Thursday, June 30, 2016

Dont Forget The Cannolis

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"Leave The GUN, Take The CANNOLIS" Clemenza (Richard Castellano of Jersey) tells Rocco who just "Made His Bones" whacking Paulie who set up Don Corleone ...  Sonny finds out and this Clemenza he doesn't want to see him any more (WHACK Him "Kill")
 
This is a Classic scene in the Mario Puzzo - Francis Ford Coppola classic "The Godfather"
We see Clemanza holding the box of Cannolis for his wife who was the one who told Clemenza when he was leaving their house "Don't Forget the CANNOLIS"
This is One of The Most Famous and most-quoted lines in movie history.
 
 
 
 
 
ROCCO'S PASTRIES
BLEECKER STREET
GREENWICH VILLAGE
 
 
 
Yes, "don't Forget The Cannolis," Clemenza's wife tells him as he leaves the house. And if you've ever tried the Cannolis at Rocco's Pastries on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village New York, you won't want to forget thes tasty Sicilian Specialties either. Yes Cannolis are Sicilian. And speaking of Sicilian Pastries, fi you don't already know, Sicily is renowned for having both the Best Gelato and best pastries in the whole of Italy. I'm Sicilian American and I was practically weaned on these tasty little treats. And Rocco's around the block from my apartment (Lucky Me) makes the best in The City. Believe me! Rocco's is a truly wonderful Pastry Shop that makes all sorts of amazing Italian Cookies, Cakes, and Pastries like Cannoli, Sfogiatelle, Eclairs, Rhum Baba, Lobster Tails and much more. 
When you walk into the place, you'll just love it. It's absolutely wonderful, with showcases that stretch about 30 feet, filled with Rocco's Mouthwatering Cookies, Cakes, and Pastries. They've got Coffee and Italian Ices too. The ambiance is wonderful, and you can sit down at the caffe tables for an Espresso, Cappuccino, and whatever marvelous sweets you decide to eat. They are all quite Irresistible.  You are sure to have a little quandary as you try to decide which of the huge selection you will take home. But it is quite a good Quandary to be in. Enjoy!
 
 
 
 
 The Best Cannolis in Town
Rocco's Pastries
Greenwich Village, New York
 
 
 
 
Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
a8145-mrnewyorkny2b252822529
SUNDAY SAUCE alla CLEMENZA
Learn How to Make CLEMENZA 'S GODFATHER SUNDAY SAUCE
Recipe in SUNDAY SAUCE  by Daniel Bellino
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mrnewyorkny_grandma
RAGU BOLOGNESE SECRET RECIPE
by Danny Bolognese
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Sunday, June 26, 2016

New York's Best Burger



SCHNIPPER'S Is # 1




SCHNIPPER CHEESEBURGER




 






 

JG MELON
Upper East Side Manhattan




JG MELON BURGER ROCK at SECOND BEST

"Some Would Say First. Even Me"




SHAKE SHACK BURGER # 3

"MANY SAY IT'S THE BEST"


We Wouldn't Disagree, But You Gotta Pick Some Kind
of Order .. Everyone Has Their Own Choices, and These Are Ours
"GUESS WHAT? We LOVE THEM ALL, and FEEL THEY'RE 
ALL # 1 The BEST, or DAM CLOSE To IT" !!!







The LUGER BURGER at PETER LUGER

The WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS STEAK HOUSE

The Luger Burger is a STEAL at Just $11.95

GET With THEIR FAMOUS BACON

"IT ROCKS" !!!



THE LUGER BURGER
With LUGER BACON & CHEESE

"DAM THAT BABY Is TASTY" !!!








photo DANIEL BELLINO-ZWICKE

MINETTA TAVERN

GREENWICH VILLAGE NEW YORK






MINETTA BURGER

TAKE The "MINETTA BURGER Over The
More Famous BLACK LABEK BURGER ...

"IT'S BETTER" !!!
The MINETTA BURGER TAHT IS !!!

And IT'S CHEAPER To BOOT !!!

"TRUST Us On THIS ONE" !!!

