Sugar High

A NEW COOKBOOK CELEBRATES THE SWEETSHOP OF THE STARS

It's been 50 years since Calvin Holt, Patch Caradine, ;ind Stephen Bruce, the three founding "Princes," opened Manhattan's famed Serendipity 3 restaurant. "General Store for Unexpected Mercantile." Since then. Serendipity has been the home of all things tchotchke, foot-long hot dogs, and the world-famous "bipolar" Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, which single-handedly made this eccentric eatery a destination for celebrities and their offspring -and their offspring's offspring. (Picture Tippi Hedrcn chowing down on a giant hot-fudge sundae with Melanie Griffith and her children in tow.) Andy Warhol was one of the first customers—he showed his work at the restaurant, and had Stephen Bruce decorate his apartment in the Serendipity style (a Tiffany lamp and white walls). Mari bn Monroe once lunched there, purportedly in just an overcoat. "Beneath her overcoat she had nothing on—except Chanel No. 5, of course," says Bruce, the only surviving Prince, who has written a gossipy cookbook with Brett Bara. Sweet Serendipity: Delicious Desserts & Devilish Dish (Universe), out this month. Now you can whip up Pineapple Lei Cake and Patch's Bourbon Balls yourself at home. But make the trip to East 60th Street anyway, for the boutique alone. Who knows what goodies you might find? Jackie Kennedy procured six gingham muumuus when she was pregnant with John-John, and Serendipity was able to stay open during the blackout of 1977 thanks to an overstocking of candles shaped like male genitalia. Patrons basked peacefully in the penile glow.

HELEN SCHULMAN