Thursday, February 6, 2014

Tre Bicchieri Tasting New York 2014 Bellino

Image
THE 2014 Tre Bicchieri Tasting in NEW YORK Today
Tre Bicchieri is the most improtant Italian Wine Tasting of the year for people like me, New York Italian Wine People, including; restaurantuers, Wine Directors (Me), Wine Jounalsit (Me), and lovers of the grape of Italy .. In Italy the magazine Gambero Rosso is the equivalent of Wine Spectator and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate combine .. Gambero Rosso publishes each year an extensive and exhaustive book Vini Italia every year and rates practically all of the wines of Italy, from North to South East to West .. Gambero Rosso unlike Parker, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiaist rates the wine tasted and reviewed with 1, 2, & 3 Glasses (Bicchieri) as oposed to Parker, WS, and WE ... The Tre Bicchieri Tasting are of all the 3 Glass Winners (Tre Bicchieri) of the year, and these tasting are held around the World in appointed cities like; New York, Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Moscow, Sao Paulo, Sna Fransisico, Chicago, and others ...
For me, yes the annual New York Tre Bicchieri Tasting is a great wine tasting, but for me it's more of a "Social Event" were I get to see many of my friends from Italy who are in town with their wine. As well as seeing my Italian friends, all the New York Italian Wine People are on hand, so you see a lot of people in one shot and accomplish quite a bit in a few hours time .. Anyway, I will sign off for now, go up to the tasting in an hour, taste wine, take notes, visit with friends, have a good time, and tomorrow or the next day I will report back on my findings, stories of friends, of Italy and my favorite wines of the day. All Italian. Basta !
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Sebeastiano Rosa (Winemaker of SASSAICAIA) Me, and Giovanni Folonari (Nozzole) at 2011 Tre Bicchieri New York ...
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The Annual Italian Wine Bible "Vini Italia" Published by Gambero Rosso
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SUNDAY SAUCE When Italian Americans Cook
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke .. Available on AMAZON.com

Monday, January 27, 2014

Italian WIne Time New York Brunello



BRUNELLO Di MONTALCINO


BRUNELLO TASTING NEW YORK Today
January 27, 2014
NEW YORK, NY
Benvenuto Brunello


"Going to Tasting and Brunello Seminar in an hour. Will report back later or tomorrow ..
Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Benvenuto Brunello New York 2014

.
Precious Vines
of
Sangiovese Grosso 
aka Brunello
Montalcino
Near Sant Antimo
 
 
Dam, another year has come and gone .. It's hard to beleive another year has already gone by.
Seems just like yesterday the last Benvenuto Brunello Tasting at Gotham Hall in New York, happily tasting Montalcino's latest release of the 2008 vintage Brunello's along with Brunello Riserva 2007 and Rosso di Montalcino's of 2011 .. Some really wonderful Brunello last year .. i can remember loving the offerings of; Donatella Cinelli Columbini 2008, Col d'Orcia 2008, Barbi Resierva 2007, and Uccelliera 2008, and Silvio Nardi 2008 ..  
 
I attended a great Siminar on Brunello conducted by the great Kevin Zraly where we tasted some wonderful current vintage Brunello including the just mention offerings as well as
Il Poggione Riserva 1999 and Col d'Orcia Brunello 2001, both great vintages and now aged quite well.
The seminar conducted by Mr. Zraly was phenominal as usual and when I inquired if Kevin was going to do it again, I was dissapointed to hear he wasn't .. They got someone else whose name I do not recognize .. Hopefully the lady will conduct a fun, informative seminar, but after attending Zraly's last year, I doubt if  very many could match Kevin's wonderful performance. "Cie la Vie."
 
At the tasting last year, one of my suppliers asked if he the Count Francesco Maroni Cinzano by, as he wanted to give me a personal 1-on-1 tasting of his latest offerings. Of course I said yes, "Do you think I'm a Mad-Man?" Maybe? Well the Count came by the next day with some phenominal Brunello's, including; his 2008 Vintage, Rosso di Montalcino 2010, Col d'Orcia Brunello 2001, and the amazing Col d'Orcia Brunell "Col Vento Riserva" 2004 .. That wine is amazing and one of the best bottles of Brunello I tasted all year. And Poggio Al Vento 2004 was just being released in 2013, it was incrediable .. All the Counts wines are quite wonderful, and he also brought along a nice wine he makes at his property in Chile .. The wine "Erasmo" is a very fine Bordeaux Blend that I quite like, I put on my list, along with The Counts Brunello both 2005 and 2008 vintages which have been selling extremely well and our customers just love them ...
 
