food – EVERYTHING .com

August 5, 2026

My Morning Coffee

“My MORNING COFFEE”

And a NEWSPAPER

“My MORNING COFFEE”

My Sunday morn Coffee? I love it so! There’s nothing quite like it, and it’s one of my best moments of the week, most times “the Best.” Yes it is. And not for just me but millions I’m quite sure. If you work 6 days a week as I, or you work five, that Sunday morn coffee just can’t be beat. Most might have it down at the kitchen table. The coffee pot brews, you retrieve the Sunday Paper and settle in. Settle in with that good ol friend, your morning cup of Joe. You chit chat with the husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, whoever, and you sip that good beloved Brew, your morning cup of Joe (coffee). Is it Brazilian, African, Colombian Jamaican, or Sumatran, no matter, it’s your favorite and it brings you so joy for just a pintence of a cost. Most of us drink good ol regular American Coffee, regular, Black, with milk and sugar, just milk no sugar, Milk, Cream, Half & Half, there’s a number of ways to enjoy, your morning cup of coffee.

For me, my morning cup is never in my house as it is with most. No, I always go to the cafe for my beloved cup. I’ve been doing so for almost 30 years now. Nothing wrong with having it at home, but for me, I always have it out, at one of my local cafes. One is American (Regular Cup of Joe) the other Italian (Espresso or Cappuccino). For the past few days, I go to the American Bakery/Cafe more often. I usually have a little breakfast before I go, sans (without) coffee. The coffee is reserved for the cafe. I do this for two reasons, never having coffee at home. Number one, after I take a shower, I have my breakfast and put on my clothes, I just want to get out of the house and into the city, (New York). Two, I only have my coffee at the cafe because to me it makes it more special this way. And it’s not just about the coffee, it’s the whole total esperience of it all. I have my coffee, yes, but I’m among others. There are always the counter girls at the cafe who are all quite lovely. A nice morning with my cup of Joe, perhaps a bit of chit-chat with the girls and they’re always so sweet.

Usually I have friends there, so there’s a bit of conversation with them, sipping my regular coffee, “Milk No Sugar.” I read, I write, I listen to the music, sip, love, and enjoy my coffee, that very simple and one of lifes “Great Pleasures,” the morning coffee. It cost very little, and especially if you compare it to the outrageous price of cocktails these days, that with the price of the drink $14-$17, and tip, can end up near $20.00 per. I love a good cocktail, but not at these prices. My morning cup of coffee has superior value compared to the current days cocktail prices in New York. It’s sad really.

Yes, I usually see friends, have a good chat, then it’s into the papers, The Times, Post, The Daily News, whatever is lying around the cafe. Guess what, it’s free. I can go on my computer and surf the net. I’ll get any news or info I could possibly want. If I don’t like the music playing at the cafe, which is usually good, but can occasionally be quite bad, I’ll just plug in my ear-plugs, go to Youtube, and watch a Rolling Stones video. Listen too, of course. Or I’ll just plug into my iPod Touch and listen to my great Musical Library. No Crap Rap of course, just good ol Classic Rock, R&B, and “Frank” Sinatra that is!

I write, I read, I load up news from the Huffington Post on my iPod to read on the train (Subway) later, I see friends, sometime make new ones, sip my Coffee, I enjoy, that’s my Sunday morning Coffee, or any day of the week for that matter. My morning Coffee, “I just Love It.”

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

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FAVORITE AMERICAN FOODS

And SECRET RECIPES

BURGERS SOUPS TACOS BURRITOS

STEAKS – BBQ – MEATLOAF

And MORE …

AMAZON.com

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

aka GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

The COLLECTED RECIPES of The DUDE

AMAZON.com

July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

Best Soup Ever – Recipe by Bellino

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

The GREATEST SOUP EVER !!!

ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

The greatest soup ever made! The greatest soup ever made, that’s quite a statement and it’s debatable, and though I’m saying this I know that it may not be, but everyone has their own taste and though I love any number of other wonderful soups, which includes – Vietnamese Pho, Chinese Roast Duck & Wonton, good old American Chicken Noodle Soup and others, if I was forced to pick one as my # 1 very favorite soup of all, it would have to be this, Italian Wedding Soup. So if it’s not the World’s greatest soup of all (Vietnamese Pho maybe) then it is without question one of the greatest anyway. And how can it not be great, made of tasty chicken broth with escarole and the thing that puts it into the greatness category, the little Meatballs? An Italian Soup that has Meatballs in it, what’s not to love? Well, I guess it depends who you ask, but if you ask an Italian-American, guess what? “Italian Wedding Soup is the greatest soup of all!” The combination of fresh homemade chicken broth, with pieces of chicken, escarole and of course those yummy little meatballs that every Italian holds so dear, that’s Italian Wedding Soup, and the first bowl I ever had, wow! I was a little boy and my mom made it for us. “Here Daniel, Italian Wedding Soup, it has little meatballs in it,” Mommy said as she placed the bowl of soup down before me. I couldn’t believe my eyes, little meatballs in soup, what could be more magical to a young boy of just five? Yes, I remember that first bowl, and I don’t know how many hundreds of bowls of this most pleasing soup I’ve had since then, too many to count. Al, oh so tasty. It’s the Meatballs, it’s Italian Wedding Soup and there’s not any soup that’s better. I just love it. How about you?

MOMMY’S ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

Recipe :

1 & ½ pounds ground Beef

1 cup grated Parmigiano

1 clove garlic, minced

¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

1 bay leaf

1-3 lb. Broiler Chicken

6 whole cloves garlic, peeled

10 cups water

1 medium Onion, peeled and chopped

2 Carrots, peeled and chopped

1 head Escarole, finely chopped

4 ounces Ditalini or other short pasta

PREPARATION:

Combine the ground beef, eggs, parsley, minced garlic, and Parmigiano. Season with salt & black pepper. Shape into Meatballs, about the size of a large Marble. Set aside.

Place whole chicken, with the onions, carrots, whole garlic, bay leaf, and water in a large pot and bring to the boil. Lower heat and simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Cook the Ditalini according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside until later.

Place meatballs in a lightly oiled baking pan and cook in a 350 Degree oven for 6 minutes.

Remove chicken from the pot and set aside to cool.

Remove chicken meat from bones and dice.

Add the meatballs, diced chicken, and pasta to the broth and simmer at the lowest flame for 12 minutes.

Add escarole and cook for 10 minutes at medium heat.

Ladle soup into bowls, giving everyone at least 5 little meatballs. Pass the Parmigiano and Mangia Bene.

Note: You can substitute Sausage for the Meatballs, which is how some people make this soup. It’s just as tasty and cuts down on some of the work. If doing so, substitute 1 /2 pounds of Italian Sweet Sausages for the meatballs. Lightly brown the links of sausage over low heat for 6 minutes. Remove from pan and cut each link into 6 equal size pieces, then add to soup in the same point (step 6) and cook over low heat in soup for 12 minutes.

