Old New York and its Old Time Bars

I guess many have gone by the wayside but you are still able to find "old New York" in a few wonderfully preserved Old Bars. Mostly all of these wonderful Landmark establishments are below 23 rd Street. The "Landmark Tavern" standing on the corner of 46th Street and 11th Avenue is the one exception. "Pete's Tavern" in Gramercy Park on the Corner of Irving Place (street named after resident Washington Irving) and 18th Street claims to be the longest continually running bar in New York. They opened their doors in 1864 and have been serving liquor ever since to this very day. They did not even stop during Prohibition as they were a Speakeasy disguised as a Flower Shop. "Fanelli's Cafe" on the corner of Prince and Mercer Streets in Soho claims that they have been serving food and liquor since 1847 McSorley's Ale House has been operating at 15 East 7th Street since 1854. There are just two options of things to drink here, McSorley's Light or Dark Ale of which they have served the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and John Lennon. They make great Liverwurst and Onion Sandwiches and you can get a nice plate of Grafton Cheddar Cheese served with Saltines and Hot Irish Kustard (Mustard). "Peter McManus" on the corner of 7th Avenue and 19th Street in Chelsea is often overllooked when it comes to great old New York Bars. The decor is old and as well preserved as any of the others. they make good burgers and Cheese Steak Sandwiches. The "White Horse Tavern" at 567 Hudson Street is a old Greenwich Village favorite that since they opened their doors in 1880 has served Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, and Dylan Thomas who after drinking a "Record" 18 Whiskies, was rushed to St. Vincents Hospital where he died from Alcohol Poisoning. "Yes he drank himself to death." The "Old Town Bar" has been operating at 45 East 18th Street since 1892 and had Teddy Roosevelt who lived just a few blocks away as a regular.

"Raoul's" New York's Best Bistro

Raoul's, "COOL"

Best Cool French Bistro in New York

When it comes to Bistros in New York City, there is one that stands alone. No other can touch it. "Raoul's" on Prince Street in Soho is far and above any other Bistro in all of New York. The total combined elements of Ambiance, Food, Music, Service, and combined Vibe, just can't be beat. Raoul's is just plain "Cool." They serve some of the best Foe Gras in the city, along with a famous "Steak au Poive" and other Bistro Classics, along with the cool well-worn decor and the a great blend of music like; The Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, Edith Piaf, and Best of All, "No Hip Hop."

At "Raoul's" they know what they are doing. They should, they've been doing it for some 30 years, and the way the do things, we're sure they'll be around for a long time to come.

RAOUL'S 180 Prince Street, Soho NY, NY (212)966-3518 www.raouls.com

Pricing: on the Expensive Side

$1.00a Slice Pizza on St. Marks

Sign in front of 2 Bros. Pizza, 32 St. Marks Place, "Inflation Fighters" $1.00 a Slice or 2 Slices and a Soda for just $2.75 "How can you beat That?"
A 2 Bros. Pizza $1.00 slice.

$1.00 a Slice Pizza On St. Marks Place Makes a Big Splash

2 Bros. Pizza on St. Marks Place is making a big splash in the East Village. At a $1.00 a slice, you'd have to go back to the mid-80's to get Pizza this cheap.
People Love it. Almost everybody you ask will admit that it's no Lombardi's, John's or Tottono's. What it is, is a pretty good slice, and at $1.00 a slice it just can't be beat. It's not great, but many have had to take a shot for just a "Buck" per slice you just got to try it at least once. Almost everyone poled liked it and said that it taste much better than they thought it would. As one guy put it, it's pretty dam good, far superior to commercial Pizza like Domino's, Papa Johns, or Pizzahut, and at just $1.00 a slice and $2.75 for 2 slices and a soda, a great inflation fighter.

Several people surveyed said, "It's just the ticket when your drunk and out drinking in the East Village." But you don't have to be drunk to like it. It even taste good when you're sober, and the price is oh so sweet.

Looks like we have an "Institution" in the making.

DUMPLING HOUSES NYC

FRIED DUMPLING SHOP

ALLEN STREET

LOWER EAST SIDE

NEW YORK NY

ALLEN STREET DUMPLINGS were the ones who started it all. The Chinese Dumpling Craze.

5 Tasty Pork Dumplings for a mere .99 Cents. OMG ??? !!! There was Nothing Cheaper !!!

Probably at the time, the Best Food Bargain in The Entire World, considering how High Prices are in NYC. Damn ? This was just as cheap as Eating in South East Asia. Just a Dollar for a meal. In New York ? You couldn't beat it.

Eventually the price went up to $1.50 and then $1.99, but still, they were Damn Cheap.

Four of My 5 DUMPLINGS

VANESSA DUMPLINGS

VANESSA DUMPLING HOUSE

ELDRIDGE STREET

NY NY

After ALLEN STREET, VANESSA DUMPLING HOUSE opened, and things really took off. Five tasty Pork Dumplings for .99 Cents. A Bargain !

At first Vanessa was tiny. A narrow shop just about 4 feet wide. There were a few seats you could eat at, at the counter.

PROSPERITY DUMPLING

About 4 blocks down on ELDGRIGE 

from VANESSA DUMPLING HOUSE.

This is where I'd go after my Haircut. Vanessa had gotten way to crowded and popular.

"

New York's Best Cheap Eats Deal, Pork Dumplings $1.00

Know what New York's Best Cheap Eats Deal is? No, it's not "Grays Papaya" 2 Hotdogs and a Fruit Drink for $3.50, we love "Grays" and yes it is a Great Deal, but it just can't beat 5 tasty Hand-Made Pork Dumplings for just a "Buck." No it can't. This is an even better deal than the Great Cheap Street Eats in South East Asia. I have eaten all over Asia, and the Street-Food just can't be beat or it"Excellence and Variety," but if you consider that you get a great Dish for just about $1.00 allover Asia; Bangkok, Saigon, Phuket, Cambodia, all over. The food that you get is just amazing! But if you consider that New Yorkers make an average of 10 times as much as the average South East Asian and you can get an order of Pork Dumplings on the Lower East Side of Manhattan for the same amount of money you pay for a portion of Street Food in
South East Asia, then maybe the 5 Pork Dumplings on the Lower East Side isn't just the Best Food Deal in New York, but the World!