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NEW YORK'S 5 BEST BURGERS

1.  SCHNIPPER'S
2.  JG MELON
3.  SHAKE SHACK
4.  PETER LUGER
5.  MINETTA TAVERN



New York's 5 Best Burgers? Wow! Who are they? Who right? Who's Not? Yes, it's not easy, and who's to say who is the best, who's not, and that they are thee authority and decider of who is # 1 and Who's Not? Well, there are any number of people, magazines, newspapers, and other intitties doing articles, stories and what-not on the Best Burger or Best Burgers in town and around the country. It's a big and popular subject.
Well, this is just ours. Not seeing that his is the definative list and list to end all. It's just ours. And of these 5, we ourselves what put any number at the Top of The Heep, they're all great burgers.



THE SKINNY On EACH


SCHNIPPERS

Schnippers is awesome. They came on the scene a couple years ago. They didn't make all that much of a splash in the first year or year 1/2, but now? They've Splashed, and in quite a big way. They just opened their 3rd location in Manhattan and seems like their expansion will lead to any number across the country, alla Shake Shack. Spaeaking of Shake Shack, Schnipper's opened their first place less than 200 feet from Shake Shacks hugely famous Flagship Burger Joint (and 1st) at Madison Park at 23rd Street and Madison Avenue.

Anyway, the Schnipper Burger is awesome. The Schnipper Burger is a classic straight forward burger. It's 5 ounces, fresh beef (never frozen), cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. We love it, and think it taste exactlt as a burger should, with an emphasis on the tasty beef patty.

JG MELON

JG Melon is one great old institution up on 3rd Avenue at 74th Steet on New York's Upper East Side. The Melon is a cool classic old school bar, the kind that just can't be duplicated. Great natural vibe, and un-contived. And guess what? they've got one of New York top burgers, if not thee # 1 tops .. Some say, they are the best. Their Burger, and we wouldn't give them a fight on that. We love em too, and almost picked them for the # 1 spot on our list. What do you think.

SHAKE SHACK

A Great Burger! Some say the Best. We did too for some time, but we feeel that Schnipper's has edged them out. Though we wouldn't gie anyone a hard time if they Shake Shack is # 1 ... They're Buger is Classic, just the right size, seasoned and cooked to beautiful tasty perfection. We just Love Em.


PETER LUGER

The Luger Burger is awesome. It's quite tasty, and makes our top 5 list for it's tastieness and the fact that you can go into this Mecca of Steakdom and get a Burger for just 12 Bucks .. But you probably won't. You gonna want some cheese on that $1.50 and the Bacon ($4.25) is a "Must Have" at Lugers. If you go for Fries (Only $1.95), your burgers gonna cost you about $19.00
But hey, "It Peter Luger" and that's a bargain. 
You can only get The Luger Burger at Lunch, and we just love hopping over the Williamsburg Bridge every 2 or 3 months to get one. You will too.

MINETTA TAVERN

You can't beat the ambiance and History of Minetta Tavern .. This Historical Old Greenwich Village Haunt is cool as can be. And you'll feel you are too once and if you secure a seat inside. The master of the restaurant business in New York, Keith McNally rescued this great old joint, spruced it up just a bit, retaining its wonderful origianl decor, placed a couple great chefs at the helm and opened her up to rave reviews. The menu is French Bistro Steak House, with big juicy Steaks, Bistro Classics, and a pair of New York's Hottest and most loved burgers; The Famed Black Label Burger ($24.00) and The Minetta Burger ($16.00) .. The Black Label Burger is by far the most famous of the two, made with the Black Label Blend of Dry Aged Beef from famed New York Butcher Pat La Freida .. Dry Aged Beef may be great for Steaks, such as the ones so famous at Peter Luger and Minetta Tavern, but we feel that this beef doesn't translate so well to Burgers ... We prefer the Minetta Burger. How bout you?





LEARN How To MAKE The Perfect BURGER
in
GOT ANY KAHLUA?
Its
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK








Saturday, June 25, 2016

Italian Bakeries NEW YORK

 
ITALIAN NEW YORK BAKERIES Past & Present
ITALIAN BREAD & PASTRIES
Cappuccino Espresso Cookies Cakes & More
"Mangia Bene" !!!
VESUVIO
 

VESUVIO BREAD BAKERS PRINCE STREET ... Soho / GREENWICH VILLAGE New York Note: Vesuvio's Bakery has closed, however the Beautiful Piece of Italian New York History remains in its Landmark Status Storefront.