This Recipe has been Excerpted from Daniel Bellino’s Bestselling Italian Cookbook – SUNDAY SAUCE

Available on AMAZON.com

AMERICA’S FAVORITE ITALIAN COOKBOOK

SUNDAY SAUCE

by DANIEL BELLINO Zwicke

MEATBALLS – SUNDAU SAUCE – MARINARA

LASAGNA – ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP & More …

AMAZON.com

July 9, 2026July 9, 2026

Keith Richards Rolling Stones Shepherds Pie Recipe

Keith Richards

The ROLLING STONES

KEEF’S FAVORITE
SHEPHERD’S PIE

Yes Keef, as in Keith Richards
of The Rolling Stones, the World’s
Greatest Rock-N-Roll Band ever! But
you know that. This is the way Keith likes his Shepherds Pie, his SHEPHERD’S PIE Recipe can be found in THE BADASS COOKBOOK … And it’s printed here. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

3 pounds Potatoes, peeled and diced

1 tablespoon Butter

Salt & Pepper to taste

2 large Onions, chopped

2 pounds Ground Beef

2 large Carrots, grated

2 – 12 oz. cans Beef Broth

1/2 cup Frozen Peas (thawed)

5 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon Cornstarch

1. Put potatoes in a
large pot of salted water. Bring the water to the boil. Lower to a simmer and
cook the potatoes until tender, about 8 minutes.

2. Drain potatoes
once cooked.

3. Put cooked, drained potatoes in a large mixing bowl with
the butter and season with salt and black pepper. Mash potatoes with a potato –
masher or whip with an electric mixer. If using a

hand potato-masher, mash potatoes with masher, then mix with
a wooden spoon until nicely whipped.

4. Heat a large frying-pan. Add 3 tablespoons of vegetable
oil. Add ground-beef, cook over medium heat for 4 minutes. Add onions, continue
cooking for 5 minutes on medium heat.

Lower heat to low flame and cook 4 minutes
more.

5. Add carrots and beef broth to pan. Mix cornstarch with
water and add to pan. Cook over low flame for 8 minutes.

6. Add peas to pan,
cook for 1 minute.

7. Pour Beef Mixture into a glass or ceramic baking dish.
Evenly top beef with the mashed potatoes.

8. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 12 minutes, then place
under the boiler until potatoes get nicely browned. Take care not to burn the
potatoes once they are under the broiler.

9. Let cool slightly
for 3 minutes and serve.

KEITH RICHARDS SHEPHERD’S PIE and OTHER GREAT RECIPES

in The BADASS COOKBOOK by Daniel Zwicke

IT’S KEEF’S FAVORITE !!!

FAVORITE DISHES

And SECRET RECIPES

AMAZON.com

KEITH RICHARDS and JACK DANIELS

The ROLLING STONES

Original Band

with

BRIAN JONES

PURPLE KEEF

TEE SHIRT on Etsy

THE BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

“GOT ANY KAHLUA” ???

AMAZON.com

“Who The FUCK is MICK JAGGER” ???

TEE SHIRT on ETSY

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July 3, 2026

Who is Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Daniel in SICILY

At The TEATRO GRECO – SIRACUSA

2017

Who is DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke? Who is he? He’s a Best Selling Cookbook Author and one of New York’s Big Dogs of Italian Wine, a former Chef of such restaurants as; Woods on Madison, Corrado, and Bar Cichetti … Daniel studied Hotel / Restaurant Management at New York Technical in Brooklyn .. Besides being the chef at the previous named restaurants, Daniel worked with Michel Fitoussi at the famed Palace Restaurant in the late 80’s as well as at the Odeon under the great Patrick Clarke.

Daniel got out of the kitchen in the late 90’s to become The Maitre’d at the uber hot # 1 Celebrity Hot Spot in New York at Da Silvano Ristorante where he took care of people like; Keith Richards, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Uma Thurman, Richard Gere, Joe Pesci, Robert DeNiro, Calvin Klein, Nick Pileggi, Nora Efron, Graydon Carter, Gwyneth Palthrow, Madonna, Lucy Lui, and-on-and-on, the list is way to long to name them all.

Daniel took care of the high-flying clientele and “so called” Top People in The Worlds of Fashion, the Record Business, Publishing, along with Movie Stars and Rock Stars . Daniel is known for his easy going ability of taking care of all the big stars needs in a casual attentive manner without being intrusive in any way, and are the reasons he is well-known to so many Movers & Shakers of the World.

Daniel had made quite a name for himself as the creator and Executive Chef / Wine Director and Managing Partner of Bar Cichetti, the 1st ever Venetian Wine Bar (Bacaro) in America, which was Daniel’s proud creation. As Chef / Wine Director of Bar Cichetti, Daniel firmly established himself as one of New York and America’s Top Italian Wine Guys .. He is personal friends with most of Italy’s top wine producers, the likes of; Marchese Ferdinando Frescobaldi, Sebastiano Rosa winemaker of Sassicaia, Marchese Piero Antinori (proprietor) of Antinori Wines, Giovanni Folnari of Nozzole, Gianlucca Grasso, Gianpaolo Venica, Cavalier Luigi Cappellini of Castel Verrazzano, the Conte Capponi Sebastiano and Nicola Capponi. Just like all the Movie Stars & Rock Stars that Daniel knows, the list of Italian Wine Luminaries is even greater.

As we’ve already stated, Daniel left restaurant kitchens behind to become a noted Italian Wine Guy and Maitre’d who has a reputation of dealing with a high-profile clientel. But not only them of course, there’s everyone else, shall we call them the regular folk? Hey, they make up the bulk of any restaurant business, not the celebs, though celebrities help to draw in everyone else. Daniel will take good care of you as a number of his clients we have interviewed will tell you. He friendly and quite personable and really knows his stuff.

Daniel has great passion for the food and wines of Italy that’s almost impossible to duplicate. Frankly, Daniel is one of the best. He can tell you wonderful stories about the wine you are drinking; its history, who the owners and people who make the wine are (his Friends). His trips to all these Wine Estates all over Italy have given him the experiences that he conveys to his many clients. And Daniel’s knowledge and passion for the food is equal to that of his vast knowledge of Italian Wine. Often you’ll be drinking a bottle of Italian Wine that Daniel suggests and he’ll pull out his iPhone and show you pictures of the people who own the estate and make the wine. One example would be Daniel’s good friend Luigi Cappellini who owns Castello Verrazzano in Greve in Chianti (Tuscan) Italy. He’ll show you pictures of him and his cousins Anthony & Joe at Verrazzano when Daniel took them there and they stayed on the property and ate breakfast and dinner in the castle, while drinking the great wines of Castello Verrazzano.

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke with Luigi Cappellini

of Castelo Verrazzano

After 5 years at DaSilvano, Daniel went on to become the Wine Director of Barbetta Restorante on West 46th Street in New York to head up the Greatest Italian Wine List in all of America. Daniel says, “the cellars are amazing.” Places like Babbo and Del Posto (now closed) get more press for having great Italian Wine Lists, which they do, but Daniel says, “The Wine List of Babbo & Del Posto are awesome, but in comparison to Barbetta, they are akin to Childs-Play.” No exaggeration, merely fact Daniel says. And within that Wine List which is the Greatest Italian Wine List in all of America, is the Barolo / Barbaresco section of which Daniel says is the greatest Barolo list in the World with its many Verticals of all the great Barolo Crus, like, Vietti Barolo Brunate and Lazarito, Cerretto Bricco Roche Bricco Roche, Marcarini Brunate, Michele Chiarlo Cerequio, Aldo Conterno Grand Bussia, Giacomo Conterno Barolo “Monfortino” Giacamo Conterno “Francia,” Mauro Veglio’s Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata, Contratto Barolo “Cerequio,” Elio Grasso Ginestra and more …

Daniel said he was quite fortunate in his job as Wine Director of Barbetta for 5 years as he was able to taste and drinks so many of these great Barolo Crus of various vintages, as well as all the multi vintages of Barbaresco, Amarone, Brunello, Super Tuscans, Champagne, and the all the top California Cabernets and Meritage Blends such as Opus One and Insignia.