An Order of Tasty Pork Dumplings

Now (2013) 5 for $1.25

Still New York's Best Food Bargain

And The World

99 Allen Fried Dumpling was the first to start the Dumpling House Trend. Then came No. 1 Dumpling (now called Vanessa Dumpling House) and caught on like "Gangbusters" packed day and night. They never stop. In a tiny little shop, and you used to always have to wait to get an order or two. One order is enough as a in-between meal, and two orders is enough to make a complete meal that will fill you at just $2.00
No. 1 Dumpling built up some great business, packed 24/7. They had a tiny little shop and decide to expand, doubling in size to make a little dining room enough to hold about 20 people as opposed to the former narrow 3 foot wide space between wall and counter and a small counter to accommodate about 5 people. They mad the place a "Fancier" compared to what it used to be.
They didn't raise the "price" of the Dumplings but they did what the Candy Bar Companies used to do, keeping the price the same, but making the portion size a little smaller. "Yes, they kept the price at $1.00, but instead of giving you 5 Pork Dumplings like before, they cut the portion size down to 4 Dumplings for $1.00" Yes, still a Great Deal (inflation). They also raised the price of the Sesame Pancake with Beef from $1.50 to $2.00. "Yes, still a great deal.
They have added a "Peking Duck Sesame Pancake" that's yummy and a Bargain at just $2.25

Most of the hoards of people who pack into "Vanessa's Dumpling House' and wait on line, have no idea that just 2 blocks south is another great alternative to Vanessa's. It's "Prosperity Dumpling House" at 46 Eldridge Street and it's never packed. Even more important is that the "Dumplings" are just as good as the ones at Vanessa's. To top it off, you get 5 Dumplings whereby Vanessa's gives you Four, and the Sesame Pancake with Beef is $1.50 to Vanessa's $2.00
Hey, I don't want to "Split hairs" but these things mean a lot to some people out there. I'm just reporting.

So, for just $3.50, you can get a great meal of Fried pork Dumplings and a tasty Sesame Pancake w/Beef sandwich. you can't beat that. And if you want to "Splurge" on desert, you can go to one of several Chinese Bakery Cafes on Grand Street between Allen and Eldridge and have a coffee and a pastry for just $2.00 That's just $5.50 for a meal followed by coffee and desert.
That's what we call a "Cheap Date," but the quality is just as good as if you paid $100.00 a head or more. Check it out.



Daniel Bellino Zwicke


photo Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

The Pope of Greewich Village

The Pope of Greenwich Village. A wonderful Movie, and favorite of many, especially if you live in The Village and are Italian-American as I. Mickey Rourke and
Eric Roberts both turned in wonderful performances and this Movie is the Best Loved role for most of their fans. Burt Young was great as "Bed Bug Eddie" and Geraldine Ferrara was magnificient as crooked cop "Bunky's" alcholic Irish Mom. Frank Vincent had a small part. He cut off Paulie's (Eric Roberts) thumb.
"He took my thumb Charlie!!!!! I didn't wanna give up the poor bastard, but it was my Life Man," (Paulie to cousin Charlie) And Tony Musante who was Paulie's Uncle Pete and one of Beg Bug's soldiers.
What ever happened to Tony Musante. He was Great.

P.S. Great Theme Song, "The Summer Wind" sung by none other than the incomparable Frank Sinatra

To see a Great Trailer of "The Pope of Greenwich Village" and Mickey, Eric, and Tony click this Link>>>>>>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oumCO3mOxsU

New York's Best Dogs

Best Dogs in New York! Who has them? Crif Dogs, Gray's Papaya, Nathan's?

Had a Crif Dog at Crif's Dogs on St. Marks Place today. Man it was good! Dressed with mustard and Sauerkraut. "Classic." Who has the Best Hotdog in Newyork? I don't know. I Love all three of these babys.

check out NEW YORK on $10 $20 $30 or $40 a DAY

http://newyork-on-10-20-dollarsa-day.blogspot.com/

CHIANTI CLASSICO TASTING NEW YORK 2008

The Barone Ricasoli with a bottle of his famed Chianti. it was his Great great Granfather who originaly formulated Chianti more than 130 years ago.(Top Left)

(Top Right) Conti Sebastiani Capponi with
Daniel Bellino Zwicke and Joe Macari Jr.

(Bottom) Castel Vicchomaggio in Greve as
seen from the apartment of our Terrazzo
on the Estate of Castello Verazzano, Greve




CHIANTI CLASSICO TASTING 2008


On Monday , April 21st 2008 the greatly anticipated Chianti Classic Tasting was held at 583 Park Avenue. Hosted by the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, which is a Consortium of Professionals who are made up of Wine Producers (Proprietors and Winemakers) of the wine Chianti Classico. This group is not a Governmental Body but a private group of individuals that was created in 1924 to define the area of Chianti Classico and its wines, also called Chianti Classico and the manner and guidelines of how the wine was to be made and the parameters of what constitutes a Chianti Classico. Yes the name of the zone and the wine are the same, “Chianti Classico,’and the wine was actually name after the zone.
When the Consozvio Vino Chianti Classico was created in 1924, there did not exist any governmental bodies that now do to set guidelines and laws to which wines have to adhere to all over Italy.This is why the consorzio was created in the first place, in order to define which area was the “Classico” area and to maintain quality and consistency.
This Grand tasting held in New York on April 21, 2008 by the Chianti Consorzio was personally hosted by the President of the Consorzio, Marco Pallanti who is also the Enologist and proprietor along with Lorenza of the renowned estate of the
Castelo Di Ama in Gaiole in Chianti. As for myself, if feel that the wines of
Castelo Di Ama are overrated, grossly overpriced, and not worth the money. I actually have personally monikered the the “Gaja of Chianti” of Angelo Gaja and his wines, which are highly overrated and even more grossly overpriced, but that is all for another discussion.
Along with Dr. Pallanti the event was also hosted by esteemed Sommelier and wine writer David Lynch, who co-authored one of the Italian Wine Worlds most renowned books on the subject of Italian Wine, Vino Italiano along with Joseph Bastianich.
The tasting was made up of 40 producers of Chianti Classico of which there were over 150 different Chianti offered for tasting. The Chianti presented were both
Chianti Normale (base Chianti) and Chianti Riserva and the vintages ranged from 2001 to 2006.
Note that “Chianti Normale” or base Chianti does not infer that these Chianti are of a lesser quality. The styles are different and the base Chianti are to me and many others, actually more the true and traditional of Chianti as the weight is lighter more correct and less concentrated than the weight (body) of Chianti Reserva.
As with many subjects there is debate and differences of and agreement of what is true traditional Chianti is and what is not. I as a Wine Professional of many years who has focused mainly on Italian Wine and a great lover of Chianti and a traditionalist at heart, of course I am of the Old-School Traditional Chianti. I do feel that the laws of the Chianti Consorzio are not correct and are not for the Great Tradition of Chianti in that the wine Chianti when created by the Baron Ricasoli almost 150 years ago was created as a wine made up as a blend of local grapes that was dominated by Sangiovese as its main grape and that Sangiovese was to be the primary grape of Chianti and to give it its special character along with small percentages of other local blending grapes such as Cannaiolo, Colorino, Trebbiano, Ceiligiolo, Malvasia Nera, and Mammolo.
I feel, as do other respected authorities on Italian Wine, such as one of my esteemed peers Charles Scicilnoe feel that the Italian Government and Chianti Consorzio are by allowing Cabernet, Merlot, and Syhrah into Chianti, are ruining this “Great Wine” Chianti and its great traditions.
Just a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot in what is allowed to be Chianti, completely changes the feel and taste of Chianti and what, according to tradition it should be.
“It’s not Chianti anymore!” Not it if has the slightest trace of Cabernet or Merlot, and traditionalist like myself, Charles Scicilone and others will not cease our Crusade until the day that the Italian Government and Chianti Consorzio come to their sense and completely eliminate Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, or any non-native grape variety from ever entering Chianti again.” We wait patiently, but why is it taking these people so long to act. They ruin one of their own National Treasures and every year that these grapes that are not of Chianti Classico, is another bad vintage for any producer that uses them.
Let’s note that although the sacrilege of allowing Cabernet, Merlot, and others into Chianti, it is not mandatory and is at each individual producers (Wine Estate) choice whether to put these grapes in their wine or to leave them out and thus make “Real,”
True, Traditional Chianti. There are a number of Estates that make real true Chianti devoid of any trace what so ever, of the dreaded Cabernet or Merlot. Some of these estate are; Castello Volpaia, Castello Verazzno, Monsanto, Castello Querceto, and
Castel Vicchomaggio to name a few. These estates are to be highly commended and there should be more. If all the producers in Chianti had enough pride, non would ever permit a bottle of wine that they label be called Chianti if it has Cabernet, Syrah, Merlot or any non-native grapes in it. Hey if you have acres of Cabernet or Merlot planted on your estate and want to use them, “Fine.” Just don’t call the wine Chianti! Classify it as IGT and call it “Super Tuscan,” it’s OK by me, “Just don’t call it Chianti!”
If you want to make a wine and call it Chianti, make sure it is a blend. A wine that is made of 100% Sangiovese is allowed to be called Chianti, though it should not. As per the original Chianti Recipe, Chianti is always a blend, made primarily of Sangiovese with other native grape varieties such as; Mammolo, Cannaiolo, Malvasia Nera, Trebbiano, and Colorino and Chinati should always be made with mostly Sangiovese with other minor blending grapes. It should never be made solely of Sangiovese (though according to the Government it can, but what does the Gov’t. know?) but have at least one or more other native grapes, even if it’s just 2 or 3%, there “Must” be at least one other native grape varietal accompanying the Sangiovese, it should not stand alone. This must be changed in order to make true Traditional Chianti.