"DON'T TOUCH IT !!! DON'T TOUCH IT !!! " Cried Kevin Zraly, startling some, scarring others at last years Brunello Seminar he conducted at Benvento Brunello 2013 at Gotham Hall in New York ...
You can read more on Mr. Zraly and the 2013 Brunello tasting in my article "Brunello Tripel Header" at Ny-Foodie
 
.
Fattoria di Barbi Table at NY Brunello Tasting 2013
BARBI BRUNELLO "One of My Favorite Brunello Houses"
 
 
 
Daniel Bellino-Zwicke & Count Francesco Maroni Cinzano
Drinking The Count's Famed Brunello
NEW YORK, NY
 
 
"One of The BEST BRUNELLO 'S I've Ever Tasted"
MAYBE Thee BEST Ever !!!
Poggio AL Vento
Brunello Di Montalcino
Riserva
2004
 
"One of the Best Brunello's I've ever had, and I've had some Great Ones;
Val d' Cava Madonna 1990, Angelo Sassetti 1990, Barbi Riserva 1995, Poggio Antico 1997
and many more ....
 
 
The FOLLOWING Is From The BRUNELLO Di MONTALCINO CONSORZIO Website
 
Brunello di Montalcino is a visibly limpid, brilliant wine, with a bright garnet colour. It has an intense perfume, persistent, ample and ethereal. One can recognize scents of undergrowth, aromatic wood, berries, light vanilla and jam. 
To the taste the wine has an elegant harmonious body, vigorous and racy, it is dry with a lengthy aromatic persistence.
 
Because of its characteristics,  BRUNELLO can be aged for a long time, improving as the years go by. It is not easy to determine exactly for how many years it improves. It depends on the vintage. It varies from a minimum of 10 years to around 30 years, but it can be kept for even longer. Naturally it must be kept in the right way: in a cool cellar, but above all with a constant temperature, in the dark, without noises and smells; the bottles should be laid horizontally.
.
.
SUNDAY SAUCE
Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
 

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Monday, January 20, 2014

ROCCO'S CARBONE DANTE MILADY'S And GREEDY LANDLORDS





















The OLD ROCCO'S SIGN

The traditional Italian restaurant Rocco in Greenwich Village has closed due to “greedy landlords,” as Rocco’s owner Antonio DaSilva says on the now-defunct restaurant’s voice greeting.



THE OLD ROCCO'S SIGN

"Yes the Old Sign with CARBONE Superimposed
Over ROCCO

all photos Daniel Bellino-Zwicke



GREENWICH VILLAGES LOSES CHERISHED CAFFE RESTAURANT BAR 
            and BAKERY (Vesuvio's)


First it was Rocco's a couple years ago. Rocco's Restaurant on Thompson Street was just one of few surving Old-School Italian Red-Sauce Restaurants left in New York's Greenwich Village .. As per usual with greedy-landlords and insane skyrocketing rental priced, the rent on Rocco's was jacked-up by another "Greedy Landlord" and Rocco's was "pushed out of business" and forced to shut its doors after almost 90 years in busines (Since 1922).

Milady's, one of the last remaining old-school neighborhood bar was forced out of business by "greedy landlords" and served their last Beer to sad and loyal customers on Sunday, Juanuary 12, 2014 ...

The beloved classic Italian Caffe, "CAFFE DANTE" Closed on Sunday, January 19, 2014
"What is this World Coming to?"


Reported From The VILLAGER   ........ January 19, 2012



In November of last year, the New York City restaurant blog Eater reported that the traditional home-style dining spot’s lease was up at the end of 2011. And to renew that lease the landlord was asking for $18,000 a month — a $10,000 monthly increase from what DaSilva traditionally paid.
Assuming the lease are young up-and-comers Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, both chefs belonging to the Torrisi Italian Specialties team. Together with partner Jeff Zalaznick, the group operates a mini-chain of restaurants with two spots in Little Italy and a stand at Yankee Stadium.
Word is the Torrisi team struck a deal with Rocco restaurant’s landlord and then slyly advertised the restaurant takeover in a 16-second video on their Web site.
“It’s pretty bad and it’s a shame,” said Ralph Redillo, the superintendent of the restaurant’s building. “A lot of outsiders came into the neighborhood just for Rocco’s.”

Pat Gombos, a neighborhood regular of Rocco's says, “Great prices, great food and great atmosphere,  I’ll totally miss it.”








