BOWLING BURGERS DINERS & HOT DOGS JERSEY STYLE

.

White Manna

Hackensack, New Jersey

Photo COPYRIGHT DANIEL ZWICKE

New York's best burgers in Jersey?  .. Well, one of the best.  New Jersey does have some great burgers and dogs. It was once the Diner Capital of the World and though most are gone, a few old joints can be found here and there. One great old place is White Manna Hamburgers on River Road in Hackensack, New Jersey. The place is awesome, New York has nothing like it. Wish we did. The structure of White Manna Hamburgers is quite rare. First off, old diners are sadly a rarity. This structure is a sort-of a mini-diner. Well a believe it was designed simply as a Burger Stand, and that's what it is, built by the Paramount Company of Oakland, New Jersey some time in the 1930's. The design is beautiful and I've never seen another like it .. White Manna is a live, living Museum Piece that feeds people tasty burgers and shows them a good time. You've gotta love it. I took a trip there with my brother Jimmy a couple of weeks ago. We planned a nice little day together, Bowling at Wallington Lanes our childhood Bowling Alley and still one of America's best .. We planned on going to White Manna and Rutt's Hut for "Rippers" but changed our plans slightly. Instead of Rutt's Hut, Jimmy took me to White Mana in Jersey City. I had never been to White Mana, JC though I had passed it a thousand times. So Jimmy wanted me to check it out. I believe Jimmy likes White Mana JC better than White Manna in Hackensack, I'm the reverse, though I did like the place in Jersey City as well which was a Burger Joint at The 1939 Worlds Fair and brought to Jersey City after the fair and has operated there for more than 70 years. You'll notice a similarity in names. The one in Jersey City is spelled with one "n" and Hackensack White Manna 2 "N'S" .. There's an explanation. When White Mana JC was opening in the Mid 40s the sign maker mad a mistake and made their sign with one  instead of the 2 he was supposed to write the sign as White Manna .. He mad it with one n, the owner accepted it and never changed it. End of story.

Back to White Manna Hackensack. Well, the Burgers at White Manna are dam good. I love them. They're all little Slider Type Burgers cooked with onions and put between a Martins Potato Roll. Yumm!!! The are tasty as Hell. I Love them. I Love going to this beautiful little Gem of a Burger Stand and Love the Show they put on as they grill your burger and everyone else's. It's pure poetry in motion.

Yes we went bowling, we had Burgers at White Manna in Hackensack and at White Mana JC .. After we finished bowling with beers and Big Lebowski White Russians we rode around a little checking out our old stomping grounds. Jimmy asked me if I wanted to go to The Colonial Diner in Lyndhurst. He didn't have to ask twice. The Colonial Diner is one of those few Old-School Stainless Steel Diners that Jersey used to be famous for .. The diner has recently been renovated but they kept the old character intact. Jimmy had the Pot Roast Special, I the Prime Rib. We both got Soup, Bread, and plenty of Potato and Veggies with our meal. It was great. I wonderful top off to a wonderful day of Jersey Burgers, Diners, and Bowling. Nice.

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

Interior

COLONIAL DINER

Lyndhurst, New Jersey

COLONIAL DINER

WHITE MANNA 

by Bellino

Brighten Up ANy Room

"THIS is COOL"

CLICK HERE

A PAIR

of

WHITE MANNA BURGERS

BROTHER JIMMY

with POT ROAST and POTATOES

COLONIAL DINER

Lyndhurst, New Jersey

MY PRIME RIB DINNER

COLONIAL DINER

Just $17.95 Including SOUP

WATCH THIS VIDEO !!!

RIPPERS And The ROLLING STONES

at RUTT'S HUT

JIMMY andDANNY EAT RIPPERS

at RUTT'S HUT

White Mana Hamburgers

Jersey City, New Jersey

BENDIX DINER

ONE of JERSEY'S

FEW REMAINING OLD-SCHOOL SS DINERS

WATCH THIS VIDEO

Jimmy and Danny

Go To White Manna

For

Jersey's Best Burgers

WALLINGTON LANES

OUR CHILDHOOD BOWLING ALLEYS

The DUDE and BOWLING 

The DUDE COOKS TOO !!!

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

RUTT'S HUT

CLEFTON, NEW JERSEY

RIPPERS

DEEP FRIED HOT DOGS

WORLD'S BEST

at RUTT'S HUT

Note The World Famous RELISH

.

.

AMERICA'S FAVORITE DISHES

And SECRET RECIPES

Click Here !

WHITE MANNA

BURGER JOINT T-SHIRT

.

SUNDAY SAUCE

WHEN ITALIAN AMERICANS COOK

CLICK HERE !

.

.

