The Day Caffe Dante Died

"IT'S OFFICIAL"

 

CAFFE DANTE HAS CLOSED

Caffe Dante shut its doors yesterday, Sunday March 22. 2015 ... A very sad moment as I watched my friend of 30 years Mario Flotta pull down his pictures of the many Celebrities that have spent time at Caffe Dante over the years. I had to hold back my tears when I said goodbye to Mario and he and his  two sons Mario Jr. and Anthony locked the doors for the last time.

 

I said goodbye to Mario and his sons and walked around the corner to go home, knowing my second home had closed for good. One of those sad moments in life, but one one must deal with never-the -less. 

 

 

ME & MARIO

 

Greenwich Village Writer Daniel Bellino Zwicke

and

Mario Flotta Sr. at Caffe Dante on The Day of its closing, 100 Years

after opening on Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village ... A Very Sad Day to say the least.

 

 

 

MARIO 

 

Copyright Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Yes it was quite sad day, the day my favorite caffe closed. I first started going to Caffe Dante in the Summer of 1985, after my first trip to Italy. I had passed by numerous times but never went in, for some reason the place didn't appeal to me at the time, Caffe Luca around the block on Bleecker was my spot, and I loved it. I had been going to Caffe Luca quite often for three years before I set foot in Dante for the first time. The thing that got me going to Caffe Dante was that my good friend John Lee went there almost everyday, and he loved it, so I figured I'd give it a shot, and so I did. And so I went, and I liked it,and after a while, Dante became my daytime caffe, and Luca was were I went for my night time caffe, and I did this for a few years, never going at night, but several times a week, during daytime hours, and I soon became a regular Caffe Dante, and all the Maltese waitresses knew me, and I knew them, and I got to be friendly with the owner Mario Flotta and his sons; Anthony, Peter, and Mario. The waitresses at that time were Grace and Patricia, both from Malta, there was a Moroccan girl as well, my good friends Ada and Antionetta both came from Naples, Italy about a year later in 1986.

So I'd go to Dante several times a week when I could, which were any days that I didn't work lunch at the restaurant, or I had the day off completely. And, as for Caffe Luca which I loved going to for years, and loved it, something happened. The old Italian guy *can't remember his name), sold it to the two brothers who worked there. I hate to say it, but for some reason, the water glasses started smelling like a wet mop, and it didn't stop. Som although I loved Caffe Luca, because of this, I just stopped going there. I didn't want to, but the "wet mop thing' wasn't a one-time-deal, it was constant, and because of it, I just stopped going, no more Caffe Luca. About 8 years after I stopped going to Luca, the place, sadly closed down.

So, Dante was my caffe, I went ther almost everyday for 30 years from 1985 to 2015 when my buddy Mario Flotta sold the place. Yes, Mario had become a good friend. You  don't go to a place almost every day for 30 years, and not become friends with someone. Going to Caffe Dante was like being with family. I had my Espresso, Cappuccino, and many Caffe Lattes over the years, thousands of each. Some days I went there two times in a day, and on a few occasions I'd make 3 trips in one day to Caffe Dante. The days I went twice in a day, which were many, I'd go in the morning or afternoon, and then I'd go there, meeting Jimmy S. or Jimmy B., or with Dante or Merceditas, both ex-girlfriends who I had long relationships with.

Yes many times I'd be there with friends or a girlfriend, hanging out socializing, having a good times. Going there with friends was I'd estimate somewhere between 20 to 25% of my total visits of thousands of visits over the years, the other 75 to 80% I'd go there on my own, to read and relax, or write, But I was never alone, most of the time, some of my caffe-friends were there and we'd chit chat, and converse, and one does in a cafe. Ad if none of my cafee friends were around, there was always the girls. The girls? The waitresses, some of which became friends and we'd have dinner parties together, sometimes go to Arturo's or Lomabardi's for Pizza with Rose, Tony, Ada, and Jimmy Starace. We were all friends.

