The BEST BURGER in Town is The CHEESEBURGER 4 Charles Prime

 

The AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER

4 CHARLES PRIME

 

With Cousin Joe Macari

4 Charles Prime

4 Charles Street

GREENWICH VILLAGE

   

NEGRONI 's

At  4 CHARLES PRIME

NEW YORK NY

Recipe How to Make a Proper NEGRONI

In SUNDAY SAUCE

 

One of Our 7 CHEESEBURGERS

     "We also had; Oysters , SHRIMP COCKTAIL, 

PRIME RIB of BEEF,  

                                                            

 Mashed Potaoes, Fries, and Dessert

4 CHARLES PRIME

Greenwich Village

 

The GRAND FINALE

DESSERT at CHARLES PRIME

WATCH The VIDEO !

 

MENU

 

The Cutting of The BURGER

4 CHARLES PRIME

Watch The Video

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Cousin Tommy Macari

CHARLES PRIME

September  17, 2018

 

MANGIA ITALIANO

MEMORIES of ITALIAN FOOD

A NIGHT at 4 CHARLES PRIME

GREENWICH VILLAGE 

NEW YORK

RECIPE  HOW to COOK The Perfect STEAK

SECRET RECIPE FRIED CHICKEN

PRIZE WINNING CHILI

and More ..

The BADASS COOKBOOK

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Chet Baker Jazz Chicken Dinner

Chet Baker

Came up with a new one the other night. It was at one of our dinners that we have a couple time a month, when we cook, drink wine, and listen to some great music on Vinyl .. Vinyl Records that is, and some great music, not like any of the crap they make today, but great artist of the 20th Century like; Frank Sinatra , Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Albert King, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and greats like Chet Baker. What's that? You never heard of Chet Baker? You're forgiven, many have not.

Chet Baker was one of the 20th Cenury's greatest and most unique Jazz Artist. He played Trumpet and had a positively unique singing style that was Super Cool and all his own. Baker played with Jazz Greats Charlie Parker and Jerry Mulligan before forming his own band and going out on his own in 1953, when he recorded and released Chet Baker Sings ...

Chet Bakers most famous recordings are; My Funny Valentine and Let's Get Lost ...

OK, back to the Chicken and Chet Dinner ...  So my friends and I were having one of our little dinner parties at Chris's place on Thompson Street (Greenwich Village) .. As we usually do, we decide what we were going to eat, we buy the food, get some wine and cook dinner. As always the elements of our little dinner parties are; the food, some very good wine, and lots of great music, some on vinyl, some on CDs ... No matter what we make, we usually always have some nice cheese to start the meal with. We decide on some music, and crack open our first bottle of wine. This night, Chris had already decided on chicken, which we all agreed would be great. He made some buttered carrots and Couscous to accompany the Chicken. Chris picked up a nice bottle of Au Bon Climant Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara that was quite nice, and I brought a bottle of Fausto Maculans Brentino ...

Chris was cooking the chicken, and we were listening to Eric Clapton, Ron Wood, and Pete Towsend's Raibow Concert LP .. A great album that's a bit obscure, but can you imagine, Clapton, Pete twonsend and Ron Wood all playing together? Friggin amazing. I myself had never heard of this concert and live recording album until Chris turned me on to it. It's awesome. Chris had some Zeppelin playing when we sat down to dinner, and I told him we had to tone the music down while eating. Like most civilized people I can't listen to loud music when eating so I requested a slow down. Chris asked what I wanted? He had been playing some Chet Baker when I arrived at his apartment, so I said I could go for some more Chet. He obliged.

The chicken was quite tasty, the wine was flowing and Chet sounded just fine. 

The next day I sent Chris a Text thanking him for the CHICKEN and CHET , and so it's been coined. Everytime we have a Chicken Dinner now, we must also have some Chet, Chicken and Chet, it's our latest thing .. A dinner theme to add to our already famous Chianti Rolling Stones and Newport Steaks (dinner), as well Pork Chops Vino and Soul ... 