Daniel had been writing for years, mostly essays, articles, and short stories. He wrote his first book La TAVOLA while he was at Barbetta in 2006 .. He said that 85% of the book was written in about 6 weeks time (quite fast), however he edited, polished it up and worked on it for another year before trying to get it published, which took five years. Actually La Tavola was published in June of 2012, followed by The FEAST of The 7 FISH which is the top selling cookbook of its genre.

Daniel published Got Any Kahlua? The Collected Recipes of The Dude in the Summer of 2013, followed by SUNDAY SAUCE which has been a # 1 Best Seller Italian Cookbooks on Amazon for 5 months … Daniel published another # 1 Best Seller in June of 2014 with SEGRETO ITALIANO / Secret Italian Recipes & Favorite Dishes ..

Daniel says he’s currently working on a book on Chianti one of his great passions, as well as another Italian Cookook and an American Cookbook, all yet to be named ..

INTERVIEW by Michael Roma

Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi

with Daniel Bellino-Zwicke and

Lamberto’s Father – Marchese Leonardo Frescobaldi

Sebastiano Rosa (Winemaker of SASSICAIA)

Daniel and Giovanni Folnari of Nozzole

BOOKS by DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

SUNDAY SAUCE

WHEN ITALIAN-AMERICANS COOK

AMAZON.com

SEGRETO ITALIANO

Secret Italian Recipes

AMAZON.com

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

Travel Gudie- Cookbook

Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook / Travel Guide is the latest by Best Selling Italian Cookbook Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke. It was just published on February 11th 2021 and is already a Best Seller in Italian Cookbooks and Travel Books as well. Author Daniel said that he is quite happy of the early success of the book POSITANO and hopes it continues and grows, and Daniel asked us to say hello and thank all of his loyal readers both old and new.

Daniel has mad a companion Website to POSITANO The AMALFI COAST COOKBOOK & Travel. The website is calledPositano-Amalfi-Coast and can be reached by clicking this Link @ Positano-Amalfi-Coast.com

Daniel said he made the website as he realizes that people love pictures in books, and as his books normally do not contain pictures, he made the site to fulfill this need, as the website has hundreds of beautiful pictures of Capri, Positano, Naples, Minori, Ravello, and the rest of the Amalfi Coast of Southern Italy. As well as having these pictures, excerpts and recipes from the book at the publication of the book, the website will be ongoing and will continue to have new pictures posted to it, along with articles, news, and ongoing pertinent information on Naples, Positano, and the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

Note : If you are on the Kindle Edition of Positano The AMalfi Coast Cookbook / Travel , you will be able to reach the website Positano in a Link inside the Kindle Book

The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK

The WORLD’S BEST RECIPE

RAGU BOLOGNESE

AMAZON.com

SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK

Daniel Bellino “Z”

AMAZON.com

The FEAST of The 7 FISH

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

AMAZON.com

La TAVOLA

ITALIAN-AMERICAN NEW YORKERS

ADVENTURES of The TABLE

AMAZON.com

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

aka The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

June 23, 2026

Who is Bigfoot of Anthony Bourdain Book KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

WHO is BIGFOOT ?

In ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

Anthony Bourdain

Kitchen Confidential

BIGFOOT

BIG FOOT

A question most asked by restaurant professionals in New York who love Tony Bourdain and his minor-masterpiece Kitchen Confidential on the underbelly of the New York Restaurant World and the restaurant scene in general. Yes, you read Anthony Bourdain’s New York Times Best Seller and what launched Tony into fame as the Star of such shows as : A COOKS TOUR, NO RESERVATIONS, The LAYOVER, and PARTS UNKNOWN on CNN.

In KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL Tony talks with adulation of his former boss whom Tony called BigFoot . Tony expounds on Big Foot’s unconventional managerial skills in the restaurant business in New York and the many things he learned from him. Bourdain never mentions the guys name, so it has been the source of major intrigue to all who have read Anthony Bourdain’s entertaining book.

So you ask, who the Hell is He? Who is Big Foot ?

Answer : ANDY MENSCHEL is Tony Bourdain’s BIG FOOT

Andy Menschel

aka “BIG FOOT”

“BEING TONY BOURDAIN”

ANTHONY BOURDAIN

Get a FINE ART PRINT of TONY

From FINE ART AMERICA

BOURDAIN ART – CLICK HERE

ANTHONY BOURDAIN

TONY EATS NOODLES

VIETNAM

“TONY’S FAVORITES”

Get a FINE ART PRINT of ANTHONY

From FINE ART AMERICA

CLICK HERE

TONY BOURDAIN

BEING TONY BOURDAIN

TRAVEL JOURNAL – RECIPE NOTEBOOK

BEING ANTHONY BOURDAIN

AMAZON.com

ANTHONY BOURDAIN

“TONY EATS NOODLES”

TEE SHIRT

FLYING SOMEWHERE ?

GREAT DEALS !!!

AIRLINE FLIGHTS & HOTELS WORLDWIDE

EXPEDIA.com

TONY ‘S FAVORITE COOKBOOK ?

The BADASS COOKBOOK

AMERICAN’S FAVORITE FOODS

And SECRET RECIPES

PRIZE WINNING CHILI

BONE SUCKING BBQ SAUCE

BURGERS – TACOS – BURRITOS

BLUE RIBBON MEATLOAF

KEITH RICHARDS SHEPHERDS PIE

And Much More …

AMAZON.com

GOING To The AMALFI COAST ?

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT !

AMAZON.com

June 12, 2026June 12, 2026

Author Daniel Bellino Z Beat Stanley Tucci discovering Venetian Cichetti and ARCO Wine Bar Venice in 1995

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

BACK at all’ARCO WINE BAR (Bacaro)

VENICE

Bellino 1st discovered the Venetian wine bar All’ARCO & Cichetti in 1995, on his exploratory trip of Cichetti and the wine bars of Venice. Daniel says, that it fact, it was the 1st bacaro (Ventian Wine Bar) that he ever went to at all. He was on his way to check into his hotel (Albergho Guerratto) when he stumbled upon it. He walked in and asked the guys behind the bar, “Hi! Do you. serve Cichetti?” Daniel said he was treated warmly, and they said, “Yes, of course. Would you like some.” Yes please, Daniel replied. They first gave him one of the most obscure of all cichetti items. “What is this,” Daniel asked. They replied “Nerveti. Nerve, Nerve.” Daniel knew what they meant. “OK,” and so he tried it. He had a a glass of Tocai, and they gave him some Baccala Montecato (shipped Salt Cod), the most popular cichetti of all. Daniel said, he had been reading about Musetto (Pif Snote Sausage), and he wanted to try it. He asked the barman if he had some. They did, and so he had some Mussetto as well.