Daniel Bellino Zwicke April 2008


Some of our Favorites of the Chainti Classico Tatsing 2008 were:

CHIANTI CLASSICO, VILLA CALCINAI 2004 from Conti Capponi in Greve
CHIANT CLASSICO, CASTELLO BROLIO 2001 from the Brone Ricasole Gaiole

CHIANTI CLASSICO RIS. ROCCA GUICCIARDO, CASTELLO BROLIO 2005

CHIANTI CLASSICO, FONTERUTOLI 2005 from Marchese Mazzei, Castellina

Donata Venturini Hosts LAMBRUSCO DINNER at DeL POSTO

MARIO BATALI slurps SPAGHETTI with Joe Bastianich as Mom Lidia looks on at Del Posto in Chelsea

Leonardo Locasio of Winebow with Marelisa Allegrini (Great AMARONE producer) with Sommelier DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE at Wine Tasting downtown New York



Butcher at ALBANESE MEAT MARKET(Italian Butcher)











DONATA VENTURINI HOSTED WINE DINNER at DEL POSTO


Monday June 30, 2008. Donata Venturini of the Emilia Romagnan wine estate Baldini Venturini hosted a Lambrusco/ Emilia Romagnan wine dinner at Del Posto in the Meatpacking District of New York last night. The dinner was attended by members of the Wine Press, including Natasha Lardera, Pino Cavallo of Gazettino, Italian Wine Industry people like Leonardo Locasio the founder and proprietor of Winebow, Salvatore Evangelista of Supreme Wines, and Daniel Bellino Zwicke.

The feature of the evening was the wines of Baldini Venturini which were paired along with other wines to a phenomenal 7 course menu created by Del Posto’s Executive Chef Mark Ladner.

The evening started with a cocktail hour of Carpene Malvoltti Prosecco followed by the sit down dinner.

We began the meal with perfect Prosciutto di Parma paired with Venturini’s Malvasia,
Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa 2007. This wine was absolutely extraordinary. Immediately as I brought the wine to my nose I could smell a complex array of aromas led by what smelled like Over-Ripe Pears and Apples. It was phenomenal. In the mouth the wine tasted of a great Sauterne minus the sweetness. This wine is a absolute “Winner,” Unfortunately these wines are not yet available in the U.S. but is sure to be so soon as a few of the Wine Importers present were hot for these wines and practically fighting to see who will be Lucky enough to have them in their Portfolio.

The second course was Aragosta con Salsa Americana (Lobster Salad with Campari Sauce) paired with the Tocai Friuliano,Livio Feluga 2007 which paired nicely with the Lobster. The Tocai exhibited classic Tocai flavors of crisp Apple with hints of Figs and nuts. Very nice from one of Friuli’s top producers Livio Feluga, who in this Wine Guys eyes (nose and mouth) makes the most wonderful Pinot Grigio on the entire market.

Livio Feluga’s Pinot Grigio has a beautiful copper tint in color, with excellent fruit aromas, and wonderful Pear and Kiwi with a tad of savory ness that is absolutely delicious. This wine taste of ripe Pears and Kiwi with a twinge of savory-ness.
Feluga’s Pinot Grigio is perfection when it comes to representing this grape variety to it ultimate peak. I am not one to hardly ever drink Pinot Grigio, but I would never say “No” to the fine wine. It is a joy to drink.
Note: We did not drink Livio Feluga Pinot Grigio at the dinner, but with the mention of the Tocai that we had, I couldn’t pass up the chance to talk about this wonderful wine.

For our “Third Course” Chef Ladner sent us Gargenelli Al Ragu Bognese, which was absolute “Perfection Personified” on a plate. The Bolognese was so wonderful that this guy wish that the portion on the plate was double of what it actually was. Rich and so sublime. It was cruel and a tease to us to eat something so flavorsome, and just have a tiny taste. “Se la Vie.” Lambrusco Rosso, Reggiano, Venturini Baldini 2007 with its invigorating flavors of Sour Cherries and Plum was the perfect foil to the “
Perfect Bolognese.” The wine was refreshing and wonderful and a delight to drink.

Our fourth course, Salsiccia di Foe Gras was quite tasty. The Lambrusco Spumante, Rubino del Cerro, Venturini Baldini 2007 paired with the Foe Gras sausage was an excellent match.

Fifth Course was Beef Tenderloin that melted in the mouth, grass fed from Colorado. Superb, paired with Barolo Damilano.

For desert we were served two courses. The first Dolce was Citus Fantasia (Lime and Grapefruit Gelato) paired with two tasty desert wines; a delisious Marzemino, Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa, Venturini Baldini 2007 and Malvasia, Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa, Venturini Baldini 2007 which was delicate and elegant with lovely Pear and Apple flavors.