Oh and by the way, dessert is always Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and all is well with; Chianti Steak or Chicken, The Rollign Stones and Rock N Roll, R&B, Chet Baker and Peanut Butter Cups .. What more could one ever ask for?

by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

CHICKEN

&  

CHET

Chet Baker

JAZZ

TRUMPET

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CHICKEN DINNER RECIPE

CLICK HERE !

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

CHET BAKER

LET'S GET LOST

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Sunday Sauce Italian Gravy

 

SIMMERING The GRAVY

 

Or is It SAUCE ???

 

 

 

This is a Great Debate, and there is really No Right or Wrong, either term is correct, it all depends what geographic location that yoru family is from in America or the Old Country of Italia. Whether your family is from Napoli, Sicily, Calabria, or live in New York, Chicago, Boston, or Philly, the most important thing of all is not what you call it, Sauce or Gravy, but how the product taste, it has to be beyond good. 

 

Amother factor that varies, is what you and your family put into your Sauce. The most popular is a Sauce (Gravy) made with Sauasge, Meatballs, and Braciole (Braciola). Some families, like mine love to put Ribs in their Sauce, some put Pig Skin Braciole, some Lamb or Pork Neck, and some families even put chicken into their Gravy, which I myself do every now and then, especially if the local grocerry store has Chicken Thighs on sale. And speaking of sales, we always stock up on Maccheroni (Pasta) and Tomatoes whenever they are on sale as well.

 

For recipes on How to Make SUNDAY SAUCE  alla CLEMENZA from the Francis Ford Coppola  film The Godfather , how to make Dolly Sinatra Meatballs and Spaghetti Sauce, the Bellino Family Sunday Sauce, and Mamma DiMaggio's Sunday Gravy, get a copy of  Daniel Bellino "Z" s SUNDAY SAUCE , When Italian-Americans Cook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Gravy

 

Another Family Recipe

RECIPES for SUNDAY SAUCE

 

aka GRAVY

 

alla CLEMENZA

 

alla SINATRA

 

alla BELLINO

 

alla DiMAGGIO

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Remembering GINO S of Lexington Avenue

Remembering GINO'S

Dinner at GINO'S

Lexington Avenue, New York NY

SEGRETO !!!

 

Excerpt of Daniel Bellino-Zwicke 's latest Cookbook, SEGRETO ITALIANO

Secret Recipes & Favorite Italian Dishes, from Broadway Fifth Press

 

 

Segreto? It’s secret in Italian. I got the idea for the book one day. Well not the idea, but inspiration I’d say. I was thinking about one of our all time favorites restaurant, the food, the ambiance and all the fun we’d had there over the years. Many wonderful meals with family and friend, no foes. Dinners with Cousin Joe, Sister Barbara, Brother Michael, and Jimmy. Oh, the food was wonderful, all the great Italian Classics of good old Italian-American Red Sauce Joints of which this one, was one of the best. The classics, like: Baked Clams, Stuffed Artichokes, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Linguine with Clam Sauce, Chicken Parmigiano, Veal Marsal & Milanese, Chicken Cacctiatore, Ossobuco, Cannolis, Spumoni, and-on-and-on. I think you get the picture. Lots of good, affordable Italian Wine, the affable waiter, the phone booth, and the Zebra Wall Paper. If you were a regular their, from the last sentence, you the place I’m talking about. Yes Gino’s! Our beloved Gino’s of Lexington Avenue. Sadly they closed a few years ago. But we still have the memories of so many festive meals. Happy times, good eats.

