsysItalianRestaurant, where the winning recipe will be recreated by Executive Chef Sal Scognamillo in a complimentary private dinner for two and will be added to the restaurant’s 2019 Mother’s Day menu. 

In order to win, contestants must follow and like Patsy’s Instagram or Facebook page and the original contest post. In a separate post or comment on the original post, they must share the dish that reminds them of their mothers and why, including #PatsysMomsDoDinner and #75yearson56th. Eligible contestants must reside in the New York tristate area and Chef Sal reserves the right to interpret the dish however he may please. Enter now because contest ends on May 1, 2019 at 5PM EST.

As part of its ongoing celebrations to commemorate the restaurant’s 75^thanniversary, Patsy’s will serve a special Mother’s Day menu this year – honoring the matriarchs of the Scognamillo family by showcasing their most famous family recipes. 

 On the menu will be a host of delicious dishes, and recipes (as seen in the Patsy’s Italian Family Cookbook as well) including:

•                     Sal’s Grandmother Concetta’s Eggplant Rollantini

•                     Sal’s Aunt Anna’s Spaghetti and Meatballs with Genovese Sauce (see above)

•                     Sal’s Mother, Rose’s Chicken with Peas and Marsala

•                     Sal’s Wife, Lisa’s Strawberries with Cannoli Cream (see below)

About Patsy’s: The original, family owned and operated Italian restaurant at 236 West 56^th Street on Manhattan’s West Side, has been a legendary dining destination in New York’s Theatre District since 1944, when it was founded by Pasquale “Patsy” Scognamillo.  In its 75 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 over 30 years. In 2002, Patsy’s published their best-selling cookbook, Patsy’s Cookbook-Classic Italian Recipes from a New York City Landmark Restaurant and their second cookbook, Patsy’s Italian Family Cookbook, in 2015. The restaurant’s hours of operation are 12 PM to 9:30 PM Sunday through Thursday, closing at 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. For further information about Patsy’s, call 212-247-3491 or www.patsys.com.

Opening photo: Patsy’s Executive Chef Sal Scognamillo. All photos courtesy of Patsy’s.