We were then served the second desert course of Biscotti Assortiti (Assorted Cookies), paired with 10 Year Tawny Port, Neiport NV.

The dinner, the food, wine, and company were a “Joy.” It was quite a wonderful evening.

Let us point out the fact that in the 1970 their was a “Tons” of awful cheap and cheese Lambrusco dumped on the U.S. which is not real Lambrusco but wine that was created to sell to those with uneducated and unsophisticated palates. There were two or three companies who ahd excellent ad and markdting campaigns geared toward that specific audience. The wine was compared to other awful cheap wines like Boone’s Farm. These people who made these so-called Lambrusco’s did a great job of marketing and selling Millions upon Million’s of bottles of the “Plunk.” They also did a great job of giving real true Lambrusco a Super Big Black Eye and oh-so bad reputation of which was never deserved , just as massed produced Soave and Valpolicella received an undeserved bad naneat the time.

True Lambrusco wonderful to drink. It is a nice refreshing unique alternative to drink now and then as something different. Luckily the Lambrusco Consorzio has done a fine job in recent years to kill this negative outlook of Lambrusco. The producers have done a great job making tasty true and traditional Lambrusco and New Yorkers and other Americans of good-taste and education have been taking to this Lovely wine. “Thank God, Lambrusco is finally getting the good due it deserves,” so has Valpolicella and Soave. These wines are good and pleasant to drink and it is nice to see more Americans discovering and accepting them. Even Loving them. Last year, more Lambrusco was sold then ever in the U.S. Have you tried some yet? Do so.

The COOLEST RESTAURANT YOU DON't KNOW!!!

This joint is one of my FAVES!!!! Nobody knows about it! Garaunteed if ask 1,000 New Yorkers if they've ever heard about this place, let alone if they'd ever been there, you be hard pressed to find a one. I'm gonna let the "Cat Out of the Bag." People should start paying me for this.

Yes native-newyork-pics.blogspot.com F. Restaurant on Clinton Street down on the Lower East Side (LES) of New York is without a doubt one of the Coolest restaurants you could ever dream of going to. Paris Hilton has never been there.

F. Restaurant is a restaurant that serves incrediably tasty Puerto Rican Cusine. "Bet you've never had any? Yes you!"
You will pretty much only find Lationos and Latinas at this joint. i've been going their for about 15 years now. "Love It!"

The food is oh so tasty, and the prices are tailor made for the sluggish ecconmic times we now live in (2008). Hope we go on a upswing soon. "Very soon." Most dishes are about $1.20 or $1.50 a piece. Yes this is not a typo, dishes that cost $1.20 a piece. You can make a small meal out of just two. if you're Papa Relleno which is a Fried Potato Ball that isstuffed with ground beef as well. "Yum!" They also have wonderful Morcilla (Blood Sausage) and Pollo Fritto (fried chicken).

They have the "Coolest" sign you have ever seen hanging over the counter area that says "If WIFE CAN'T COOK, DON'T DIVORCE HER, BRING HER HERE," Bring her here to eat with you." The sign is written in both Spanish and English. "Cool as Hell!"
You've gotta LOVE IT, and if you ever go, you'll just Love "F. Restaurant" down on the Lower East Side.

F. Restaurant..... Clinton Street, just North of Delancy

PICTURES ABOVE: F. RESTAURANT, COOL SIGN in F. Restaurant an DUMPLING HOUSE on Rivington, both down on The LOWER EAST SIDE


NOTE:  "Sadly F. RESTAURANT is CLOSED. They went out of business a few years back. I loved this place as dide many loyal customers. You could have a tasty unique meal there for ust 4 or 5 dollars. I loved the Stuffed Plantains ( Sweet Plantians stuffed with Beef & Peas) Yumm ! I usually used to get one of those and a Stuffed Potato Ball, all for juts $3.30  ... That just can't be beat. We miss you 
F. Restaurant, R.I.P.

DUMPLING HOUSE ON Rivington STREET is without a doubt, the Greatest Restaurant Food deals in all of NEW YORK. Five "DELICIOUS PORK DUMPLINGS" for a BUCK. That's right $1.00. You just can't beat that. Not even anywhere in South East Asia where you can Thee Msot AMAZING STREET FOOD in the WORLD. You get amazing Food on the Streets of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Saigon , and Hanoi for just .75 Cents or a dollar. The thing is, most people in NEW YORK probably make close to 10 times the amount of Money that most people in Sout East Asia do. so when you can get a amazing dish for the same amount of Money as In Sout East Asia and you're in NEW YORK making considerably more, 5 "PERFECT PORK DUMPLINGS" in NEW YORK may very well be the "Greatest" food deal in the entire WORLD.
2 HOTDOGS and 1 of their famous Fruit Drinks at Gray's Papaya is pretty good as well, but I think the Dumpling House may have them beat...

CLICK HERE !

CLICK HERE !

CLICK HERE !

PORTO RICO COFFEE ROCCO'S PASTRY FAICCO'S PORK STORE in GREENWICH VILLAGE

PORTO RICO COFFEE, ROCCO'S PASTRY,and FAICCO'S PORK STORE, all in GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK and all three are the "BEST' of their prospective fields. Rocco's pastry is without a doubt the Best Italian Pastry Shop in all of New York City. Their Cookies are Killer, as are their Pastries, and Cakes. Try the Lemon Cookies, Cannoli, and Rhum Babba. Tehy have Great Italian Ices as well and excellent coffee.

Speaking of EXCELLENT COFFEE, there is none better than PORTO RICO COFFEE with their Flagship and origianl store on Bleecker Street near 6 th Avenue, with a location on St. Marks Place in the East Village and another in Soho (pictured above) on Thompson Street. Porto Rico Coffee buy their own "Green Coffee Beans" and Roast all their Coffee themselves in the back of their Bleecker Street Store. They have a tremendous variety of diffent roast; Italian Espresso, French Roast, Mocha, Hazelnut, Danish Roast, Peter's Blend, and a host of others, about 60 different varieties. Their prices are phenominal. "Cheap." It's a mazing, they often have coffee on sale for as low as $5.99 a pound. It really amazes me as to why anyone in their right mind would ever by coffee from Starbucks at $12.95 a pound when the coffee at Porto Rico Coffee is far Superior and tremendously cheaper. "Better and Cheaper?"
"Are people out of their minds, why buy an inferior Mass Produced Chain Coffee at close to twice the price of a product that is Superior, "PORTO RICO COFFEE is the BEST in New York," and for less!!! "Dahhh!!???"

Speaking of the "BEST," across the street from Rocco's Pastry and 1 block West of Porto Rico's main store, you have the Best Pork Store in New York, Faicco's on Bleecker near Cornelia Street. You can get the most amazing fresh Italian Sweet and Hot Sausage, along with Sopressetta, Brociola, Pork Chops, Steaks, and Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano. Everything at Faicco's is of Superior Quality, You can't get any better than Faicco's, Rocco's Pastry, or Porto Rico Coffee.

