As “Blue Bloods” bids farewell to its television audience on Friday night after 14 seasons, the Reagan family will gather for one final on-screen feast, as has become common over the years.
As the fictional family with a long history of service in the New York City Police Department gathers at patriarch Frank Reagan's dinner table, the real-life brother of one of the show's stars will commemorate their farewell the best way he knows how: with recipe.
Chef Paul Wahlberg is the founder and co-owner of Wahlburgers. He's also the older brother of actor Donnie Wahlberg, who plays Danny Reagan in “Blue Bloods” and owns the Wahlburgers restaurant chain with Paul and fellow thespian Mark Wahlberg.
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In a partnership between Wahlburgers and “Blue Bloods,” Paul Wahlberg cooks dishes true to the show Sunday dinner In every new episode.
“Their famous Sunday dinners that they do were a big part of our lives growing up,” Wahlberg told Fox News Digital. “So, when they presented it to us, it was a great opportunity for us to walk down memory lane, but also to celebrate such an iconic display.”
Sunday dinner is a normal thing in “Blue Bloods.” (Eric Lebowitz/CBS via Getty Images)
In Friday's series finale, Wahlberg set up A.J Diversify with Strombolicheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, bacon, mixed sandwiches, chicken wings and cold appetizers.
within Meals Wahlberg has prepared what is described as a “family recipe series” of roast beef, steak, pork chops and lasagna.
“These were dishes we would have eaten growing up as kids,” Wahlberg said.
Family dinners at the Wahlberg household were “usually some kind of barbecue or maybe lasagna or something like that.”
Paul Wahlberg poses with his medley created for the series finale of “Blue Bloods.” (hero management)
“What was always great was that you knew what the leftovers would be like over the next few days, which was always sometimes more exciting than what we were facing,” Wahlberg recalls.
He said he remembers everything being closed on Sundays when he was a child, so family dinner was always the great unifier, noting that “the world is more complicated for people” today.
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But he returned to the family dinner.
“only Simple joy “Having a meal with your family is great,” he said.
That's also the inspiration behind Wahlburgers, which opened its first location in Wahlburg's home state of Massachusetts, in 2011.
Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg, and Mark Wahlberg (left to right) launched Wahlburgers in 2011. Paul Wahlberg said burgers are his “favorite food.” (Meria Asesu/Film Magic)
Wahlberg said he “grew up eating burgers,” calling them his own “Go to the food.” When the concept of Wahlburgers came about, most of the menu was “based on things we grew up with.”
“We wanted to give everyone something great American style burger “Experience,” Wahlberg said.
“That was the goal.”
“We wanted to give everyone a great American-style burger experience.”
His personal favorite — and the best-selling menu item at Wahlburgers — is Our Burger.
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“This is a classic American-style burger with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions,” Wahlberg said, describing its ingredients. “You know, we have the state cheese there to remind us where we come from. Then we have Wahl's sauce there.”
Burgers aside, his favorite Holiday meal To make is Türkiye.
He added: “Türkiye with all the trimmings.”
Walburg said turkey is his favorite holiday meal. (Istock)
Wahlberg said that as his life evolved, his cooking techniques changed, but he prefers a holiday feast like the one his parents used to prepare.
From-scratch broth, homemade cranberry sauce, applesauce, butternut squash, wax kale, and jelly with a fruit cocktail come to mind.
“I'm very traditional,” he said.
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These days, his favorite meals to cook are for his children.
“What my kids like, that’s what I like to do,” he said.
He still gets excited about talking about holiday gatherings as a communal experience, like spending Thanksgiving or Christmas with his in-laws for the first time.
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“When someone introduces you to their traditions, it's a great thing and you should be a part of it,” he said. “It's like you're in a club.”
