Fontainebleau Miami Beach Celebrates Sinatra's 100th Birthday With Dinners, Memories

If he were alive, Frank Sinatra would turn 100 December 12. Even posthumously, the famed crooner is still relevant today. Through his career, Old Blue Eyes performed on more than 1,400 recordings, received nine Grammy Awards, and appeared in more than 60 movies.

With his sultry voice, unique ability to phrase a song, and penchant for the good life, Sinatra is the man many of today's celebrities emulate. When you read about Kardashians hosting multimillion-dollar Vegas parties and rock stars participating in drunken nights with a bevy of beautiful groupies, know that Sinatra did it all first and with a lot more class.

Sinatra also had many Miami ties. The Fontainebleau Miami Beach was one of his favorite playgrounds. The singer often performed to sold-out shows at the resort's La Ronde supper club and held court at his private cabana and suite. Sinatra also filmed many movies and TV specials at the Miami Beach hotel and partied through many nights with fellow Rat Packers Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin.

On the eve of his birthday, the hotel is celebrating its relationship with Sinatra through a series of events, including a pop-up gallery of pictures of Sinatra at the hotel, which is on display through February. In addition, the Bleau Bar has a nightly toast to the legendary singer. At 6:30 p.m., hotel guests and bar patrons are asked to raise a complimentary glass of Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select in honor of the singer's upcoming birthday. The man was buried with a bottle of Jack, so it's a safe bet he'd be pleased by this gesture.

There's also a weekly Brunch With Frank at Stripsteak by Michael Mina every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through December 6. It starts with Frank's favorite hair of the dog, a Ramos gin fizz, followed by a three-course brunch featuring old-school favorites like wood-roasted prime rib, a Monte Cristo sandwich, and butter-poached lobster. Brunch costs $68 per person, not including tax and tip.

The Fontainebleau, in collaboration with Jack Daniel's, is holding two dinners in Sinatra's honor. The first dinner, at Stripsteak, was held last evening, with chef/restaurateur Michael Mina creating a five-course menu, paired with Jack Daniel's cocktails. Frank himself (well, an image of him) welcomed diners to the event.

The dinner began with a perfect oyster, topped with caviar and champagne mignonette and resting on a sea of ice that shone like diamonds. The dish was paired with a Jack mojito.

Ricotta cavatelli with butternut squash and maitake mushrooms was a nod to Sinatra's Italian roots. The course was paired with a take on a Federalist, with Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select, peach, and apple.

Pan-roasted scallops with house-smoked bacon and parsnip purée was paired with a Satchmo, made with Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, Jack Daniel's, peach, jasmine tea, and basil.

A wood-grilled sliced Delmonico steak was paired with whipped potatoes and Jack Daniel's glazed baby carrots. The dish was paired with a classic Jack Manhattan.

For dessert, a grand cru chocolate cremeux, served with Jack Daniel's gelato, was offered with a Love Your Enemy cocktail, made with Gentleman Jack, crème de cacao, and sherry.

The next dinner, hosted by Scott Conant at Scarpetta, will be an Italian-themed feast December 1 at 8 p.m. It costs $85 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. To reserve your place at the Chairman of the Board's table, visit fontainebleau.com or call 305-538-2000.