      I discovered the wonders of Gino’s and first brought my cousin Joe there in 1999. The place was thrilling in that, when you walked in, you felt your were in the perfect place. Gino’s is charged with energy by its wonderful clientele, well-healed regulars who have been going there for years, they know the Maitre’d, the waiters and other customers, and likewise the waiters, bartender, and maitre’d know them. The first time you walk in, you feel that, and want to be a part of it. We did. Back then, Joe and I used to go out to eat together all the time, at least once a week. Joe knew about food, but not to the extent that I did. Joe would come in every week or so, and his driver would drive us around town. He’d pick me up early evening for a night of feasting and good times. We’d often eat at a couple different place. We’d have our main dinner and maybe a little bite to eat when we first went for cocktails to start the night off. As I said, Joe loved eating, and knew quite a bit, but as much as he knew, it wasn’t a third of what I knew about food, wine, and restaurants, and especially the restaurant, bar, and night club scene in New York. I was teaching Joe the ropes, so-to-speak, and Joe was an eager student. We had quite a lot of fun those few years, with dinners at Gino’s, Elio’s (Mondays for Lasagna), Da Silvanos’s, Bar Pitti, The Waverly Inn, Minetta Tavern, cocktails at Pegu and Temple Bar, and way too many other places to name right here. We did New York, we did it all!

   Back to Gino’s. So I had passed by Gino’s any number of times, but never went in to check it out. I was a downtowner, and that’s where we did most of our eating, with an occasional trip midtown or other local if a place peaked our interest. So I did finally walk into Gino’s one day. I had to check it out. When I did, as I’ve already said, I walked in the door and immediately felt the energy of the place. Gino’s was packed, full of life and vibrant, and I knew I wanted to be there. I didn’t eat there right then and there, I was scouting the place out, but I knew I would be back. So I called Joe up and told him all about the place. It sounded great to Joe, this type of place was right up his alley, as it was mine. So Joe said yes, let’s check it out on our next night out.

  Our first ever trip to Gino’s was a few nights later. Joe packed me up at my place in Greenwich Village. I got in the car, as usual, we had a little discussion on what we’d be doing. We mapped out the night of eating and drinking, good times. We talked and decided to head over to Otto Enoteca for a bottle of wine and some Salumi before heading up town to Gino’s and our main dinner of the night. Joe loved Otto, and I was a fan too, so we headed to Otto.

    Well, we went to Otto, drank a little wine, had some Testa, Mortadella, and Prosciutto, and it was on to Gino’s. Back in the car, and Ziggy (our driver) drove us up to Lexington Avenue, across the street from Bloomingdale’s to Gino’s. We were excited as we walked up to the restaurant and through the door. The place was packed and super-charged. We loved it. The Maitre’d greeted us with the first of many warm welcomes. We were In Like Flynn. We sat down at a nice table in the middle of the restaurant. We were happy campers. As happy as can be, for we sensed a wonderful meal ahead. Our hunch would turn out to be just right. A waiter came to our table, greeted us a warm welcome, gave us a wine list and menus, and asked what type of water we wanted. As always, we got a bottle of flat water. Joe gave me the wine list as he usually does and told me to pick something out. I looked over the reasonably priced list and picked out a tried and true wine from my good friend Luigi Cappellini in Greve. The wine, a bottle of Verrazzano Chianti Classico. The waiter went to get the wine, and Joe and I looked over the menu. We were happy to see a great old school Italian menu. The Red Sauce kind of a good old classic Italian-American joint, of which there used to be many, but at this point of time, far fewer. They had; Shrimp Cocktail, Baked Clams, Hot Antipasto, Clams Posillipo, Spaghetti Vongole, Lasagna, Canneloni, Veal Parm, Veal Milanese, Eggplant Parmigiano, Shrimp Fra Diavolo, Veal Marsala, Scampi, and all the usual suspects. We were in heaven, and it was heard narrowing down what to eat.

     One dish really caught our attention, and especially Joe, who although I love my pasta, Joe had has me beat, he’s the pasta freak. Freak in a good way that is. The dish was Pasta Segrete (Pasta w/Secret Sauce), and us intrigued.

    The waiter brought the bottle of Chianti, opened it, and we were on our way. I ripped off a piece of bread and ate it. So, we decided on the menu. We ordered a Shrimp Cocktail and Baked Clams Oreganata to start. We would share these two antipasto items, then move on to the Primi, the pasta course. We decided on, and just had to have the Pasta Segrete, a half order each. We both love Veal Milanese (Frank Sinatra’s favorite), and as we were having antipasto, and pasta, as well as a couple desserts, we decided on one Veal Milanese to split for the main course, thus leaving room for some tasty desserts we knew Gino’s would have. We talked with the our waiter about the menu, and he agreed that we had chosen wisely, and that one Milanese would be fine, so we could eat dessert and he’d help us pick the two best later.