Also on the street with Faicco's and Rocco's is the famous Murray's Cheese Shop and John's Pizzweria for some of the "Best Pizza" on the Planet.



Daniel Bellino Zwicke


photos Daniel Bellino Zwicke

PROSCIUTTOLESS In NEBRASKA

PROSCIUTTOLESS in NEBRASKA



It’s a well-known fact that there have been ten’s of thousands of displaced Italian-American New Yorkers over the years. Former Italian-American New Yorkers who have been in serious distress and mental anguish over the lack of good Italian restaurants and availability of quality Italian food products in the rest of the country, excluding of course cities like Boston, Philly, and San Francisco.
It’s a sad fact-of-life that many cities and towns in the U.S. are completely devoid of good Italian restaurants and specialty stores where people of Italian descent in need good fresh Italian sausages, bread, Prosciutto, Salami, Parmigiano Reggiano, olive oil, fresh mozzarella, cannoli, or any other simple necessities required to live a happy productive life, can purchase real good quality Italian food products or go out to eat at a proper Italian Restaurant or Pizzeria.
“Yes, believe it or not,” there are many places in this great nation of ours where the local citizenry are denied some of life’s greatest treats. It may be alright for the local natives who were born in these deprived areas, as for Italian-Americans who move to one of these places for whatever reasons, the deprivation caused by the lack of good honest Italian food is enough to cause un-nesesary anguish, yearning, and outright sadness in these displaced Italians.
Those of us who live in New York are extremely fortunate to have a plethora of the simple pleasures of outstanding Italian restaurants, pizzerias, bakeries, caffe’s, pasta shops, pork stores, wine shops, and Italian Specialty Shops that supply us with every Italian culinary treat under the Sun.
Yes we are blessed with restaurants like Rao’s,
San Domenico, Gino’s, Patsy’s, Elio’s, Lupa, Becco and others that serve tasty authentically prepared Italian food along with bakeries that bake magnificent bread, biscotti, cheesecake, cannoli, and other pastries. We have the best Pizzerias outside of Italy, like; Totonno’s, Lombardi’s, and John’s of Bleeker Street.
New Yorkers have great pork stores that prepare wonderful fresh sausage, braciole, Sopressetta, Cacatitorini, fresh mozzarella, and more. There are great Italian food emporiums where you can buy imported olive oils, vinegar, pasta, Prosciutto de Parma, Mortadella from Bologna, Gorgonzola, Fontina, Aceto Baslamico from Modena, porcini secco, and the sinful Tartufo Bianco when they are in season from mid October through early January is any true gourmands favorite time of the year, “White Truffle Season.”
We New Yorkers are blessed with amazing Italian Caffes that serve authentic pastries, gelato, and properly made espresso and cappuccino. Culinarily, we want for nothing!
“My condolences to those Americans who are deprived these simple little pleasures, excuse me, necessities to good, happy living!”

Prosciuttoless in Nebraska is excerpted from Daniel Bellino Zwicke's upcoming new Book, "La TAVOLA" filled with the adventures of ITALIAN AMERICAN NEW YORKERS and their Culinary Adventures cooking, tjrowing Dinner Parties,shopping for Italian Pastries at Rocco's Pastry Shop, Bread at Vesuvio's, and PROSCIUTTO, Salami, and Sausages at Faiacco's Pork Store. Dining out at such restaurants as Bar Pitti, Gino's, Elio's and Da Silvano's, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Calvin Klein, Paris Hilton, Richard Gere, Graydon Carter, and David Bowie just to name a few. They eat Pizza at John's Pizzeria,and Lombardi's, they cook, they laugh they cry.

WAVERLY INN has STOLEN DaSILVANO'S THUNDER

GRAYDEN CARTER and his WAVERLY INN it seems has "STOLEN" the THUNDER from SILVANO MARCHETTO and his famed Greenwich Village Italian Eatery "Da Silvano" on 6th Avenue. Da Silvano was long thee In Spot, Hottest Celebrity Haunt in Town. That was up until about a year and a half ago when Graydon Carter bought and Re-Opened the Ye Old Waverly Inn along with NIGHTCLUB and Boutique Hotel Impresario ERIC GOODE (AREA, Maritime Hotel, Bowery Hotel, Bowery Bar)
For a number of YEARS, every mover and shaken in the Movie, Record, Fashion, and Publishing Business used to pack Da Silvano, practically every night of the week. You would regularly find Gwyneth Palthrow, David Bowie, Calvin Klein, Richard Gere,
PAUL McCARTNEY, KEITH RICHARDS, MICK JAGGER, Sy Newhouse, Madonna, Giselle, Stephanie Seymour, Pamela Anderson, the LIST goes on and on and on. "I think you get the picture?" Even Graydon Carter used to eat Dinner at Da Silvano an average of 5 nights a week. He had his own table, as did writer NICK TOSHES who had his regular table as well and had lunch every Monday thru Friday, holding court with Editors, Literary Agents, Patti Smith, Oliver Ray, and Jerry Stahl.

Nowadays, every Celebrity you can think of and their Grandmother fill the tables of the WAVERLY INN each and every night of the week, you might find The Beckams, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez and husband Mark Anthony, Calvin Klein, and yes Graydon Carter holding court. As Hot as Da Silvano once was with tons of Movie Stars, Rock Star, and even Porn Stars (Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson), the Waverly inn gets 10 fold of the Celebrities that Da Silvano once had. There are at least 6 to 10 Paparazzzi hanging out in front of the WAVERLY INN each and every night. They know they will get some CELEBRITY SHOTS, and beleive me, "they do."

Silvano started "LOSING IT" even a good year before Graydon opened the WAVERLY. Many of his former customers tired of being "RIPPED OFF," price gowged for insanely "OVERPRICED WINE" and Mediocre FOOD. Yes some of the Food is Good, but if you don't know what you are doing, you can easily get a bad meal. Stay away from the Antipasto called the Misto Casa which is a Table that is filled with MEDIOCRE Vegetable dishes that sit aaround and get sour. Don't order any items like Roast Baby Lamb or Roast Duck as they might have been cooked three or four days before you eat them.
If you want to get a good meal, only order Pasta Dishes, Fish, or Steak.
Da Silvano, still si one of the biggest Celebrity Spots in New York, but it has lost much of its Thunder to the WAVERLY, that and the fact that the food is not all that good and the prices are, as CRAZY EDDY used to say, "INSANE." If you want to eat some great ITALIAN FOOD, all you have to do is walk about 12 feet to BAR PITTI next store to Silvano's and has thee absolute "BEST ITALIAN FOOD in New York, "Bar Pitti."