Daniel paid his bill and was on his way. A few minutes later he checked into his hotel, and in the next 9 days, he would check out every bacaro (wine bar) in Venice, eating Cichetti, drinking local wines of the Friuli and the Veneto, chatting with proprietors and locals, and fellow customers. Daniel had a wonderful time, and learned all about the wine bars (bacaari) of Venice, how they ran, the food and wines served, and local customs.

All’ARCO WINE BAR

VENICE, ITALY

“BELLINO BEAT TUCCI” – To many Italian discoveries in Italy.

And Vice Versa Bellino admits.

“Bellino Beat Tucci,” refers to the ongoing playful feud and marketing gimmick by author and chef Daniel Bellino Z (Daniel Bellino-Zwicke). He has famously used the slogan “I Beat Out Stanley Tucci” to promote his bestselling Italian food, cooking, and travel books. [1, 2, 3]

The phrase stems from a few specific “wins” Bellino claims to have over Tucci:

The Venice Wine Bar Claim: Bellino claims he beat Stanley Tucci in discovering the famous Venetian wine bar, All’Arco, by nearly 30 years, as he visited and wrote about it long before Tucci’s travel shows popularized it. [1]
The Recipe Claims: Bellino frequently points out in his book promotions that his Amazon Author Page features beloved Italian classics, such as Spaghetti Nerano and Pasta Primavera, beating Tucci to the punch for recipe accuracy and popularity. [1, 2]

For a quick look at Daniel Bellino Z and his books covering the same culinary ground as Stanley Tucci:

Learn more about his Venetian discoveries on Instagram.
View his collection of works on his official website Daniel-Bellino-Zwicke.com

BOOKS by BELLINO AMAZON.com

DANIEL BELLINO Z – Amazon Authors Page

BELLINO’S LATEST BOOK

EXPLORING VENICE

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

all’ ARCO

VENICE

“WHERE BELLINO Beat TUCCI”

all ARCO

VENETIAN CICCHETTI

STANLEY TUCCI’S FAVORITE

“But Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE Discovered it almost 30 YEARS Before TUCCI”

Daniel Bellino Zwicke discovered all ARCO in 1995. He read an article in the New York Times

about the Wine Bars (Bacari) and Cichetti of Venice, and was inspired. He wanted to open one

in NEW YORK. So Daniel booked a flight to VENICE, flew over, and over a 9 period he Explored the WINE BARS of VENICE. Just before people started getting on the Internet, and 20 Years before INSTAGRAM which informed the World of Bacari, Venetian Wine Bars and CICCHETTI, some 20 years after Daniel Bellin Z, who opened America’s 1st Ever VENETIAN WINE BAR “BAR ICHETTI” in NEW YORK’S Greenwich Village, where Danie was Bar Cichetti’s CHEF< Wine Director and Managing Partner. The rest is History. And don’t forget BELLINO Beat TUCCI, as far as Informing the people of the World of the existence of all ARCO and their wonderful Cichetti.

“BASTA” !!!

Note : There is no one correct spelling for Cichetti, which even in VENICE you will see it written several different was, including : CICHETTI, Cicchetti, and Cicheti.

all’ ARCO

“WHERE BELLINO Beat TUCCI”

VENETIAN CICCHETTI

STANLEY TUCCI’S FAVORITE

“But Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE Discovered it 20 YEARS Before TUCCI”

Daniel Bellino Zwicke discovered all ARCO in 1995. He read an article in the New York Times about the Wine Bars (Bacari) and Cichetti of Venice, and was inspired. He wanted to open one in NEW YORK. So Daniel booked a flight to VENICE, flew over, and over a 9 period he Explored the WINE BARS of VENICE. Just before people started getting on the Internet, and 20 Years before INSTAGRAM which informed the World of Bacari, Venetian Wine Bars and CICCHETTI, some 20 years after Daniel Bellin Z, who opened America’s 1st Ever VENETIAN WINE BAR “BAR ICHETTI” in NEW YORK’S Greenwich Village, where Danie was Bar Cichetti’s CHEF< Wine Director and Managing Partner. The rest is History. And don’t forget BELLINO Beat TUCCI, as far as Informing the people of the World of the existence of all ARCO and their wonderful Cichetti.

“BASTA” !!!

Note : There is no one correct spelling for Cichetti, which even in VENICE you will see it written several different was, including : CICHETTI, Cicchetti, and Cichetti.

VINO e CICHETTI

Where “BELLINO Beat TUCCI”

all’ ARCO

Photo by Daniel Bellino Zwicke – 1995

VENICE, ITALY

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

At OSTERIA ALL’ARCO

1995

VENICE, ITALY

“28 YEARS BEFORE TUCCI”

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

BOOK by DANIEL AMAZON.com

ALL’ ARCO

STANLEY TUCCI at All’ARCO

28 YEARS AFTER BELLINO

All’ARCO

VENICE, ITALY

ALL’ARCO

VENICE

CICCHETTI

STANLEY TUCCI at all’ARCO

VENICE – 2023

“EATING CICHETTI”

BELLINO Beat TUCCI by 28 YEARS – at all’Arco 1995

AMERICA’S 1st EVER BACARO

VENETIAN WINE BAR

BAR CICHETTI

AMERICA’S 1st VENETIAN WINE BAR (Bacaro)

Created by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke & Tom Taraci

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

In front of his Hotel in VENICE

ALBERGHO GUERATTO

“JUST MINUTES After DISCOVERY ALL’ ARCO”

VENETIAN WINE BAR

VENICE – 19915

READ ABOUT VENICE

CICCHETTI & VENETIAN WINE BARS

In “ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS”

ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ?

TRAVEL GUIDE -COOKBOOK

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

EXPLORING VENICE

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

WINE BARS – RESTAURANTS – HOTELS

CASANOVA – VIVALDI – GIUSEPPE CIPRIANI

With 40 RECIPES of VENICE’S FAVORITE DISHES

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

June 7, 2026

40 Dollar Fucking Cocktails and Why The Fuck Does The Music Suck the Past 25 Years – WHY ???

“WHAT The FUCK HAPPENED to MUSIC”

WHY DON’T They MAKE GOOD MUSIC ANYMORE ???

PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER

New York & The $3 PBR

“IT STILL EXISTS” !!!! 2022

2025 update $4 for a PBR at 7B BAR

Still a Great Deal

NEW YORK & The $3 PBR

I wrote this article in 2008, in protest of the ever increasing prices of New York City Cocktails. They were going up. A little too high for my taste, $16, or more. At that price (2008) that meant that if you had 3 cocktails which would be $48, that would be quite a lot. But that wasn’t the end of it. You’ve got to pay sales tax of 8.25%, and then there’s a tip for the bartender or server. We’re taxing $4 tax, and $10 tip, bringing the Grand Total of your 3 precious cocktails up to $62 Fucking Dollars for 3 measly drinks. That was 2008. Fast forward to 2026 and $16 isn’t the price of a high-priced cocktail, but the freaking average. SO you know what that means don’t you? That means that it will cost you on average with tax and tip and the price of the cocktails, about $60 or more for 3 cocktails.