     So we drank wine, and nibble on the bread, chatted and waited in anticipation for the antipasto to arrive. I love Shrimp Cocktail since childhood and don’t always eat it all that much these days, so it’s always a special treat. The Baked Clams and the Shrimp Cocktail came and were a great way to start the meal. The wine was great. Hey it’s Castello Verrazzno!

    So now, we were really excited. This mysterious Pasta Segrete was about to come out. You can get the Secret Sauce with whatever Pasta you like, Spaghetti, Raviolis, Tagiolini, Penne, Gnocchi, or Rigatoni. Joe and I both love Rigatoni, so that’s what we went for, two half portions of Rigatoni Segrete. Well, the waiter brought us our Pasta with Secret Sauce. Guess what! It was outrageous, we loved it. Joe went crazy, and could stop talking about it, and it was just a couple weeks before he’d have to go back and get another “Fix.” Yes the Pasta with the Secret Sauce did not disappoint. We loved it, and would be back for many more bowls.

     We finished the Pasta, grudgingly so, as we didn’t want the experience to end, “It was that good!” We waited a few minutes for the Veal Milanese. It came out, and we could tell just by looking at it, that it would be great. For those of you who might not know, Veall Milanese is one of Italy’s most famous a classic of all dishes. It’s a Veal Chop that’s pounded thin, breaded with breadcrumbs and fried and tipped with a Salad of Arugala and Tomato. The dish is simple, simply delicious when done right. Veal Milanese was one of Frank Siantra’s all-time favorite dish, along with Spaghetti Meatballs, and Clams Posillipo. Frank used to get it often at his favorite of all restaurants, Patsy’s of West 56^th Street, just 10 blocks from Gino’s. Both old-school Italian Joints were amongst Frank’s favorites. Patsy’s was Frank’s # 1 favorite, but Gino’s wasn’t far behind, and Ol’ Bue Eyes ate there many times over the years. Anyway, the Veal Milanese was just perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, life is good at times like these.

     We finished our Veal Milanese, and it was now time to think about desserts. I love sweets and so does Joe, so he said we gotta get two. The waiter told us the Tiramisu was “The Best in Town,” and the Cheesecake was really wonderful as well, so we went with his suggestions. Throw in a couple cups of Espresso and some Anisette too, and we were still in heaven.

   Needless to say, our meal was fantastic. We loved it. We loved Gino’s and would be back for more.

 Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

SEGRETO ITALIANO

SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES

SALSA SEGRETE

and More ..







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It's BLT TIME !!!

It's BLT SEASON

A Nice BLT

"It's That Time of The Year"

When TOMATOES are in SEASON !

Yes it' BLT time. BLT Season. August and September is the time of the year, and the only time I eat BLT Sandwiches, and usually just at home and ones that I make personally for myself. I usually don't trust others to make me a BLT. Why? That's easy. not many people can make one better than me. Well, not in most diners or lunchenettes or other restuarants, it's sad but most make a crappy BLT with colc toast, crappy tomatoes and horrible overcooked bacon that has been sitting around for hours. "Not for me." The BLT is a Thing of Beauty, and should be treated as such, and when made right, it's one of the World's Great Sandwiches. And it's got to be made with, first and foremost nice Ripe Juicy in Season Tomatoes, with good quality Bacon that's cooked crispy, but not overdone, you need nice fresh Crispy Lettuce, and toast that's hot and made of good quality bread that's toasted after all your other ingredients are ready. And the toasted bread should be slathered with good quality Mayonaise like Hellman's . Make sure to season your tomatoes with good quality Salt and you're all set. Don't settle for less.

Look at thse TOMATOES

If you don't have Tomatoes like these?