Click Here !

THE DUDE ABIDES

NEW YORK'S BEST EGG PARM

BAR PITTI

Melanzane alla Parmigano

ITALIAN

For 

EGGPLANT PARM

BAR PITTI'S Is The BEST in NEW YORK

DeGrezia Gets Runner-Up

Eggplant Parmigiano, not an easy dish to get right. Good that is. Tasty, prepared properly. Eggplant is a hard thing to work with, not everyone knows how, Giovanni Tognozzi and his boys (Cooks) know how .. They know their stuff those guys who work the kitchen at what I call New York's Best Italian Restaurant, "Yes Bar Pitti." Some may disagree, but they probably don't know what they're talking about, maybe they do. In that cas, lets just say "They have their opinion, I have mine," and Bar Pitti is top notch, thee A # 1 Best Italian Restaurant in New York, not an easy task. They prove it over-and-over-again. They proved it to me again today, with the Meleanzane alla Parmigiano, it's awesome, and as good as it gets. I should know, I'm Sicilian, and we eat more Eggplant than any other region of Italy. They eat a lot in Napoli, but the Sicilians have them beat. Sicilians are the King of Eggplant when it comes to Eggplant Dishes in Italy. The Sicilians have they famed dish Caponata, a sweet and sour eggplant stew that when done right, by a master, it simply devine, as is mine if I must say so myself. I worked on that recipe for more than a year, tweeking it, getting the right balance of eggplant to tomato to onions, to olive oil, celery, sugar and vinegar, topped off with some nice big fat Green Sicilian Olives. Dam, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it, The Caponata, "My caponata," not many can make it as good as mine, "No Brag, Just Fact." 

Sicilian Eggpnat Dishes? They grill it and dress it with Olive Oil and Vinegar, season with salt & pepper of course. It's quite a good antipasto item. The there's the famed Pasta alla Norma, a pasta dish made with eggplant sauteed with garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes, and topped with grated Ricotta Salata Cheese .. You can use whatever pasta you like, Spaghetti, Bucatini, Cavatelli, Rigatone, whatever .. The best in New York can be found at Degrezia Restaurant on East 5oth Street in Midtown Manhattan. Their Pasta alla Norma which they call Gargenelli alla Siciliana at Degrezia is awesome. DeGrezia is a hidden Gem that not everyone knows about, but those "In-The-Know" have it down as one of the Best In The City, best Italian Restaurants that is. Check it out on Zagat, they got very high marks.

Hey, anyway I got off on the beaten track a minute as I often do. I start out talking about Bar Pitti and their awesome Eggplant Parm, then I'm on to these eggplant dishes of Sicily and wind up talking about Pasat alla Siciliana at DeGrezia. Well, one thing often leads to the other.

Let's get back to Bar Pitti and their Melanzane Parmigiano and why Bar Pitti is New York's BEst Italian Restaurant. Well, they prove it over and over again. The food is great, authentic, done right and consistently so. The ambiance is nice, they have nice wines, and pretty good service. And the prices, though not cheap, are fair. Well the Food at Bar Pitti is quite simply, Great. And it's always great. I've eaten at Bar Pitti more than 200 times over the years and every dish I've ever had has been excellent or dam close to it. I've had the egplant parm there befor, and have always like it. I got it today when I ran into some friends (as I often do) sitting outside. They told me to sit down and have a glass of wine. I did. I was a bit hungry and ordered the Melanzane Parmigiano. Befor it came, my buddy Mike let me have one piece of hsi Coda di Vaccinara (Roman Braised Oxtails), which might very well be my single most favorite dish at the place (love the Trippa) as well. The Oxtails were a special that they serve about 2 - 3 times a week, and they are superb. My friends Michael and Jasmine had already ordered and when he told me he had ordered the Braised Oxtails, my interest was peaked. I thought about getting them but decided against it as I didn't feel like having so much meat on these day. I'm a Meatatarian (I eat meat, but less, about 3 times a week). Well problem was solved when Michaels Oxtails came, he looked at his dish, and said I could have one piece. Awesome! I ordered the Eggplant Parm, had a piece of Oxtail with a bit of the Soft Polenta and a few pieces of sauteed zucchini which were unsurprisingly perfect. That's Bar Pitti for you, usually perfect or near to it. Bar Pitti, New York's Best Eggplant Parm, Coda d' Vaccinara (Braised Oxtails), and quite simply New York's number # 1 Italian Restaurant. Basta!