Now how about the high-priced ones? I was at the Lobby Bar at the Chelsea Hotel last month, with a good friend. We wanted to have drinks. Guess how much a damn cocktail cost over there? No, not $22! Nor $24. But $29 Fucking Dollars for a G DAMN Cocktail. “What The Fuck” I say. Yes $29 US Freaking Dollars. But that’s not the end of it, as you should well know by now. No it’s not $87 Fucking Dollars for those damn precious drinks. No, we still have to pay tax and tip. How much is that you want to know. Well, the tax for the Governor comes to $7.20, bring its up to, let us round it out to $94. OK. Now you’ve got to leave at least 20% gratuity which the bartender (or server) expects, that’s $20 right there, bringing your total for 3 cocktails at the Chelsea Hotel to a Whopping fucking $117 “Fucking Dollars” !!! What? Yes just about 120 Fucking precious US dollars for three measly fucking drinks. Haven’t we suffered enough? They don’t make Good Music anymore! “What The FUCK” ? What the Hell Happened to Music? Now? It all Fucking SUCKS !!! I don’t get it? Why don they make good music any more? What’s this World Coming to? WTF ??? And Sandwiches? Sandwiches cost $20 and up these days! Yes, “What the Fuck” ??? Again. Everything is out of Whack. Groceries too. Fucking $1,99 a pound for “FUCKING POTATOES” ? WTF?

Well, let me tell you something. I wrote about $3 PBRs and what a Blessing they were in New York City. And the bars that served them. Well thankfully, we do have something to be grateful for when it comes to going out for some drinks (beers) in 2026. In comparison to everything else, the insane prices of cocktails, and a glass of wine at restaurants and bars in New York, there are still a few places left where you can get a “Cheap Beer iN Manhattan.” I freaking Miracle if there ever was one! They’re not $3 PBRs or Rolling Rocks, but $4 instead, which is pretty damn good, and in comparison to 2008 and today, a $4 beer in 2026, is a much better deal than a $3 PBR in 2008. You can get a $4 Rolling Rock beer at Mialno’s NYC most famous Dive Bar) on East Houston Street, or a $4 PBR at the World Famous 7B Horseshoe Bar on Avenue “A” at East 7th Street in New York’s East Village. You can also get a $4 beer around the block at “Sophie’s” or at the Blue & Gold Bar on East 7th Street, west of 1st Avenue, also in the East Village of New York City.

So there you go Ladies & Gentleman. That’s the state of drinking Manhattan in 2026. You can either go to The Chelsea Hotel and get 3 drinks for $120 all in with tax & tip ($40 for 1 drink). Or you can go to Blue & Gold, Milano’s, or 7B Bar, and get 3 $4 Beers, and end up just spending $16 all in for 3 Beers, including tax & tip. Which will you choose. I love Dive Bars. It’s really all about be with friends, having a good time, and not getting “Ripped-Off” !!!!

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

June 7, 2026 – New York City

READ The ARTICLE BELOW from 2008

NEW YORK & The $3 PBR

New York and the $3.00 PBR, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer has been a God-Send to many New Yorkers. As you all know, the US Economy has been in the Shitter for the past 5 years or so.

Many people are out of work, and many who are working, are taking home Half-as-Much Money or more of what they used to make. People have had to buckle down and give up or curb many things they enjoyed previous to the current state of our economy, which is in almost a Depression Era State.

Yes, everybody says that we are not in a Depression, we’re in a recession. Those are the Rich and Well-Off, The 1%-ers talking. To many, the state of our Union and their feelings are of Depression.

So, because of the Terrible State of our Economy you have given up eating out 3 times a week, you buy less clothes, spend less on Entertainment and any number of things. You haven’t had a vacation in the past two years, maybe more. You’ve given up a lot. We all have.

Now when it comes to socializing, going out for a few Beers or Cocktails with some friends, you’ve had to cut back on that too. But hey, you gotta draw a line somewhere, and everyone is entitled to a few drinks to unwind every now and then, and to be with friends. Yes times are bad, people are hurting, you need your friends more than ever. And having a few Beers or Drinks is one of the most common adult ways to do so. It’s natural and part of everyday life. You should be able to have two or three drinks or beers and not have to spend a small fortune doing so. You should be able to have 2 beers for about $10 including tip, and about $16 for tow drinks including tip. That’s reasonable. That’s what most people pay around America, and even less. But we don’t live in America, we live in the greatest City in The World, New York, and Cocktails and Beers here can be oh-so-dear. “Expensive!” Expensive as Hell, “Ridiculously Expensive.” It’s absurd and outrageous, with many places thinking it’s normal and OK to charge $16.00 or more for a measly little Cocktail made by a friggin so-called “Mixologist.” Ha!

It’s not OK, what’s a person to do? So yes, we live in New York, and having a couple cocktails here can be a costly undertaking.. What is a Poor Working Guy or Working Girl to do??? Well Boys and Girls, let’s Thank God for that great thing of wonder and the Bars and establishments who so graciously and kindly serve it, The $3.00 PBR, That’s right, a $3.oo Beer in The Land of The Over-Priced $16.00 Cocktail, Manhattan, New York, NY….. It’s quite Sad, Greedy too, not to mention “Ridiculous Ludicrous and Insane.”

Yes, Thank God and let’s thank the Kind-Hearted proprietors who serve $3.00 PBR’S or any Beer for just $3 or $4 in a New York Bar. You are doing your fellow man a public service and we thank you for that. Whoever you are, you are to be commended, and Shame-On-You, all those places that serve $14 PLUS Cocktails. “RIP-OFF” !!! Wish the masses would Boycott these places and patronize places like Blue & Gold Bar, 7B, and anyplace who has a heart. Bars that serve 3 and 4 Dollar Beers.

I just have to say, it’s great to go to a place like Blue and Gold Bar on East 7th Street and know that you can have 3 or 4 Beers for just $12 to $16, accounting for a Buck a Pop for the Barkeep. Now that’s pretty good. I have had the best times hanging at Blue & Gold with some friends. You sit at the Bar or get into a nice comfy booth, drink your Beers ($3 PBR’S), relax, listen to the Music, Chit Chat, and just enjoy, and it’s not going to cost you The Shirt Off Your Back.

Yes, you can have 4 Beers, tip included for the price of 1 Rip-Off Drink at one of those Rip-Off Joints. And if you are Dumb enough to have four drinks in one of those places, guess what it’s going to cost you? About $75 my friend.

Well, do the Math, and if you can afford $75 for only 4 drinks, God Bless You. And if you can’t, you’ve got an alternative. Right, your local $3.00 PBR Joint. They’re a God-Send.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Copyright 2008 Daniel Bellino Zwicke

PLACES To GET A $3.00 PBR in NEW YORK

BLUE & GOLD BAR in the East Village, on East 7th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Blue & Gold has long been a favorite of mine ever since I lived in the East Village from 1982 to 1994. It’s just a cool ol normal old style bar with a pool table, standard 50’s 60’s Bar Decor, and Best-of-All $3.oo PBR’S and $6.00 Cocktails. I love it.

7B “HORSESHO BAR”

7B a.k.a. The Horseshoe Bar, also in the East Village, a bastion of cheap and fare prices in Manhattan and Land of The $3.00 PBR and other $3 and $4 Beers. 7B is located on the corner of Avenue B at 7th Street ..