"La TAVOLA" Is GREENWICH VILLAGE ITALIAN




Sunday, January 19, 2014

NEW YORK & $3 BEER

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   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, hence the name "7B"  ... The nickname Horseshoe Bar comes from the shape and dimensions of the bar, "Horseshoe Shaped." The bar has been the setting of numerous movie shoots, including the scene in Godfather II when Frankie Pantangeli (Frankie 5 Angels) goes to this bar for a meeting with the Rosato Brothers, and Danny Aiello raps a Piano-Wire around his neck. A scene from Crocodile Dundee and other movies as well ....  But Best of all, at 7B they serve $3.00 Beers, cheap drinks, and they have a photo and sell Potato Chips and Pretzels which practically no bars in Manhattan ever do any more. And this is a good thing when you get the munchies from the Beer. Glory Hallelujah, thank God for 7B .. 

  .

2ac44-bi-leb-small

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

Daniel Zwicke

   

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          .    

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

2001 Barolo Conterno DeGrezia New York




ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO CICALA 2001
One of The GREAT BAROLO VINTAGES EVER
at
DeGrezia
NEW YORK
THIS WINE Was AWESOME !!!
94 on a 100 Point Scale


Barolo Aldo Conterno "Cicala" 2001 ...  It's a classic Barolo from one of Barolo's finest producers, Aldo Conterno .. Cicala is a single -vineyard Barolo .. I'll take this oportunity for those who may not know, a single-vineyard wine is one in which all the fruit that goes into that particular wine comes from one sight-specific vineyard area .. These single vineyard vineyards are located on an estate in small plot that has the best growing conditions for wine within a larger area .. The sight is usually special because it gets the best sun light and is usually on a southern faceing vineyard, possibly on a hill and has good drainage and other terrain elements beneficial to maximum grap growing ...
  Back to the Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 2001 .. As we've already stated, Aldo Conterno is a great Barolo producer and this wine comes from a famous single-vineyard .. Now moving on to the vintage, 2001 in Barolo and Barbaresc was one of the greatest Barolo vintages ever, along with 2000, 1996, 1989, 1990 and others ..
   We opened a couple a few bottles at this party, and they were all in great condition, properly cellared for the whole of their lives. Decanted, the color and aroma were marvelous and no signs of any faults such as Bret, oxidation, be cooked or corked. Yes the bottles were in excellent conditon. The aromas were classic Barolo as was the taste, of which the wine had many marvels, including; Alcohol Soaked Cherries, Truffle, tar, and Licorice .. I loved the wine, one of the finest Barolo's I have ever tasted and I've tasted many running the Inoteca at Del Posto, Bar Cichetti and Barbetta Wine Director for 4 1/2 years were I tasted the likes of Ceretto Bricco Rocche Barolo 1990,  Renato Ratti Barolo Riserva 1990, Marcarini Barolo Brunat 1996, Bartolo Mascarello Barolo 1996 97 and 1990, Gaja Barolo "Sperss" 1990, Giacamo Conterno Monfortino 1978  1989 1990, and Cavolotto Barolo Bricco Boschis 1990 and 1996. Mascarello barolo "Monprivato" 1990 1989 & 1996 just to name a few of the many I have had over the years ... With all this said and done, I'll tell you this Conterno Barolo "Cicala" 2001 is the best Barolo I've had in the past 5 years or so, and I'd deffinately rank it way up there with all the great Barolo I've tasted over the years including many from the great 1989 1990 1996 1997 2000 and 2001 vintages .. I'd rate this Cicala 2001 about a 93 on a 100 point scale if I was forced to do so .. But my best way of describing this or any great wine is; that I Loved it, I couldn't get enough of it and wanted more, when all was gone. The wine was memorable and a joyous pleasure to drink. Bravo Ado!




Daniel Bellino Zwicke


photo Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Sunday, December 29, 2013

KEITH McNALLY Closing PAULINO


KEITH McNALLY 
CLOSING PULINO'S


PULINO'S CLOSING December 29, 2013

CHERCHE MIDI To Open
In Its Place

Shane McBride
of
BALTHAZAR
To HEAD KITCHEN




KEITH McNALLY
At HIS
MINETTA TAVERN
GREENWICH VILLAGE,  NEW YORK






Saturday, December 21, 2013

BALLANTINE ALE NEW YORK


YOGI BERRA
NEW YORK YANKEES
HALL of FAMER
And
A
BALLENTINE BLAST




Ballatine Ale
Art






JASPER JOHNS
BALLENTINE ALE CANS
SCULPTOR






ERNEST HEMINGWAY
BALLENTINE ALE
In WORDS







BALLENTINE ALE BREWERY
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
On The PASSAIC RIVER