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

BEST EGG PARM

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT'

BEST OXTAILS NEW YORK

CLEMENZA'S MEATBALL SUNDAY SAUCE

Clemenza's Meatball Sunday Sauce

by Daniel B. Bellino

Is

NOW AVAILABLE on AMAZON.com KINDLE

Clemenza's Meatball Sunday Sauce. Wow, How is That for a Mouthful. A long awaited book and recipes of Godfather Caporegime Peter Clemenza is almost Here. Cookbook author Daniel B. Bellino (aka daniel Bellino-Zwicke) is about to release has latest, "Clemenza's Meatball Sunday Sauce, filled with wonderful stories of Italian and Italian-American Food, movies, Mobsters and more. Yes, the long awaited recipe of Fat Clemenza's Godfther Mob War Sunday Sauce, "Some Call it Gravy."

Daniel doesn't let us down with this one, as usual with his signature style on the history and current events of Italian-American New Yorkers, their Food, the people, their habits, and wonderful rituals of the Italian-American Table and Kitchen. It's all here, including; great recipes for 3 wonderful Sunday Sauce Gravys, Meatballs, Pasta Fazool, Goodfellas Veal & Peppers, Mussels Marinara, and even the never before publish Gino's Secret Sauce (Salsa Segreta)

And as a Celebration of Mr. Bellino's latest book, it will be released for a limited time only and to the first 5,000 people to gab it, at the insane bargain price of just .99 Cents on Amazon and only on Amazon Kindle ... They say the Secret Sauce Recipe alone should be selling for $100 a pop, but Daniel, as a gift of gratitude to those who have been supporting him, and to get the word out to new friends is offering "Clemenza's Meatball Sunday Sauce," for less than a Buck. "We love it and think that's great." So check it out, it's quite the wonderful read.

Article by Anthony Roma

TripAdvisor Great Pizza Debacle

PIZZAIOLO MAESTRO DOMINIC DeMARCO

MAKING AMERICA'S BEST PIZZA

At HIS PIZZERIA "DiFARA PIZZA"

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

TripAdvisor makes a major Faux Pas when with their Top 10 Pizza Cities of U.S.  The Faux Pas, TripAdvisor puts the "Undisputed Raining King of American Pizza 4th" and as if they are even more out of their minds rank San Diego # 1, Las Vegas # 2, Boston # 3, and The Champ New York # 4  ... It doesn't take much of a Genius to realize that this is one of the 21st Centuries biggest Media Blunders of all. So bad in fact, "It's a Joke," an absurdity that is beyond belief and has "Seriously Hurt TripAdvisor" and given them a major Credibility Issue.  A business that is built on credibility and giving "Advise" as per their "Name," TripAdvisor is in TROUBLE ..

Below:  "THIS IS INSANITY" !!!

The Top 10 Cities for Pizza, as determined by TripAdvisor:

1. San Diego, California
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. New York City, New York
5. Seattle, Washington
6. Austin, Texas
7. San Francisco, California
8. Indianapolis, Indiana
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. Phoenix, Arizona

At issue here is not whether San Diego, Boston, and Las Vegas has better Pizza then New York and that they have bragging rights. "Hell No!" They don't, anyone in their "Right-Mind" knows that no city can touch New York in their superiority as far as Pizza is concerned, New York is America's undisputed Champ, we have some of the Best Pizza on Eart, and this include Italy. The only city that comes close to New York is New Haven, Connecticut, but even as great as New Haven and the towns pizza is, they are a distant second to New York, Chicago? Fougettabout IT! Chicago, that "Deep Dish Stuff" That's NOT Pizza, it's Deep Dish something, not Pizza. The balance is completely off to be called "real pizza."

The issue here, with TripAdvisor's Major Foul-Up  is when you go to Tripadvisor for "Advise" on Hotels, Restaurants, and other travel related questions to determine what is the best, and for accurate descriptions, opinions, and ratings, "Is Tripadvisor accurrate and reliable? The answer is, "Sometimes," just be careful and look to others like Yelp and articles and other info on places you are seeking accurate info and advice about. Don't solely count on TripAdvisor. This "Pizza Debacle" is a major "blunder" and one that will take Tripadvisor a good long time to recover from.

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

TOTONNO'S PIZZA

NEPTUNE AVENUE

CONEY ISLAND

BROOKLYN NEW YORK

ONE of AMERICA'S BEST

Where Has The Sandwich Nazi Gone?