Keith McNally to Re-Open MINETTA TAVERN

Keith McNally, the man who brought New York some of its most wonderful Landmarks in the form of the ODEON, Cafe Luxenbourg, Lucky Strike, Pravda, Balthazar, and Pastis is at it again. He has purchase the venerable old Greenwich Village institution "The MINETTA TAVERN" on Macdougald Street at the corner of Minetta Lane. Mr. McNally will be opening the Minetta Tavern sometime in the early part of 2009 with Executive Chefs RIAD NASIR and Lee Hansen who both helped Keith open and operate Balthazar, Pastis, and Schiller's. The food is supposed to be Classic French.

Hottest New Wine in Town, Macari's Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Daniel Bellino Zwicke with cousin Joe Macari Jr., famed Austrian winemaker Helmut Giengel, and Nick the Driver eating Lunch at Bar Pitti, 6th Avenue, NY, NY...

Macari Sauvignon Blanc "Katherines Feild" 2007 winemaker: Helmut Geingel

One of the Hottest wines for Spring and Summer of 2008 is Macari Vineyards
Sauvignon Blanc "Katherines Feild" 2007. The wine has received rave reveiws from Wine Spectator, Newsday, The NEW YORK TIMES, and others. This Sauvignon Blanc is textbook Savignon, it's clean and crispy and has wonderful flavors of Gooseberrie, Fennel, and Sage and Classic Sauvignon Blanc Grassiness.

The Macari Sauvignon Blanc is being served at such restaurants as Baronda, Per Lei, and Bar Pitti the Hottest Italian Restaurant in Greenwich Village.

GO GREEN WATCH PLANET GREEN

Have you watched PLANET GREEN TV on Channel 114 in Manhattan. This is a new TV Network dedicated to The GREEN MOVEMENT and being environemently consiencious and Eco Friendly. The content of shows are Wonderful, Very Informative on teaching people how to Go Green.

Adrian Genier the star of "Entourage" has a show whereby they show you how he live his Green Life, building a Green House, Recycling, walking, riding a bike and things like that.

Adrian Grenier's show is very good, there's a show with Steve Thomas formely of "This Old House" that show people how to renovate houses recycling materials and going the Green Way adding Eco Friendly heating units, Hot Water Heaters, using proper insulation and things like that, but by Far the Best Show of All is "Living with Ed" starring Ed Begley Jr. and his wife Rachel. Ed has to be considered the "Godfather" of the GREEN MOVEMENT. Everbody is jumping on the Band Wagon now, and there is nothing wrong with that, we need as many people as possible, "Save the Planet." Ed Begley has been doing this for 25 or 30 years, way before most others and this show is Talor Made for him. The show is very entertaining watching ED and his wife Rachel TEASING each other and having their disagreements. Ed busts Rachel about not doing enough and Rachel bust ED about doing too much. It's HILARIOUS. Rachel is a Godd Sport and ED is FUNNY as Hell. He's entertaining and informative, and should be an INSPIRATION to all who are getting into GREEN or need help or need to laugh and be Entertained, "WATCH ED" on Living with Ed.

There is a ton of Crap on TV. After paying the RENT every Month, the second most PAINFUL thing is paying the dam Cable TV bill. It's one of the biggest RIPOFFS of all. There's a Buch of Crap on TV. Very little good programing. Cable TV is definately not worth what you have to PAY for it, but unfortanately I can't live without it. Six channels would just not be enough. I just watch a small percentage of the channels on Time Warner Cable. The programing is HORRIBLE other than the Documentary Channels and Time Warner Cable has some of the WORST CUSTOMER SErvICE in the History of the World. They are going to lose TONS of customers and I'm sure there will be a mass exodus away from Time Warner the minute people are given another ALTERNATIVE. WHEN ,WHEN, WHEN will their MONOPOLY End???????

Anyway thank God for Documentaries, Anthony Bourdains "NO RESERBATIONS" and the new and Wonderful "LIVING with ED" with Ed Begley Jr.. "GREAT!!!!!!!!"

DRINKING "GRASSHOPPERS" at TUJAGUE'S on FAT TUESDAY

A COUPLE FRIENDS DRINKING "GRASSHOPPERS" at the Oldest Restaurant in
New Orleans, "TUJAGUE'S"

Did you know the "Grasshopper" cocktail was invented at Tujague's?

Link to New York Magazine

GIOVANI TOGNOZZI, the man who mkaes it happen at Bar PITTI

BUTCHER the BAKER

The BUTCHER The BAKER The CANDELSTICK MAKER



In earlier times up until the beginning of the last century, The Butcher, The Baker, and The Candlestick Maker
were some of societies most respected and needed citizens. These artisans provided light, bread, poultry, meat, pastries, and cakes to the local citizenry. Even far into the twentieth century there were still many small villages in Italy and allover Europe where there were still families who did not have an oven To cook in so they would bring things such as casseroles, pans of lasagna, and stews to the baker for him to cook their food inside the bakeries ovens.
Since the advent of electricity the candlestick maker is no longer a necessity to everyday life. Because of convenience foods and supermarkets neither are the butcher and to some extent the baker. In this day and age the baker is still important for holidays and special occasions like birthdays and weddings. The butcher however is used by a very small percentage of the total population.
For those of us of Italian ancestry the butcher is of extreme importance, especially in the areas of fresh pork sausage, Braciole, and properly cut veal scaloppini.
There are usually two different types of butcher shops that we deal with. There is the very personalized tiny butcher shop that usually just sells fresh cut meat and poultry as well as fresh made sausages. Pino’s on Sullivan Street next to St. Anthony’s and Florence Prime Meat Market
also in Greenwich Village are two good examples of the small neighborhood butcher shops of which most spots in Brooklyn, The Bronx, and small towns and cities around the country still possess in the form of the local butcher. These shops are run by master meat cutters who will cut your steaks, chops, and cutlets to order, just the way you like it.
The other type of butcher shop of which are frequented by Italian-Americans is the Pork Store. Pork Stores have master butchers the same as the Butcher Shop, but in addition to purveying fresh meat, they sell many other food products such as items imported from Italy like; Imported Pasta, Prosciutto di Parma, olive oil, vinegars, porcini, Salami, Italian Cheese, Mortadella, cured olives, and numerous other precuts.
If you were ever pressed to pick one item sold at a
Italian Pork Store or butcher shop that is most important to Italian-Americans, it would have to be without question, fresh pork sausages. To most Italians it is like a religion and of great importance. There are not many self-respecting Italian-Americans who would ever even think of buying mass-produced sausage at a supermarket. Every true Italian has their own favorite Butcher Shop or Pork Store that makes the sausage just the way they like it. As for me, the “Best,” hands down, would have to be Florence Prime Meat Market on Jones Street in The Village. Their sweet sausage is perfectly seasoned with garlic, salt, and black pepper. I love it, as well as their tasty lamb sausage which not every butcher makes. Faiacco’s Pork Store around the block from Florence is also the other local favorite were I can get many of the items necessary to cooking a proper Italian meal.
If you want to make Braciola, whether it is of beef or pork, the butcher is of great importance. You need to have your meat cut and pounded in a specific way to make the braciola. Also, if you’re in a pinch for time to make the braciola yourself, most good Italian butchers make very nice braciola that are all tied-up and ready for cooking in your own sauce.
Also of great significance to Italians is good quality veal, especially when it comes to the subject of scaloppini’s and cutlets for making dishes like; Veal Picatta, Saltimbocca, veal and peppers, Veal Parmigiano, and Veal Milanese.
Now to the baker and I think we’ll forget the candlestick-maker, although if you want to get the most beautiful hand-dipped candles you’ll ever see, I can tell you where to get them. There is a wonderful little shop in the tiny village of Sugarloaf, New York, about a hours drive north of New York City where you can get the most beautiful Candles in the world.
Back to the baker. In many of our wonderful Bellino Family dinners over the years, my aunts would make delicious cakes and cookies sometimes but not always. It is more than enough just to prepare the antipasto, pasta, and main course if there’s one other than the pasta. You don’t always have all the time it takes to make desert as well. This is where the baker comes in.
At any of our family meals or ones with friends, desert and coffee is extremely important, for after we are finished eating the previous courses we usually sit around the table for another two to three hours drinking coffee and Anisette along with some sweets, Italian Pastries and cookies. We chat and tell stories, especially Uncle Frank. One or more guests would stop at the Italian Bakery and get all sorts of goodies to munch on with coffee. Things like; Cannoli, Sfogiatelle, Eclairs, and assorted Italian cookies, so the baker was and still is of extreme importance to us all year long, not just at the holidays and birthdays but practically every Sunday when we had the famed “Bellino Sunday Supper” at Aunt Fran and Uncle Tony’s house in Lodi.
I know that many people all over the country get together and have the same type of big wonderful family meals as our family does. Sadly I know that there are some people who never have. I hope this book will inspire people to get together with friends and family to share a beautiful meal and happy moments, whether you have never had the opportunity before or if you have not done so for a while, may you be sparked to organize a festive dinner for the first time or to renew a old tradition.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke & Joe Macari Jr., Venice