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Rocco's Pastry Shop, Bleecker Street
GRENWICH VILLAGE





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Cannolo




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Venerio



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PARISI BAKERS
    
PARISI BAKERY, Little Italy, New York
Bread Bakers 
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Ferrara




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zzzzCourtStPASTRY


COURT STREET PASTRY SHOP
Carroll gardesn Brooklyn

"THAT'S ITALIAN"  !!!!!




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mrnewyorkny




b7921-sundaysauce-small-new-cvr
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zzzzMonteleoones
   
MONTELEONE'S BAKERY & CAFE
Brooklyn  ... NEW YORK
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CAPUTO BAKERS CARROL GARDENS, BROOKLYN

Caputos Bake Shop, Carrol Gardens, BROOKLYN
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Saturday, June 18, 2016

The History of Espresso








ESPRESSO  


Espresso, the making, consuming and enjoyment of a properly made Espresso is another facet and time honored tradition of Italian-Americans and their culture. We do love our properly pulled Espresso. A properly pulled Espresso is a thing of beauty and refinement, and must be done just so. We can and do make Espresso in our homes with either a Neapolitan or Moka brewing device, and now these days, there are any number of expensive new-fangled home espresso makers, more on that later.
Some might be surprised but the great art of the perfect Italian Espresso has been around for just about 110 years. Yes Italians drank Espresso before that, but it was only developed into a “Fine Art” that it is today, just a little more then a hundred years ago or so when Luigi Bezzera developed the first Espresso Machine that we know today. After this landmark in Espresso history, the consumption and popularity of Espresso grew rapidly. Caffes and Espresso Bars popped up everywhere all over Italy. These Espresso Bars were places to have an Espresso and socialize. And in Italy, there is a whole act and ritual to going to an Espresso Bar for your habitual morning coffee. And it’s not just for the Espresso but some socializing, a bit of chit-chat, gossip, political talk, sports (Soccer/Futbol), this-that-and-every-other-thing. This morning Espresso is quite ritualistic in Italy, and is practiced by most, and in every corner of the country, on every other street corner in cities like; Rome, Bologna, Palermo, Milano, Verona, all over. And it is quite the sight to see, especially if you’re an American going for the first time. In caffes and bars in Italy it is at the stand-up Espresso bar where all the action takes place. When you go into a caffe (a.k.a. Bar) in Italy and have a Espresso, Cappuccino, whatever, and sit at a table, that Espresso will cost you an additional 50% or more than it will if you consume it standing up at the counter at the Espresso Bar. It’s a tax thing. The caffe owners are taxed on their tables and this tax gets passed on to the customer. Basta!
Anyway, the ritual of the early morning Italian Espresso? People get dressed, leave their homes and are on their way to work, but they don’t go right from their house to their job. No they have to have an Espresso and the ritual of the Espresso and some Chit-Chat (BS) with a quick stop at their favorite local caffe. They might leave their house then go to an Espresso Bar near their home before going to their job, or they may head to their job, then get an Espresso at a favored caffe near the work-place. They might even do both, get an Espresso in their neighborhood before heading to work, then stopping at an Espresso Bar close to their workplace before bopping into work.
     Well, that’s the way they do it in Italy, quite a ritual and amazing to see. In America, Italian immigrants to cities like New York, Boston, Providence, and Philadelphia opened Social Clubs that served Espresso, maybe some sandwiches, soup, soda, Biscotti, and Anisette Toast, and Cannoli that they bought from a nearby baker. These Social Clubs which sprung up in neighborhoods like the Lower East Side of New York or what is now called Little Italy, in Boston’s North End, and San Francisco’s North Beach. These Social Clubs (Caffe) were primarily of and for the working class, and were for Italians. The clubs were for Italians, and people of other nationalities did not go into them unless they were brought in by an Italian guy from the neighborhood. And that’s the way it was back then.