2025 Update – a PBR is now $4, still a great deal, at one of New York’s most historical dive bars.

7B HORESHOE BAR

by the Artist BELLINO

GET a FINE ART PRINT

Frome FINE ART AMERICA

CLICK HERE !

a $4 PBR

At 7B HORSE SHOE BAR

by Bellino

At 7B

Copyright Daniel Bellino Zwicke

SINATRA SAUCE

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES

PASTA – MEATBALLS – CHEESE CAKE

And MUCH MORE ….

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AMERICA’S FAVORITE FOOD

And SECRET RECIPES

BURGERS TACOS BURRITOS

SOUP SNDWICHES BBQ

And MORE …

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LUCY

“LUCY’S BAR”

135 AVENUE A NY NY

Lucy’s Bar is the most aptly named bar in New York. For Lucy—the quiet and small and sweetly proper Polish owner with the well-coifed gray hair and floral blouses—is who you’ll see when you go there, and Lucy is the one who will serve you. If there are other employees, they’ve hidden themselves somewhere in the back.

Though Lucy’s is undeniably a dive (and one of the last in the neighborhood), it feels more like your aunt’s aging rec room, a place where you’d never think of disrespecting the house’s hospitality. It’s also one of the last vestiges of the Polish community that was once made up a significant part of the East Village’s character.

Ludwika “Lucy” Mickevicius moved from Poland to New York in the late 1970s and soon got a job at Blanche’s, a bar on St. Mark’s Place run by another Polish woman. She became such a fixture that people began to think of the bar as Lucy’s, and, when Blanche retired, she sold the place—by then located on Avenue A—to her bartender.

Lucy’s life doesn’t range much further than the twin poles of her joint and Poland, which she visits regularly, shutting up the tavern at a moment’s notice and disappearing for weeks at a time. Most nights, she stations herself at the far end of the bar near the ancient cash register. (It’s cash only here.) One recent evening, the Halloween balloons hadn’t yet been taken down. Then again, assorted Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations were already out. Maybe none of the decorations are ever packed up?

Lucy doesn’t budge much behind the bar, but she keeps herself busy for a woman in her mid-70s. She will draw you a pint or a glass of tequila. And, if she likes you, she might pour you a shot of żubrówka, a Polish bison grass vodka, on the house. When the place gets stuffy, she’ll swing open the door to let some fresh Avenue A air in; just as quickly, she’ll close it if it gets chilly.

The clientele ranges from a less-intense sort of downtown hipster, who exchange a few friendly words with Lucy—who, even all these years later, still speaks in broken, accented English—and then retire to their personal conversations, to old Polish regulars. In fact, on another recent night, a young couple came in to show Lucy their young child. All four spoke entirely in Polish and a delighted Lucy let the little scamp climb atop the pool table. As they left, she handed the kid one of the old Halloween balloons. For those few minutes, Lucy’s was a family bar.

2022 and You Can Still GET a $3 PBR

LYS MYYKTA aka “The SLY FOX

142 2nd Avenue, New York NY – The EAST VILLAGE

LYSMYKTA aka “THE SLY FOX” is a Ukranian Bar in a Ukranian neighborhood in

New York’s East Village. There’s a Ukranian Restaurant in the back, serving delicious Ukranian Food and very reasonable prices. Yes this is thee main neighborhood of Ukranian peoples in New York City. The restaurants great, and any bar that serves $3 PBR Beer is great in my book too.

If you can go some place for drinks (beers), to hang and chit-chat and have 3 Beers, and not have to spend more than $15, that’s a place for me. You shouldn’t have to pay $40 plus for just 2 drinks (or $60 for 3). People who don’t make quite so much money as Lawyers, Wall Street Guys and whoever, should be able to afford to go for 2 or 3 drinks and not spend an “Arm and a Leg” to do it.

The SLY FOX is a place where you can do that, and thank God we have them, and a few other joints that we can do so.

$4 BEERS at “SOPHIE’S”

East 5th STREET Between AVENUES A & B

The EAST VILLAGE NYC

I’ve been going to Sophie’s, along with Lucy’s, Blue & Gold Bar,

the Holiday Lounge and others since first moving to The East Village in 1982.

Prices have gone up in a lot of places, and now in many places – cocktails cost are

in the high teens, Twenty Dollars, and even up to $29 for a cocktail, as I witnessed when

a friend and I went to The Chelsea Hotel a couple weeks ago. Yes, $25 and $29 for a cocktail. Damn?

We spotted a nice looking bottle of Cote du Rhone for $78 a bottle. Not cheap, but in comparison to $29 a cocktail. Four drinks would have costs us $114, so we got the wine for $36 dollars less than 4 drinks, and put that $36 into a tasty Cheeseburger. The Burger came with Fries, and we had them cut it in half. It was Super Tasty. We loved it. Even Better than Burgers at Minetta Tavern. “Seriously” !!!

I’ve been at Blue & Gold recently, as well as “MILANO’S” – Sophie’s, and 7b Bar. All serve $4 beers. Thank God for these places. I’ve said it before. I can go into Andy one of these places and have a couple Beers and live a respectable $4 tip, and walk out just spending $12. Not bad. Two cocktails plus tax and tip at The Lounge Bar at The Chelsea Hotel would be at least $50 for the two drinks plus $4.50 tax plus at least $10 for tip for a grand total of about $65, as oppose to $12 at any of New York City’s awesome Dive Bars.

Don’t get me wrong. Yes, we’re comparing Apples & Oranges. When I went to The Chelsea Hotel, I knew it wouldn’t be cheap, and I was prepared to pay for the privilege (of being there). My friend and I had a great time. We were there for a couple of hours BS-ing about this and that. We killed that bottle of Cote du Rhone and got another glass of wine each ($22 a glass). The check was about $170, not including tip, which was another $50, for a grand total of $220. Not cheap, but we had a “Great Time” and we were happy. You gotta treat yourself sometimes. But most times will be spent at a good dive bar.

“Thank God” for Good Dive Bars”

New York City

LUCKY’S BAR

168 Avenue “A” New York NY , East Village

Get $3 PBRs at LUCKY’S BAR

168 AVENUE “A” NY NY

EAST VILLAGE

JOHNSON’S BAR … 168 RIVINGTON STREET, LES NEW YOIRK NY

Inside JOHNSON’S BAR

$2 PBRs

PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER

Johnson’s Bar

NY NY

MORE PLACES to GET $3 PBRs

CATS SPORTS BAR – 96 GREENWICH STREET at RECTOR NY NY $3 PBRs

WALTER’S BAR – 389 8th Avenue Near 32nd Street and MADISON SQUARE GARDEN .. $3PBR

DOC HOLIDAY’S 141 AVENUE “A” East Village NY NY – $2 PBRs

MILANO’S

MILANO’S

51 EAST HOUSTON STREET

NEW YORK NY

One of the last authentic old-school bars in NYC. How old-school? Milano’s opened in 1880, and maintains a no-frills comfortably old-fashioned atmosphere.

The SPRING LOUNGE

aka SHARK BAR

45 SPRING STREET NEW YORK NY

The SHARK BAR

SPRING STREET at MOTT

Back in the day, when it was an ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD here.

Where it GOt its NICKNAME “SHARK BAR”

Nobody “In The KNow” calls it Spring Lounge, only Green Newcomers to Downtown New York would ever call it SPRING LOUNGE. For years it was a neighborhood “Shot & Beer” Joint. It became treny about 20 years ago (1999)

Those “In The Know” like me, only ever call it “The Shark Bar” … It got this name from

the fake SHARK hanging over the bar, and that’s that!