Daniel Bellino Zwicke and cousin Joe Macari Jr. (right) enjoying a glass of Prosecco in a Wine Bar (Bacaro) in VENICE.

MACARI VINEYARDS SAUVIGON BLANC 2007 HOTTEST WINE in NEW YORK

Macari Vineyards recent release Sauvignon Blanc "Katherines Feild" seems to be one of the Hottest Wines of the Summer of 2008. The vintage 2007 has been seen being sipped by the Fashionable, Beautiful, "In-the-Know-Set" at the Ultra Hot Celebrity Spot "BAR PITTI" in Greenwich Village. An even Hotter Celebrity destination in The Village is "The Waverly Inn," owned by Vanity Fair Magazine Editor Graydon Carter and Hotel and Nightclub "Super Empressario" Eric Goode. Celebs have been seen sipping Macari's "Early Wine," Cabernet Franc, and the Lush Desert Wine, Macari's "Block E"

Macari's Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is Textbook Perfect Sauvignon. It's Clean and Crispy with Classic Grassiness, Gooseberry, and Sage Flavors. The perfect choice to go with all Shellfish, especially OYSTERS and any Fish at all.

George Carlin dies at the age of 71

Famed comedian George Carlin passed away at the age of 71. Did you know he was from New York? I didn't either and niether did a couple of my friends who were talking about just that today. And we're native New Yorkers. Most people assumed he was a Californian. He fit the bill, Old California Hippy. Great Comedian. Adored by many. He will be missed.

SUNDAY SAUCE excerpted from DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE'S upcoming new book "LA TAVOLA"

SUNDAY SAUCE


One of the great traditions of the Italian American enclave in the U.S. is the ritual of Sunday afternoon when the entire family gets together for Mama’s or Nona’s famed “Sunday Sauce.” What is it? Well there are a number of variations on the theme. Most Sunday Sauce’s are made with Italian Sausage, braciole, and meatballs. Some people make theirs with pork ribs, beef neck, and possibly with chicken. These meats are slowly simmered for several hours with tomato, and minced onions, garlic, celery, and carrots. I generally like to make my Sunday Sauce with sausage, meatballs, and pork ribs. Other times I’ll make it with sausage, ribs, and braciole. An old tradition in some families is that mother or grandma would start the sauce early on a Sunday morning, get it simmering away for a couple hours on top of the stove, then put it in the oven for a couple hours while everyone goes to church, the sauce slowly simmers on the back of the stove. When you get back home, the sauce would be ready.
The Sunday Sauce that my mother would make was with sausage, meatballs and beef braciole. My memories are vivid watching my mother stuffing the braciole with garlic,
parsley, Pecorino, and pignoli nuts, then sewing up the bundles with a needle and thread so they would hold together while simmering in the gravy (many families all over the New York and around the country simply call Sunday Sauce “Gravy”). Another fond memory was helping my mother roll and shape the meatballs.
As for me, my Sunday Sauce will vary depending on my mood. One thing I love to do when making the sauce is the addition of pork spare ribs, which not everyone uses. Whenever people eat my sauce, they go nuts for the ribs and some are surprised cause they might never have had them in a sauce before. They didn’t know that you could use pork spareribs. The ribs are traditional with some but not everybody. It is quite a shame for those who don’t add the ribs because they give the sauce some wonderful flavor and they are incrediably delicious to eat after braising in the sauce for a couple of hours. Whenever I make the sauce and I’m dishing it out to friends and family, I always make sure that I have my fare share of the ribs. Pork ribs cooked in this manner, simmering in the sauce are oh so succulent and tasty. They are far beyond compare. “They are Out-of-this-World!!!” The friends, one-by-one, go nuts for them. “Yes they are most than tasty!”
And what to serve with the Sunday Sauce you ask? It should be a short macaroni; rigatoni, ziti, or gnocchi are best.
The rituals of cooking, serving, and eating Sunday Sauce is a time honored one. It is a beautiful thing. If you mention the term Sunday Sauce to any number of millions of Italian-Americans, the wheels start tuning in their heads. Thoughts of how tasty it is, all the different componets; the meatballs, sausages, braciole, (maybe ribs or tne neck), the pasta, and the gravy itself. The think about sitting at the table with friends and or family, people they love. They think about the antipasti that will start the meal and about some good Italian wine, maybe a nice Chianti. They think about the warmth in the air, loved ones, Dino, Sinatra, the Sunday Sauce. “It’s a beautiful thing!!!” If you’ve never done it, “Try it!” If you haven’t cooked one for some time, plan a get-together soon. “Sunday Sauce, it brings people together,” in a most delightful way.


SUNDAY SAUCE is excerpted from Daniel Bellino Zwicke's upcoming new book "LA TAVOLA"
Italian-American New York's Adventures of the Table; Sunday Sauce, Meatballs, Sausage & Peppers, Cannoli, Espresso, Pork Stores and ....