Espresso e Dolce at home? When I was growing up and went to my Aunt Fran and Uncle Tony’s house in Lodi, or to Aunt Helen’s for Sunday Dinner, and we ate our meal, and it moved on to coffee and dessert, this was quite a sight that brings back nice memories for me to this very day. And it was a wonderful ritual, and unlike the quick grab your Espresso, Chit-Chat for a few minutes and run out the door as is done at caffe’s and Espresso Bars in Italy, the Espresso was anything but Espresso (Fast) at Bellino Family meals, as is with millions of Italian-American families over the years. No, this was no quick hit-and-run affair. The coffee and dessert course at our family gatherings was the longest portion of our all day affair of the Sunday Meal. My Aunts and Uncles would sit around the table, we (the Kids) would too, but we would go back and forth, cause this sit-down at the table usually lasted about 3 hours, maybe more. We’d sit down, and Aunt Fran and Aunt Helen had the Neapolitan going with Espresso. The table was laden with all sorts of goodies; Cannolis of course, one or two different cakes, and an assortment of Italian Cookies and Pastries (Sfogiatelle, Mille Foglie). There was always enough to fill Pastry Shop Showcase, “I kid you not!”
The table full of my aunts and uncles was a wonder. They’d sit around drinking coffee, eating pastries, and talk-talk-talk, about politics, sports, gossip, this-that-and-everything. My uncle Frank who was the Ring-Leader could have solved all the Worlds problems, right there at that table, filled with Cannoli, Biscotti, Coffee (Espresso), cakes, Anisette, heated discussion, laughter, and a “Bundle of Joy,” all over Espresso.
Aunt Helen and Aunt Fran made the Espresso in Neapolitan Espresso Maker. The Neapolitan is from Napoli, Italy. It was developed so Neapolitans (and all Italians) could make Espresso in their homes. The Neapolitan is a two-piece device whereby, you fill the bottom of the vessel with water, the ground espresso goes in the middle and you screw on the empty top. To make Espresso with the Neapolitan you put the device on the stove over a flame with the piece filled with the water on the stove. The water heats, and when it comes to the boil, you turn the flame off, flip the vessel over so the hot water is at the top and will then drip down through the ground coffee to make the Espresso. The Espresso is not as good as that you’d get at a caffe or Espresso Bar with a large machine, but it’s good enough, and adding a little shot of Anisette is never a bad thing, something my Uncle Frank always did. This is called a Caffe Corretto, the act of adding a few drops of your desire liquor into your espresso. You can add; Grappa, Sambucca, Brandy, Anisette, or other liquor to make a caffe corretto. At Aunt Fran & Unlce Tony’s, it was always Anisette. Basta.







My NAPOLITAN

I Bought in NAPOLI 1987




As a child it was always something to see, watching Aunt Fran or Aunt Helen go through the pleasant little ritual of making Espresso in that curious looking contraption, the Neapolitan. As I said, it always intrigued me, and when I took my first trip to Italy and was in Napoli walking through a street market and spotted a merchant selling Neapolitans and other kitchenware’s, I just had to get myself one, a Neapolitan of my own and from the great city it was invented in, Napoli. I also brought back some beautiful ceramic plates from nearby Vietro sul Mare on the nearby Amalfi coast, and I’ve been making Espresso with my Neapolitan (bought in Napoli), and eating Spaghetti on those beautiful Amalfi Coast Plates from ever since, a joy, and a way to bring Italy into your own American home. Doing so, brings back beautiful memories of; Positano, The Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and the rest of Italy. If you can’t be there (which is a shame), then bring Italy into your home. And that is what we do, every time we sit down to a meal, a glass of wine, or a simple little cup of Espresso, “we bring Italy home.”




ESPRESSO is Excerpted from   SUNDAY SAUCE by Daniel Bellino Zwicke


SUNDAY SAUCE  - 

When Italian-Americans Cook 

Available in Paperback & Kindle on Amazon.com

















Cannolis Were Always on The Table





And a Bottle of Anisette














SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES








A MOKA POT

For Making Espresso








Toto & Peppino 

with a NAPOLITAN

in

The BAND of HONEST MEN 1956




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Saturday, June 11, 2016

La Tavola ITALIAN NEW YORK

ITALIAN-AMERICAN GREENWICH VILLAGE And NEW YORK

  The Food, People, Restaurants, Pork Stores, Butcher Shops, Bakeries, and Caffes of Italian-American New York .. Wonderful Recipes and Stories of Italian-American New Yorkers, their Food, Kitchens, and Feast of The Table "La Tavola"