Your BLT won't be Good

The bread should be white and toasted; Pullman or packaged sandwich loaf works best. This kind of bread has a soft, tight crumb that will soak up some of the tomato's juices, and toasting it helps prevent it from becoming overly sodden. The bacon must be smoked, to adequately offset the tomatoes' sweetness. I like a medium-thick cut, and I take care as I cook to avoid a result that's desiccated or leathery; the latter impedes biting through the sandwich's layers with ease and tasting all the ingredients in each mouthful. Crisp Iceberg  or Bibb Lettuce lends the right note of freshness, and the tomatoes should be absolutely ripe and sweet. Mayonnaise is not optional; its creaminess tempers the tomatoes' acidity. Cut your Sandwich into Triangles andd you're all set.

Enjoy !

Learn How to Make

A BADASS BLT

RECIPES

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RECIPE "The WORLDS BEST BLT" !!!

Ingredients :

1/2 pound BACON

8 Slices White Bread

Fresh Iceberg or Bibb Lettuce

8 slices Fresh "RIPE" in Season Tomatoes

Salt

Real Mayonaise

1. Cook bacon until crispy, then drain on paper towels.
2. Toast the 8 slices of bread.
3. Spread 1 tablespoon mayo on each slice of toasted bread. (More or less, to taste).
4. Add 1 slice of lettuce to 4 pieces of mayo-spreaded toast.
5. Sprinkle Tomatoes with Salt and add 2 slices of tomato on top of lettuce.
6. Arrange 3 slices of bacon evenly on top of tomato. (Break bacon slices in half to fit, if needed.).
7. Add 1 slice of lettuce on top of bacon.
8. Put the remaining 4 pieces of mayo-spreaded toast on top to finish the sandwiches.
9. Enjoy!

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Recipe Mexican Corn

MEXICAN CORN

RECIPE

Best Rotisserie Chicken NYC

NEW YORK'S BEST ROTISSERIE CHICKENS

Rotisserie Chicken is as New York as Pastrami

Pushcart Hotdogs and Pastrami

And they are Healthier and of Better Value than the Others

1. CITERELLA  .... 424 Sixth Avenue at W. 9th Street in Greenwich Village

Citerella does a nice tasty Chicken, and is probably one of the Best Values of all the top quility Rotisserie Chickens in New York. Yes, there are cheaper ones, but many of those are sub-par in quality, like the ones at Western Beef that are just $5.99 a piecce. The Whole Chickens at Citerella vary in price as they are priced by the pound and not by the whole chicken. The price of a tasty Whole Rotisserie Chicken at Citerella's averages about $12.00 a bird. You can buy sides as well, but when it comes to Rotisserie Chickens and value, we recommend, it you can to make your own sides. When Corn is in Season as it is at this writing, we recommend serving one or 2 Ears of Corn with a Quater of a Chicken. Make your own Cucumber Salad or whatever you like.

A Whole Rotisserie Chicken from Citerella

About $12.00 the Bird

CASA ADELA ... 66 Avenue C , New York NY

Rubbed with Achiote, Oregano, Slt, & Black Pepper, Cas Adele is a Puerto Rican Restaurant on the Lower East Side of New York that has been turning out tasty chickens since 1976. The Chickens are always tasty and juice, and at $10 for a whole chicken, the price just can't be beat. Most customers get a side of Rice & Beans to go with their chicken, which yoy ccan do as well, or serve whatever you like. You'll be totally satsified.

Puerto Rican Roast Chicken from Cas Adele

Always JUICY

Always TASTY

TRY ONE !

3.  DIRTY BIRD To Go ... 2o4 West 14th Street, Greenwich Village, NY

Dirty Bird makes a great Chicken that are quite popular for Greenwich Village and Chelsea resicendts. The Birdss are $13.75 for a half Chicken $18.35 and for a Whole Bird.

4.  RIKO  509 8th Avenue , Chelsea, NY NY

At just $9.99 for a tasty Whole Peruvian Chicken (Pollo La Brasa), it is quite the bargain, and low enough that you might want to go for a side of Rice & Beans for $3.99 an order. A 1/4 Chicken is $3.99, and a hlaf Bird just $5.99  ...

ROTISSERIE CHICKENS

La BRASA

At RIKO

READ ABout The DUDE'S

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN DINNER

in The GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

Recipes

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