You can’t get $3 Beers here, but we incuded it anyway. And although it’s a Trendy so-called Hipster Bar, those of us Old Timers who still call it The Shark Bar, it still has a special place in our hearts.

Basta !

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

Daniel Zwicke

AMAZON.com

169 BAR

Lower East Side

If Clockwork’s happy hour special seems too good to be true, you’ve got a little good old fashioned neighborhood competition to thank. Located right around the corner, 169 has been in operation since 1916. And its 11:30am-7:30pm HH is among the best in the city. $3 will get you an “Old Man Can/Bottle” of beer (PBR, Carling Black Label, Schaefer, Genesee Cream, High Life/Miller Lite) and any well shot. Subtly New Orleanian environs (window shutters look like they’re fresh off a Creole cottage; beads are strung here and there; there’s crawfish on the menu) evoke genuine good times.

June 1, 2026

Exploring Venice by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

EXPLORING VENICE

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

The LATEST From DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

AMAZON.com

EXPLORING VENICE

Exploring Venice. Daniel Bellino has done it again. He just released has latest book – Exploring Venice – Travel Guide – Cookbook. Speaking of travel guide cookbooks, it seems as though Bellino owns this genre, having written three wonderful books that fall under this genre, which we even think that Bellino-Zwicke may have even invented.

His latest offering is all about one of the World’s most loved and cherished destinations – Venice, Italy. Venice, a city like no other in the world. Venice is totally unique, and the people of the World love it, and love going there. So Mr. Bellino Z has written a quite wonderful book that will help to guide these people – on where to go in Venice – restaurants, wine bars, museums, and other local sights, it’s all there.

Bellino’s “Exploring Venice,” like all of his Italian Travel Books, gives you the authors very own unique perspective, as only Daniel Bellino can. You see, unlike many who write travel books, Bellino has some 40 years experience under his belt, when it comes to visiting and knowing Venice, the place, the people, the lifestyle, and of course the food, of which, no Venetian Travel Guide has ever had such a large battery of great Venetian food recipes such as this. And not many can match when it comes to Bellino & Venice, wine bars, and Venetian food, as Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a master of it all. He created the 1st ever Venetian Bacaro in America in 1998. What is a bacaro you ask? A bacaro is the Venetian dialect name for a wine bar. The word bacaro translates to “House of Bacchus”. – with Bacchus being The Roman Guide of Wine, the name for a wine bar in Venice “Bacaro” is quite appropriate. Daniel Bellino fell in love with the bacari of Venice and wanted to open one of his own, and so he did.

Having wanted to open a Venetian Wine Bar (bacaro) in New York, Bellino needed to know about them, and as much as he could. Everything. And so in the Spring (Primavera) of 1995, after reading an article on the bacari of Venice, Bellino decided he had to go and check them out. He book a flight to Vencie, and stayed for 11 days, going to every wine bar (bacaro) in town. He ate, drank wine, chatted with the owners and clients alike, took pictures, and absorbed it all, find out all about the food (cichetti), the local wines, and how the food and wine was produced, presented, and consumed in these bacari of the enchanting city of Venice.

Daniel Bellino went back to New York, and along with business partner Tom T, opened Bar Cichetti – “America’s 1st Ever Venetian Bacaro” (wine bar). Danie was the Chef, Wine Director, and managing partner of Bar Cichetti which the food-press and Italian wine professionals in New York and Italy absolutely loved. We could go on and on about Bar Cichetti, but sorry, though a great subject, we actually got off the main subject at hand – the book by Bellino, EXPPLORING VENICE.

So, like any other travel guide, there’s a list of the best restaurants to go to, and bacari. A list of museums, best sights to see, some history, and the hotels of Venice. Then there’s a few stories, containing the authors own wonderful experiences and insights into the enchanting city of Venice. The author touches on the most famous Venetians of all : “Casanova,” Vivaldi, & one Giuseppe Cipriani, the creator of World Renowned Venetian Treasure “Harry’s Bar.” Not every guide book of Venice touches on these subjects, but Bellino does. And his insights are quite valuable. The author tells you of several of Casanova’s favorite haunts that remain open and active to this very day. And you can go to Caffè Florian and the wine bars of Venice , eat and drink, and enjoy these establishments just as Giacamo Casanova did, almost 300 years gone by. Now that’s quite something, wouldn’t you say?

Now the recipes, some of which are quite unique. Oh, we almost forgot to inform you, the author cooked professionally in New York City for some 14 years, before getting heavily involved in Italian Wine, as the wine director of some New York’s most renowned Italian restaurants, and became one of the foremost authorities in America, on Italian wine. So Bellino’s experienced is quite significant.

Yes, back tot he recipes in the book. The author / chef has included some 40 recipes on the most important dishes of Venetian Cusine, including, Risi Bisi, Baccala Montecato (whipped Salt Cod), Bigoli con Anatra (Venetian pasta with Duck Ragu), Calves Liver Veneziana, and more. Daniel has also touched on Cichetti and throwing your very own “Cichetti Party,” when you get back home. And he tells you how to do it. The author, in writing his Italian travel guide -cookbooks, has said that his does this in order to inspire people to cook the foods that they love from their travels. Daniel states that it’s a great way to relive cherished memories of certain trips, by cooking some dishes that you loved while on vacation. He has done this with other travel -cookbooks he has written, such as – Poistano The Amalfi Coast – Travel Guide – Cookbook & ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL.

We almost forget to inform you. Daniel Bellino cooked professionally in some New York’s most renowned Italian & French restaurants of 15 years, after which he became heavily involved in Italian Wine. He opened Bar Cichetti, and for this, every Italian Wine Estate Owner wanted to meet him, and have him sell and promote their wines. And so Daniel became one of America’s foremost authorise of Italian Wine. For his passion and great knowledge of Italian wine, Daniel Bellino Z is one of the most highly respected Italian Wine Guys of America – known and respected by most of Italy’s top Italian Wine producers (Italian Estate Owners), such as : Giovanni Manettiof Fontodi, Conti Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinaia (Chianti in Greve), The Marches Piero Antinori (Antinori Wines of Florence, Tuscany), Francesca Planeta (Paneta Wines, Sicily), Cavelierie Luigi Cappellini of Castello Verrazzano, and many more. Too many to name.

And so, we highly recommend any of the fine books of Italy, by one of America’s foremost authorises on the subjects – the subjects of Italian Food, Italian Wine, Italy, & Travels in Italy – chef ‘ author Daniel Bellino Zwicke. He knows it all.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND

“ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS”

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS

ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ???

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

April 27, 2026

Pregaming Cocktails in New York – Daniel Bellino Zwicke – Pregaming

MARTINIS

Pre-GAMING? Have you heard about it? What is it you want to know? Pre-Gaming, when it comes to cocktails, or the drinking of any alcoholic beverages, is when you are going out to a nightclub, or for drinks at a bar or cocktail lounge, but have one or two drinks at home before going out. Why? Well, mostly to save money. Especially these days, days of $20 plus cocktails. The act of pre-gaming serves as social, financial, and preparatory way to start off the evening. Pre-gaming is a major way to save money, as it’s a lot cheaper to buy alcohol at a liquor store and make cocktails at home, as compared to drinking in a nightclub or cocktail lounge where drinks can cost $20 or more, plus with tax and tip, you’re looking at a cocktails cost $30 or more by the time you pay for the drink and add the tax and tip. “It’s insane.”