DUDE With BEER In CAR







READ ABout The DUDE
BEER & FOOD
The DUDE COOKS
With
GOT ANY KAHLUA?
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK






Wednesday, December 18, 2013

25 DISHES EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW



25 DISHES YOU SHOULD KNOW
Click Links For Dishes





3.  ROAST POTATOES





7.  CHILI



10.  GUACAMOLE

11.  RAMEN

12.  CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 


14.  MEATLOAF

15.  FRITTATA







22. PANCAKES

23.  PORK CHOPS


25.  CHEESECAKE





LEARN How to COOK
The Perfect STEAK
The PERFECT BURGER
BUFFALO WINGS
CHILI
GUACAMOLE 
And Other GREAT RECIPES
In
GOT ANY KAHLUA ?
The DUDES
BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK






Sunday, December 15, 2013

NEW YORK 'S BEST BURGER


WHITE MANNA
Hackensack, NJ
One of The NEW YORK Area's
BEST BURGERS
And Coolest All-Around Burger Experience
In The NEW YORK METRO AREA



NEW YORK'S BEST BURGER
SHAKE SHACK



SHACK BURGER
NEW YORK'S TOP BURGER





KEITH RICHARDS COOKS
THE ROLLING STONE




KEITH RICHARDS FAVORITE COOKBOOK
GOT ANY KAHLUA?
THE COLLECTED RECIPES of THE DUDE

"IT'S The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK"





CLEMENZA 'S MOB WAR SUNDAY SAUCE RECIPE



CLEMENZA'S MEATBALL SUNDAY SAUCE by Daniel Bellino ..
Clemenza makes da "SAUCE" From the unforgettable scene in Mario Puzo
Francis Ford Coppola's THE GODFATHER, Caporegime Pete Clemenza shows 
Michael Corleone (AL PACINO) how to make his SUNDAY SAUCE "GRAVY"
alla CLEMENZA ... The scene is quite famous and much loved by Italian-Americans, movie buffs and just about everyone .. You can now learn the secrets Clemenza taught Michael Corleone, now with 
Clemenza's Meatball Sunday Sauce by renowned food writer Daniel Bellino Zwicke ...


NOTE: There was previous a glitch on the table of contents in this book . It has been fixed and working perfectly .. We Highly recommend this book to any who follow; The Godfather, Pacino, and or Italian Food and Sunday Sauce.. Mangia Bene!!!


CLEMENZA MEATBALL SUNDAY SAUCE AVAILABLE ON KINDLE FOR KINDLE, KINDLE For iPad, Kindle for iPhone, Kindle For ANDROID  $2.99

SUNDAY SAUCE "When Italian-Americans Cook" A larger book with more Recipes is Available in PAPERBACK on AMAZON.com


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

NO GARLIC For SINATRA


FRANK SINATRA




IF YOU COOK For FRANK SINATRA
"HOLD The GARLIC"
So says Sal Scognamillo Chef/Owner of PATSY'S
Frank Sinatra's Favorite Restaurant
Frank couldn't eat garlic. You could flavor a dish with garlic by cooking whole garlic cloves 
in olive oil to flavor the dish. Then you had to pull out each and every piece of garlic. Frank couldn't take it ..
His favorite dishes were; Clams Posillipo, Spaghetti Pomodoro, Veal Milanese, 
Sausage & Peppers, and Spaghetti & Meatballs of which PATSY'S makes "The Best In Town"

If you want to Eat Like SINATRA, check out Daniel Bellino-Zwicke's latest book
SUNDAY SAUCE "When Italian-American's Eat"  Along with all sorts of great Italian dishes, there's recipes for Dolly Sinatra Marinara, Spaghetti & Meatballs recipe from Franks Mom, and SUNDAY SAUCE alla SINATRA ..



Friday, November 29, 2013

Keith Richards & Jack Daniels



THEY GO TOGETHER



KEITH RICHARDS
and
A Bottle of "JACK"

JACK DANIELS
They Go Together !!!


Rolling Stones Keith Richards Guitarist Keith Richards loves his Jack Daniels, and Jack loves him ...  The other Big Jack Daniels Fan "FRANK SINATRA" just has been honored by The Jack Daniels Company with a bottle of some special Limited Edition Sinatra Jack Daniels .. Could Keith be next ?





SINATRA  SELECT
JACK DANIELS
LIMITED EDITION







PJ CLARKE'S

New York

photo Daniel Zwicke





KEITH RICHARDS FAVORITE COOKBOOK

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

It's "THE BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK"