Old Hollywood’s Original Recipes

Paul Joseph Posti
1913 – 2002
Who Was Chef Paul Joseph Posti?
Born in Boston’s North End in 1913, Paul Posti was the son of Sicilian immigrants. He wasn’t a tall man, standing at a modest 5’5” in his prime. When I met him in the last ten years of his life, his height was less than that. In mind, spirit, and character, however, I quickly came to the conclusion that he was truly a giant.
Posti was one of God's unique individuals. I first encountered Paul Posti one Sunday morning when he attended Sherman Oaks Lutheran Church in Los Angeles, California where I was the pastor at that time. Following the service, Paul stayed behind and introduced himself to me. I thought he was a pleasant man, probably retired with too much time on his hands and perhaps a little needy, seeking some attention. Or maybe he was trying to find a church so he could prepare for end of life issues. Whatever led him to come, he continued to attend. He seemed to me to be a rather uncomplicated individual.
Through the years I was his pastor, Paul cultivated a relationship with God, and a wonderful friendship with me and my wife Sharon unfolded.
I learned in the coming months how mistaken I was in thinking that Paul was uncomplicated. What I came to discover was that Paul Posti was indeed a highly complex person with an amazing life story. He was one of those rare individuals who lived a rich and varied life. Posti surrounded himself with extraordinary and interesting people. At the same time, remarkable and fascinating people chose to associate and cultivate relationships with him, which formed lasting friendships.
Posti brought his own special gifts “to the table,” (pun intended). Paul Posti was a chef, and a brilliant one at that. His talent for creating great food was the spark that created his close friendship with Clark Gable. Actually, Posti and Gable were friends before WWII, and with Clark Gable’s help, he soon became head chef at Hollywood’s legendary Brown Derby, where Gable dined regularly.
Posti’s culinary expertise proved to be the main reason he became Frank Sinatra's friend and personal chef for twenty-two years. The two men first met in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1935. According to Paul, “Mr. Sinatra was usually broke back then.” It was a time Posti called “the lean years.” Sinatra was introduced to Paul’s cooking when Paul would give him free meals to help him out. Posti’s thoughtfulness and help was appreciated by Frank Sinatra, so what began as a kind gesture turned into a life-long friendship. Paul tells one story how just before the Hoboken Four, Frank’s mother Dolly (Natalie Della Gavarante) didn’t want him to be a singer. She implored her son to consider becoming an engineer. Paul once related to me that one night Frank’s mother came into the restaurant looking for Frank and they had an argument. Dolly was yelling at him in Italian and hitting him with her shoe. It was hysterical to watch as Frank was shouting back at her, “Stop it Mama, stop,” while trying to run out the door to escape her. For years to come Frank and Paul would laugh over that.
Along with his employer and owner of The Brown Derby, Bob Cobb, Paul created the now famous Cobb Salad, which he literally concocted on the spot to please a demanding Cecil B. DeMille. He even had occasion to kick a hungry young kid named Elvis Presley out of his kitchen at the Knickerbocker Hotel. Later, Posti and “The King” became good friends. His dearest friend was probably the legendary Mel Blanc, the man who brought Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd and a host of other voices to life. Most of the stars every American knew from the 40's 50's 60's and 70's knew Paul Posti. From the Brown Derby to the Villa Capri, he was the chef to Hollywood's royalty.
Posti made his mark as a chef during a time when fine dining was highly esteemed. For him, cooking was not just a job, but rather an art form. He would sometimes say with a smirk, “Cooking is the soul of partying at all times and all ages.”
Buon Appetito,
George and Sharon Mather