Back in the 1980s when I was a young man in my 20s, I often pre-gamed. My apartment was on Avenue A in New York’s East Village, and on nights offf, if my friends and I were going out to a club, we’d often pre-game at my house, having a drink or two before we left. At the time Stolychnya was a popular Russian Vodka, and my personal favorite in those years, so I always had a bottle of Stoli in my freezer. It’s customary to keep Russian Vodka in the freezer, just in case you didn’t’ know, and my drink of choice was Stoli & Grapefruit. During those times drinks ranged from $5 to $7 a pop. It was much cheaper back then, but still, at the time, though not expensive, that was exactly cheap, so as today, with everything from groceries, gas, and cocktails at bars and cocktail lounges in New York City, we were looking to save money too. My friends would come over, we’d drink Stoli, then head on out, primed with one or two drinks at home.

Back in the 1980s East Village, wE had another way to pre-game before heading to one of our favorite nightclubs. We had lost of great inexpensive bars in my neighborhood, where you could get a cheap beer or cocktail. My favorite was the Holiday Ounge on St Marks Place, where I could get my favorite drink – Stoli & Grapefruit for only $2.It was a cool little bar run by one of the local Ukrainians “Stephan,” who I always loved seeing behind the bar, and ordering my drink from. Yes, it would cost me just $3, paying $2 for the drink, and leaving Stephan a $1 tip, so it was almost as cheap as (very cheap anyway) to pre-game at a local bar, as it was to drink at home, so we’d pre-game at the Holiday Lounge, have a one drink there, then head to Nell’s, Area, The Paladium, or whichever club we were going to that night. Yes things were much cheaper back then. You could go to a diner, and get a whole breakfast of 2 Eggs, with potatoes, toast, and coffee for just $2.99, which would cost you a little more than $4 zithtax and tip. Today, that same breakfast cost you $20 plus. That’s why I never go out for breakfast anymore. I eat breakfast at home.

Besides saving money, which often is the main reason for pre-gaming (pre-drinking), saving money is not the only reason to do pre-game drinking at home. Having pre-game cocktails at home allows people to gather in a more intimate quieter setting to converse, listen to your own chosen music, and bond before going to a completely different World inside a New York City nightclub.

Yes, I was listening, as usual to 1010 New Radio at home in Greenwich Village, as I always do. 1010 Wins New Radio “Give Us 1o Minutes & we’ll Give You the World,” is there slogan, and I’m a fan. Besides getting all the Big World News Stories, and the biggest news stories of New York City, they always give you all sorts of interesting other stories and info, that you wouldn’t get on network news. I find out so many things from 1010 news radio, I just love it. They give you little tidbits and if I need more info, I just jump on my phone and Google for more info. And so, I heard that Pre-Gaming Drinks at Home has now become a big thing, do to the “High Cost” of cocktails in New York City, bars, cocktail lounges, clubs, and restaurants. It’s just too much, and people have a choice. They “Pre-Game.” Something I’ve been doing in New York, since 1983. Yes, I’m usually ahead of the curve. On many things. I started drinking Negroni’s way back in the Summer of 1985, a good 30 plus years before most Americans discovered the famous Italian cocktail, and it became all the rage in New York and all over America. But I knew about them 33 years before they became the rage. Same thing with Cubano Sandwiches, and the Aperol Spritz, I discovered them many years before the rest of America finally caught up. Brag? No, just facts. I’m usually ahead of the curve. Anyway?

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke – NYC

A NEGRONI COCKTAIL

HOW to MAKE a NEGRONI

Ingredients :

CAMPARI

GIN

SWEET VERMOUTH

ICE

Fresh ORANGE Slices

Fill a Rock Glass with Ice. Add equal parts of Campari, Gin, & Sweet Vermouth. Garnish with a slice of Orange.

Serve.

Note : Most people probably don’t have Rock Glasses. You can make the drink using a wine glass instead.

An APEROL SPRITZ

HOW to MAKE an “APEROL SPRITZ”

INGREDIENTS :

APEROL

PROSECCO

CLUB SODA

ICE

ORANGE Slices

1 & 1/2 ounces Aperol

3 & 1/2 ounces Prosecco

1 ounce Club Soda

Ice

Orange Slice

Fill a wine glass with Ice. Add the Aperol, then the Prosecco, and top with the club soda. Stir, and add a fresh Orange slice.

Serve and Enjoy.

ALSO –

The 3-2-1 RULE for making an APEROL SPRITZ

To make a classic Aperol Spritz, use the 3-2-1 rule: combine 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, and 1 part soda water in a wine glass filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh orange slice for a refreshing, bittersweet, and bubbly cocktail

CLASSIC COKTAILS

FRANK SINATRA

SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

“COCKTAILS TOO”

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The ROLLING STONES

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March 27, 2026

New York Italian Food and Wine Guy – Daniel Bellino Zwicke

“ITALIAN FOOD & WINE GUY”

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

With Some of His FAVORITE FRIENDS WINES

And a PUMPKIN PIE

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

is a prominent New York-based Italian food and wine professional, best-selling author, and restaurateur with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Known in the culinary world as “Danny Bolognese,” he is recognized as an authority on Italian wine and culture.

Wine Industry Contributions

Bar Cichetti: In 1997, he founded Bar Cichetti in New York City, credited as America’s first Venetian wine bar (Bacaro), where he served as Chef, Wine Director, and Managing Partner.

Professional Roles: He has held prestigious positions as a wine director and chef at notable New York establishments, including Barbetta, as Wine Director – (home to one of the greatest Italian wine cellars in the U.S.), Del Posto, and Da Silvano.
Industry Connections: He is frequently associated with legendary figures in the wine world, such as Sebastiano Rosa (former winemaker of Sassicaia) and the Antinori family, Conte Sebastiano Capponi – proprietor of legendary Villa Calcinai Wine Estate in Greve, Cavelieri Luigi Cappellini (Castello Verrazzano), The Marchese Piero Antinori, Francesca Planeta of Planeta, Antonio Rallo of Donnafugata, and more.
Notable Books & Writing
Bellino Zwicke has authored numerous books that blend Italian-American recipes with wine pairing advice and travel stories:
Sunday Sauce: a #1 Amazon best-seller focusing on Italian-American “Gravy” and wine culture.

The Feast of the 7 Fish: A popular guide to the traditional Italian Christmas Eve seafood feast.
La Tavola: Stories and recipes reflecting the life of an Italian-American New Yorker.
Positano – The Amalfi Coast: A cookbook and travel guide that explores the regional dishes and wines of Southern Italy.
SINATRA SAUCE – The Cookbook
The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK
Current Projects: He is actively working on a dedicated book about Chianti and the wine of Chianti Classico, which he cites as one of his greatest passions.

BOOKS by Daniel Bellino Zwicke are Available on Amazon.com

Online Influence
He manages the highly successful Instagram page @NewYork.Italian, which has over 500,000 followers and covers topics ranging from regional Italian wine to classic cinema and recipes