Cooking & Entertaining

The Delmonico Way: Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant That Made New York

Bring glamour and style into your home, featuring stories, ideas for entertaining, and seventy-five recipes from the Tuccis, the family that ran Delmonico’s in its golden era. Today, Max Tucci, winner of the 2023 IACP Trailblazer’s Award, continues his grandfather’s credo of "Welcoming all to the table" at 56 Beaver Street.

Located in the heart of Wall Street, Delmonico’s from 1827 to today continues to shape New York City’s restaurant scene. Under the original ownership of The Delmonico Brothers, Pietro and Giovanni, Delmonico’s introduced the first farm-to-table concept, à la carte dining—complete with white tablecloths and menus—but most notably created the phenomenon called the “power lunch." Despite Delmonico’s triumphs, the impact of World War I and the era of Prohibition caused the family to cease operations, shuttering the restaurant and all Delmonico locations by 1923. In 1926 a new era for Delmonico’s arose. Oscar Tucci, a Tuscan immigrant, took over ownership and re-established Delmonico’s first as a Speakeasy and then he continued the Delmonico brothers’ tradition, transforming it to a beacon of fine dining. Oscar developed a strict code of hospitality, etiquette, and operations coupled with legendary libations and superb fare known as the Delmonico way.  The Delmonico way still lives on today because of Max Tucci. THE DELMONICO WAY: SUBLIME ENTERTAINING & LEGENDARY RECIPES FROM THE RESTAURANT THAT MADE NEW YORK! by Max Tucci, Oscar’s grandson, opens the double doors of his family's Delmonico’s, welcoming us to a world when dining out was a glamorous affair. Max along with his celebrity chef friends offer timeless recipes and Max, shares his tips for recreating the magic of the Delmonico way at home. Max continues his family's gracious hospitality ethics by welcoming all to Delmonico’s. Max's credo, "Moving forward, while looking back." The credo and Max's efforts of keeping the sacred brand thriving led Max to become the IACP 2023 Trailblazer Award Recipient.
Delmonico's was quite the scene, royalty, celebrities, socialites, U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, and business tycoons all frequented Delmonico’s. Elizabeth Taylor, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Rock Hudson, Marilyn Monroe, Lena Horne, Gypsy Rose Lee, Eva Gabor and Zsa Zsa Gabor, King Umberto II of Italy, The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, President Richard Nixon, Chubby Checker, Christine Jorgensen, and Joan Crawford were among some of the most notable names that Tucci welcomed to his tables which were famously adorned with Ginori, Baccarat, Lalique, and Christofle.

Each chapter is organized around a style of dining that Delmonico’s pioneered or perfected under Tucci’s proprietorship, including how to host an impressive power lunch (featuring Oscar's creation, the signature wedge salad); a glamorous cocktail soirée before a night on the town, complete with oysters Rockefeller and shrimp cocktail; and the perfect romantic dinner for two with a show-stopping seafood tower and ribeye Bordelaise. THE DELMONICO WAY includes over 70 recipes, including two from the restaurant’s most famous alumni, Sirio Maccioni’s Pasta Primavera and Tony May’s trademarked Uovo Raviolo. In addition to fine fare, "The Bar'' chapter features sophisticated cocktails that include the classic Delmonico, a legendary Negroni with a "Delmonico way" twist, and the festive Spencer cocktail created by artist Ashley Longshore's grandmother.
Renowned designer Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich expertly layers vintage era photographs, ephemera, menus, and countless other gems featured in THE DELMONICO WAY that remind us that entertaining with style, elegance, sophistication, and intention remain just as relevant today as it did during the height of the era.

About The Author

Max Tucci is an award-winning producer and host of Max & Friends. He is a writer and a TV and radio personality. Max is known for being a food and entertaining enthusiast. He is a philanthropist and the historian of the Delmonico legacy. Max owns the largest collection of Delmonico's memorabilia. He resides between New York, Florida, Colorado, and Florence, Italy.
 
 

  • Publish Date: November 01, 2022
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Category: Cooking - Individual Chefs & Restaurants
  • Publisher: Rizzoli
  • Trim Size: 8 x 10
  • Pages: 208
  • US Price: $45.00
  • CDN Price: $60.00
  • ISBN: 978-0-8478-7203-9

Reviews

"Delmonico’s is a historic culinary landmark, with delicious food and stories. And thanks to Max's book “The Delmonico Way” he has preserved those stories and recipes." — Chef Art Smith, Former Chef to Oprah Winfrey and James Beard Award Winner
 
"The fascinating story of Delmonico's can and should be told only by the fabulous Max Tucci." —Whoopi Goldberg
 
"The Delmonico Way is a perfect gift for your glam foodie friends!" —Eva LaRue

"Max Tucci's new cookbook 'The Delmonico Way' is filled with fabulous recipes- including my legendary cocktail - the Orange Nikki! - it's a must read!" —Nikki Haskell 

"For all those fascinated with the Golden Era of Great Cuisine, Max Tucci's brand new book The Delmonico Way is a must read! It brings everything to life in a most compelling and contemporary way." —Clive Davis

"The Delmonico Way, is a beautiful cookbook filled with memories, history, gorgeous photos and elegance" —Carla Hall 

"Max is bringing that old school glamour into your home kitchens around the country, with his gorgeous new cookbook The Delmonico Way!" —Tamron Hall 

Best Books to Read This November: "Founded in 1827, Delmonico's became one of the world's best known restaurants thanks to inventing iconic dishes—hello, wedge salad!—as well as bulletproof trends like the power lunch. Now a hefty tome by Max Tucci, grandson of an early owner, is sharing more than 70 of the eatery's most beloved recipes (cocktails, thank goodness, included) as well as stories from its glamorous past, and tips on entertaining in the book's namesake style." —TOWN AND COUNTRY

"...a brilliantly done tribute to a NY institution. The book has a retro feel – mid centrury modern with a wealth of photographs that narrate the history of the restaurant. We are allowed to take a look inside the “rooms” of the restaurant such as the Hunt or Palm room with photographs and stories of the A-list stars who dined and/or performed there including Gypsy Rose Lee and Debbie Reynolds. Recipes include Max’s wedge salad, Flaming baked Alaska cupcakes, and many cocktails! Menus for special occasions such as “dinner in style” are shared in this book that is as much about the history of Delmonicos as it is about the food served there." —EAT YOUR BOOKS

"Max Tucci released 'The Delmonico Way: Sublime Entertaining and Legendary Recipes from the Restaurant That Made New York' as a way to revive, bring glamour and style at home, featuring stories, ideas for entertaining, and seventy-five recipes from their family." —GURUS MAGAZINE

"Max Tucci recreates the era of lush luxuries in The Delmonico Way!" —NEW YORK DAILY NEWS 

"Season's Readings, Retro Recipes for The Holidays." —AVENUE MAGAZINE

"Max Tucci put together a fabulous cookbook and historical perspective on Delmonico Restaurant. His book, The Delmonico Way! is gorgeous, it has great pictures, great history, great stories, and great recipes. !" —Rosanna Scotto, Good Day New Fox5NY 

"The Delmonico Way is filled with great history, gorgeous photographs and delicious recipes.  Max, “you had me at Cherries Jubilee!”  This is one of my favorite recipes in the book – so yummy over vanilla ice cream. I also do a tremendous amount of entertaining, so I greatly appreciate all of the ideas to bring the Delmonico style into my own home." —Joan Lunden