   The BEST of ITALIAN-AMERICA Wow, what a wonderful book. If you love Italian Food and are in to the Italian-American lifestyle and its many fine rituals of kitchen and table then you'll just love Daniel Bellino Zwicke's "La Tavola." The book is filled with many wonderful stories of Italian-America, like a chapter all about the famed Italian-American Sunday Ritual of The Sunday Sauce, aka "Gravy." There's a wonderful chapter on SINATRA, and a great one on Italian Wine. This book is filled with many great stories of Italian-America and all involved and through the stories, this book is almost like a guide book in the fact that there are so many facts peppered in the stories. Facts and info on the best Italian Restaurants, Caffes, Bakeries, Pizzerias, Pork Stores and such. The book has some wonderful recipes, like; how to make the Best Tomato Sauce, Pasta Fazool, Chicken Cacciatore, Sunday Sauce, Meatball Parm Sandwiches and all your Italian Favorites. It's a book of Food, Friends, Family and Love. I highly recommend this one.


 As Reviewed on AMAZON.com





 

 TIP 

 Question :  Where to get the Best Plat of SPAGHETTI MEATBALLS in New York

 Answer : MONTE'S TRATTORIA on Macdougald Street in GREENWICH VILLAGE 



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TRATTORIA MONTE'S   .... Greenwich Village New York











zzzzmeatballs
       


SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLLS













zzzSophiaPIZZA




Sophia Loren



"Just Because"  !!!






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Sunday, June 5, 2016

Segreto Italiano 5 Star Review




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  If you're just beginning to learn Italian cooking - or you're advanced.....you'll find at least ONE recipe in this book you'll have to try. But more likely, you'll find several. What I love about this selection of recipes is that they include strictly Italian; Sicilian; and Italian-American dishes. The author recognizes Italian-American as a cuisine unto its own. Falling into all three categories myself, I have a large collection of Italian and Sicilian cook books, but none specifically for Italian-American. I think this is about as close as I'll get. Dishes from my childhood (along with some charming anecdotes from the author) are in here and my mouth waters just thinking about which one I'll make first. The recipes are rather simple just like *real* Italian food. I remember the time I asked Zia Elena for her spaghetti sauce and meatball recipes. To me, she was the Queen of authentic and delicious Sicilian/Neopolitan cookery (she married one of those northern Italians, so learned to cook for him. I had to ask her on the sly as no one would admit to her superior culinary skills in front of their own mothers!) Her list of ingredients was short and of course, delicious. Most Italian recipes are like that ---- not complicated, but delicious. I give this book two paws up! For the price, it's such a deal, it should be in any cook book collection which focuses on the three types of Italian food. And lest the reader say, "But I thought Sicilians *were* Italians..." You can read up on this on the internet and see that Sicily had hosted numerous types of colonies for hundreds of years by everyone from Greeks, Arabs, Byzantines, even Scandinavians!. It only became part of Italy in 1860. Then in 1946 it became an autonomous region. Why does this matter? Sicilian cooking has many influences and so differs, although at times in subtle ways and sometimes in a complete composition expression to the more northern Italian food and customs. Due to Sicily's proximity to Greece, a dear Greek man once told me (as I choked on the sweetness of the baklava he had just given me), that Sicilians were "just Greeks" who wanted to be Italians. May be a grain of truth in that.! If you love this outrageously ethnic food, then I highly recommend this. It's the kind of book I wish Zia Elena would have written and left to me! 







Thanks, Daniel  




 by Kitty Siracusa




 








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Sophia Loren  "Mangia Bene" !!!











zzzzME


Auhor Daniel Bellino Z with Wine From his Friends in ITALY



TerraBianca "Camapacio" by friend Roberto Gundeler

VENICA "Ronco d' Mele" Sauvignon from Gianni Venica

Donnafugata "MILLE Un NOTTE" from friend ANTONO RALLO

BARBI BRUNELLO from The Colombini Family

and

PLANETA Cerasaulo di Vittoria from friend FRANCESCA PLANETA




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Friday, June 3, 2016

Best Bahn Mi New York

zzzzSaigonBahnMi
 


  SAIGON Vietnamese Sandwich 369 Broome Street is "The BEST Bahn Mi" in New York Hands Down, no place can Top Saigon on Broome Street in Chinatown for Quality, Authenticity and Value (only $5.50 a sandwich) ..


 "Yes, The BEST BAHN MI SHOP in NEW YORK" !!!!  



zzzzbanhnnnmi
  
CLASSIC  Bahn Mi








zzzzBanhmi

PORK Banhn Mi   ... SAIGON











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