They Eat, they COOK, they laugh, they cry, but most of all their lives are filled with wonderful times around the table as only Italians can do. They do it well.

A COOL RESTAURANT I BET You Don't KNOW ABOUT

This joint is one of my FAVES!!!! Nobody knows about it! Garaunteed if ask 1,000 New Yorkers if they've ever heard about this place or ever went there, you be hard pressed to find a one. I'm gonna let the "Cat Out of the Bag." People should start paying me for this.

Yes native-newyork-pics.blogspot.com F. Restaurant on Clinton Street down on the Lower East Side (LES) of New York is without a doubt one of the Coolest restaurants you could ever dream of going to. Paris Hilton has never been there.

F. Restaurant is a restaurant that serves incrediably tasty Puerto Rican Cusine. "Bet you've never had any? Yes you!"
You will pretty much only find Lationos and Latinas at this joint. i've been going their for about 15 years now. "Love It!"

The food is oh so tasty, and the prices are tailor made for the sluggish ecconmic times we now live in (2008). Hope we go on a upswing soon. "Very soon." Most dishes are about $1.20 or $1.50 a piece. Yes this is not a typo, dishes that cost $1.20 a piece. You can make a small meal out of just two. if you're Papa Relleno which is a Fried Potato Ball that isstuffed with ground beef as well. "Yum!" They also have wonderful Morcilla (Blood Sausage) and Pollo Fritto (fried chicken).

The have this great sign hanging over the counter area that says in both Spanish and English, and reads like this, "If your wife can't COOK, Don't Divorce Her, Bring her here to eat with you."
You've gotta LOVE IT, and if you ever go, you'll just Love "F. Restaurant" down on the Lower East Side

by DBZ

COOLEST PLACES to EAT in NEW YORK

Here are three "GREAT" places to go to eat in Downtown Manhattan;El Quijote at the famed Chelsea Hotel on West 23 rd Street for great Lobsters and Paella. The bar is

a great place to have a couple Great Cocktails as the ambiance

is Cool of Another Era Tacky. "You gotta Love IT!!"

Pearl Oyster Bar on Cornelia Street in The Village makes thee

BEST LOBSTER ROLLS in New York, even Maine. The

New England Clam Chowder is tasty as well.

Raoul's for our money is the Coolest, Hippest, Best All Around French Bistro in New York.

The food is really good, Classic Bistro Fare. The ambiance is Cool as Hell and the Music they

play, is the Best in the City. Raoul's is on Prince Street near Sullivan in Soho. "It's Great!!!!"

MINETTA TAVERN, Macdougal Street at Minetta Lane, Greenwich Village, New York ...    Without Question the Coolest Restaurant in Town ... This great old Greenwich Village Bar / Restaurant was the In-Spot of Prize Fighters, Newsmen, Sports Fihures, and the Downtown Elite way back in the 30s & 40s when the affable Eddy Minetta rant the joint. For the past 30 years or so, Minetta Tavern was run quietly and devoid of any fanfare by a string of owner who never did very much with the place. The Master Restaurantuer KEITH McNALLY got his hands on the place, kept everything more-or-less the same (allof the wonderful old decor was intact). Keith spruced the place up a bit, hired a couple great chefs, lent his Magic Touch and the place has been packed ever since. A major New York Celebrity Haunt as all of Keith's restaurants are, Minetta Tavern is the coolest place in town. Famed for its wonderful decor, massive Steaks done French Style, Marrow Bones, and Burgers, The Black Label Burger and the Minetta Burger .. Minetta Tavern can't be beat.


  Article and all photos Copyright Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Original article 2008 .. Updated 2014

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The New York Food and Wine Blog is dedicated to the World of Food and Wine as it revolves at The Center of the World which is in the r

Without a doubt, the Best Thai Food to be had in the City of New York is not in Manhattan, but in the Borough of Queens, Woodside Queens to be exact at Sri
This assessment comes on authorative hands

Where do you think the best “Pizza” in “New York” comes from? This is a topic for Great Debate. Fights have been fought over it. Well as far as which borough has the thee best pizza place in all of New York, there are two Borough that are not in the running and three that are.

Some feel that Di Farra in Queens has thee best pizza in New York hands down. Others my fight, and I’d be in this group that thee # 1, Best Pizza Spot in all of New York is, “Without a Doubt,” Tottono’s on Neptune Avenue in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY.

Now we come to Manhattan, the Borough that has the greatest number of renowned Pizza Parlors of which any one could be considered in the running as New York’s Best, “Pizza!” The Pizza Parlors in question are Patsy’s up in Harlem, John’s on Bleecker Street down in Greenwich Village, Pizza Fresca, the relatively newcomers (about 12 years) in the Flatiron section of Manhattan, and the oldest and “FIRST” Pizzeria in the United States down on Spring Street, the legendary “Lombardi’s.”
All these places make “Great Pizza.” The best Pizza in the whole entire United States, what they call Pizza in Chicago is an abomination. Doesn’t count. It’s not real Pizza, Deep Dish ---za. It’s something else, but what it is not is Pizza.

New York makes some of the Greatest in the World. Only in Italy can they make it better, and these aforementioned places; Tottono’s, John’s, Lombardi’s, and Patsy’s can hold their own with any in Italy, even in Napoli.

Well, “I got off on a tangent there.” Hey mention Pizza, and which place is the “BEST” Pizza Parlors in New York and that’s likely to happen.
Now, back to the Mission Statement of this Blog. It is about New York, New Yorkers and the food they eat, the beer, wine, and cocktails they drink, the food and wine they buy, where they buy it; at the local butcher shop, grocery store, Pork Store, wherever and whoever these places may be, the must have or make thee best quality products. That is what this Blog is all about; who has, makes, and or serves the best food or food products in New York, which restaurants, food stands and stalls and shops have great products.
Which restaurants have great Italian, French, Chinese, Thai, or Vietnamese foods, any and all cuisines of the World. They are all here in the Great Melting Pot that is New York City. And that is what makes this city so great. Yes we have beautiful and majestic Skyscrapers like the Empire State Building and the most Beautiful in the World, The Art Deco “Chrysler Building.” What a marvel. We have in New York The Statue of Liberty and the Worlds greatest Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We have the Worlds coolest City Park in the form of Central Park. We have many great and wonderful things that make new York so wonderful and the center of the World, but it is the melting pot of people that make this city and any city that is a great melting pot so great. The people of New York who come from every corner, every country of the Globe, and they bring their
Culture, their fashion, the customs, and most of all as concerns us and our readers at The
New York Food and Wine Blog, their food, the cuisines of India, China, Japan, France, Italy, Poland, and on-and-on.

We will explore. We will explore and talk, write, read, and eat these cuisines. And we will report on which restaurants are good and worth checking out, and which are not.

Where do you get the a good Cannoli, who bakes great bread and where do you get the best Italian Pastries.

What places are the hot spots for cocktails and who makes the best Mojito in town. All these things will be part of our exploration. Come and make discoveries with us.