3. There were actually two different Rat Packs, one popular in the '50s and another (the most famous and notable) in the '60s. The first consisted of Humphrey Bogart, Mickey Rooney, Errol Flynn, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Cesar Romero and Jerry Lewis.
4. The name of the iconic Great Dane cartoon character Scooby-Doo has Frank Sinatra to thank for his namesake. The famous mutt's creator, Iwao Takamoto, listened to Sinatra's hit song "Strangers in the Night" and noticed his scatting (which sounded like "dooby dooby doo.") This ultimately led to the character's name.
5. Ocean's 11 (1960) was a famed heist movie that featured all five of the Pack's members in lead roles (Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop).
6. Dean Martin wasn't actually a big fan of parties, despite his reputation and membership in the Pack. Not only was he religious and a devout Catholic, but he was also self-described as shy and ashamed of the way he spoke.
7. Joey Bishop was considered the more serious man of the group regarding comedy and wild antics. Ironically, he was also the member who wrote their comedic material behind the scenes.
8. Bishop was also insecure about his standing with the Pack and felt like an outsider. He would constantly wait for an invitation to join the rest of the group when dining. His close friend Sinatra once reportedly said, "Goddammit, how long does he have to be with me before he knows he can eat with us?"
9. The group often performed at the Copa Room in the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Whenever a member was booked, billboards would hint at the surprise appearances of the other members.
10. The Rat Pack was known for its association with many famous actresses, including Lauren Bacall, Shirley MacLaine, Marilyn Monroe, Juliette Prowse and Angie Dickinson. The leading ladies made many appearances in the Rat Pack films. Frank Sinatra even had romantic relationships with Prowse and Dickinson.
More RAT PACK Stuff
Seventy years since coronation chicken was created for the Queen’s ascension to the throne, a new royally-approved dish has been announced to mark King Charles III’s coronation. The official recipe is (drum roll please)… a quiche.
Personally selected by the King alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort, it’s hoped that the dish will be created for street parties across the country on 6 May, when Charles is officially being crowned. The recipe, which you can find below, is described as a ‘deep quiche with a crisp, light pastry case and delicate flavours of spinach, broad beans and fresh tarragon.’ It was created by royal chef Mark Flanagan, who recommends we enjoy it alongside a green salad and boiled new potatoes.
So why quiche, you might wonder? Granted, the dish might not scream trendy, but it was picked because it’s a good sharing option, can be served hot or cold, is not too complicated or expensive to make, and can be adapted for different dietary requirements. It’s significant that the King picked a vegetarian dish too, as he is known for his commitment to environmental issues, and has previously spoken about the impact of meat consumption.
Quiche is often thought of as a French dish, but it’s actually believed to have originated in Germany, in the medieval kingdom of Lothringen – later occupied by the French, who renamed it Lorraine. The original quiche was a pie filled with egg and cream custard, and cheese was later added to the mix. Originally, the base was made from bread dough, but that changed over the years and now it’s typically made from a short-crust or puff pastry crust.
It became popular in England following the Second World War, after British troops returned and shared the recipe with their hometowns. A traditional quiche Lorraine includes bacon or ham, but the opportunities are endless when it comes to fillings.
Serves 6
Pastry
Filling
To make the pastry…
To make the quiche…
SINATRA & SUNDAY SAUCE ? Yes, they go together, Francis Albert Sinatra & Sunday Sauce ... ...