ALIDORO on Sullivan Street Soho

Formerly "MELEMPO" and Home of Alessandro

The Panini Nazi

aka Sandwich Nazi

 

 

Where has The Panini Nazi Gone? This is a question, some of the age of 35 and over in New York's Southern Greenwich Village and Soho might ask. Others too, in other New York neighborhoods who made it over to a great little sandwich shop called Melampo. Melemapo is now diseased  No longer in business. The owner, one Alessandro Gualandi, also-known-as "The Panni Nazi" ran his little sandwich shop on Sullivan Street between Spring and Prince Streets in what is now known as Soho, but for me and many "like" me, this is still known as The Village. Alessandro came to New York from Florence Italy. He used to work as a waiter at the famed Florentine Restaurant in New York "Da Silvano" owned by fellow Florentine Silvano Marchetto .. Alessandro was a hard worker who established himself in New York, saved up some money, then opened his own little heaven, one Melampo Sandwich Shop in South Greenwich Village (Soho) New York ...

Alessandro was a passionate man, especially about food as any self-respecting Italian would be. He created his little shop of Hand-Crafted Italian Sandwiches (Panini) .. He made a menu, whereby all the Panini had their own names. Names like; Geppetto, Julia, and such. I can't really remember all the names. The thing is, Alessandro had rules, and you better abide by them. He was an artist after all. You ordered a Panino (Sandwich) by name, and that was it. What it said on the menu describing the sandwich and the ingredients in any particular one was what you got. If the name was Marcello (named for the late great Italian actor Marcello Mastrianni) and the menu said the sandwich was made of Prosciutto, Mortadella, and Provolone, then that's what you got. You couldn't ask Alessandro to leave something off or add something to a particular sandwich. He would not have it. He was a temperamental artist, and you're not going to ruin the balance of one of his masterful creations by altering it. If you, din't like it you could leave, "and believe Me many did." Alessandro could care less, he was an artist. Thus the moniker "Panini Nazi" there was no other. And not everyone knew his name, real or nickname.

Alessandro was a character yes, and many (including myself) loved that about him. Alessandro is still alive. He's retired. I seeing walking the streets of Soho and going for his morning coffee.

Alessandro and his little sandwich shop "Melampo" became famous. he made great sandwiches and sometimes the line would go out the door. And if you were in line, don't make any comments for Alessandro to hurry up, he took his time. He was an artist, a master sandwich maker, and you better not say anything to upset him.

Yes we miss him, Alessandro and his little sandwich shop Melampo. the shop is still there. It's now called Alidoro and run by someone else. It's much the same, they make good sandwiches, but Alessandro is gone, and so are all the "Rules" and quirkiness. We miss that ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

 

 

 

 

 

 

The SOUP NAZI

.

.

 

NOT THE SANDWICH PANINI NAZI ALESSANDRO

BUT MY FRIEND in HAVANA

"DON DANIELE"

 

 

 

No Known Pictures Are Known of

Alessandro The PNANI NAZI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

America's Greatest Cafe !!! Cafe du Monde

America's Greatest Cafe? What and where is it? Where? First thoughts might run to the culinary capital of America, New York .. You'd be wrong. Though we have many fine cafes in New York and probably the city with more great cafes than most of America, when it comes to AMerica's number 1, single best, undisputed champ, America's Greatest Cafe, one stands alone, with whoever number two is, it's a distant second, America's Greatest Cafe is without a doubt Cafe Du Monde in The French Quarter of New Orleans .. Wow, was that a mouthful or what ..

Cafe du Monde is America's best cafe on two fronts. Number one being that they serve this World's Best Beignets (French Donuts "No Hole"), and the World's Best Chicory Coffee "Cafe au Lait" ... Second the ambiance and physical of the place is wonderful. Number 3, the customers, the people and amount of people that go there, and that just about everyone who goes there (about 99%) makes at least one stop at Cafe du Monde on their trip ..  There are no statistics on it, but I'm pretty sure that more people have had coffee at Cafe du Monde than any other Cafe in the World, including cafes that are older .. Speaking of old as far as cafes or any restaurant or any business goes, Cafe du Monde has been around serving happy customers Cafe Lait and Beignets for more than 150 years .. They have been in continuous operation since 1862 ... And there serve thousands of people each and every day 365 days a year, year-after-year ... There is no restaurant that comes close in raw numbers ... They serve about 35,000 people a week, or 1 Million + 638,000 people a year ..

But, the fact that Cafe Du Monde is thee number 1 place that everyone, whether tourists or locals has to go to ... I love Napoleon House, Galatoire's, and Tujague's but great as they are, not everyone goes to them. "Everyone goes to Cafe Du Monde." It's a meeting place where you get a tasty cup of Cafe au Lait and 3 Beignets for a mere $4.50 ... You will see everyone there, and you always have a great time. Cafe Du Monde, one of the World's greatest and without a doubt AMerica's Greatest Cafe ..

Coffee and Beignets




Article by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

It's the Dudes 

BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

AVAILABLE on AMAZON

ABIDE !

TOTONNO'S Best Pizza In America

TOTONNO'S OPEN AGAIN