Yes, I read a lot of books in Caffe Dante over the years. I read The Count of Monte Cristo at least 2 times there, biography's on Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis, Grace Kelly, Talouse Lautrec, Picasso, Gaugin, Vasco de Gama, Christopher Columbus, Ernest Hemingway, and many more. Yes, I love biography's. Yes, I read novels s well, and I started writing, mostly essays on all sorts of things, some short stories like "Espresso at 4" about the four Italian Ladies from the neighborhood who had espresso at Caffe Dabnte at 4 PM everyday for years. These ladies were wonderful, and I'd sit there with my Cappuccino and listen to theit entertaining conversations. These ladies, you'd think could solve all the problems of the world, listening to them. And I loved there heated discussions on how to make, Meatballs, Pasta Fazool, Lasagna, Marinara Sauce, or Ragu Napoletana. Yes I loved seeing these ladies every day at Dante, and listening to their lovely little conversations about this=that-and-every-other-thing. I miss these sweet lovely Italian Ladies; Babe, JoAnn, Mary, and Maria. I miss Caffe Dante and seeing Rose (friend / waitress) and talking about food and all sorts of things with here, but mostly about food, recipes, and how to make different dishes. Rose was a dam good cook (still is).

I always said, Caffe Dante was my second home, and it was. It was the same I believe for all of the many regulars. I wrote my first book (La Tavola) in Caffe Dante. Yes I had so many good times there over the 30 years that I went there. The caffe opened in 1915, and my buddy Mario Flotta owned it for the last 44 years of its existence. Mario wanted to keep the place going, and for his sons to have the place, but they weren't interested. It sad. When Mario had his second heart attack, it took a lot out of him, and since his sons had no interest in the caffe anymore, Mario decided to call it quits, and very sadly so. 

What was Caffe Dante, New York's most authentic Italian Caffe for exactly 100 years, is now a high-price cocktail bar / restaurant. Mario sold the name, and the guy who bought it was smart, and he wanted to buy the name Dante, so now he can say that his place has been there since 1918. Yes this is true, but sadly Caffe Dante died in the year 2015. Those of us who were regulars miss the place dearly. We miss seeing each other (the regulars), we miss Mario and the girls, Ada, Antoinetta, and Rose. Well, as they say, nothing last forever, "things change," and quite sadly Dante change, it died and we miss it dearly.

.

Damiel Bellino Zwicke

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY SAUCE

 

by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

 

 

 

 

 

SEGRETO ITALIANO

 

SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES

 

 

by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

 

 

 

 

 GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK

 

RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN GRANDMOTHER

 

A NEW COOKBOOK

 

by Daniel Bellino

 

 

 

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED SICILIAN RECIPES

 

DUE Mid APRIL 2015

 

In Paperback & Kindle on AMAZON.com

All Photographs & Art Work are the Property of Daniel Bellino-Zwicke and may not be published or used without written consent.

Sophia Loren Makes RAGU NAPOLETANA

Sophia Loren

SOPHIA LOREN Makes RAGU

RECIPE - RAGU NAPOLETANA alla SOPHIA

From the movie "SABATO DOMENICA & LUNEDI"

SATURDAY SUNDAY & SATURDAY

READ MORE ..

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Trump s Sloppy Tuxedo

READ about TRUMP'S SLOPPY TUX

Why did President Trump Meet with Queen Elizabeth

with Such a SLOPPY ILL FITTING TUXEDO ?

Does he have a Stylist ?

A Tailor ?

Or was this OFF THE RACK ?

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED ?

READ About PRESIDENT TRUMPS SLOPPY TUX

At TRUMP NEWS

Always REAL & Never FAKE NEWS

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Keith McNally Reopens Pastis Meatpacking NewYork NY

The BAR at the New PASTIS

I stopped by tee friends and family party at Pastis the other night, and I'm happy to say, the genius that he is, Keith McNally has done a great at recreating his famed French Bistro Pastis on Gansevoort Street in New York's Meatpacking District, a neighborhood that McNally is most responsible for sparking the boom of the high-voltage neighborhood with his opening of the original Pastis Bistro back in 1999.

Before McNally opened Pastis on 9th Avenue in the Meatpacking district of NY, there were just two restaurants there, Florent which opened in 1986 and Maccerleria (2002). There were no hotels, no Apple Store, no high priced clothing boutiques. Some of the namesake business of the meatpacking district, the wholesale butchers who supply New York restaurants and meat markets with meat were still there, and some had bolted to Jersey City, like now famed butcher Pat LaFreida. Once McNally opened his French Bistro Pastis, the neighborhood exploded, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney opened boutiques in the neighborhood, night clubs opened, and slick boutique hotels were built. We now have an Apple, Soho House, The Standard Hotel and The Gansevoort, and in early June 2019 Keith McNally is reopening his beloved Bistro Pastis. Beloved that is by New Yorker's, tourist, high powered high rollers, and celebrities like; Sir Richard Branson, Bono, Sarah Jessica Parker, and many more.

I sat there with my glass of Beaujolais, happy in the fact that it was once again open, Keith's old subway tiles (in storage) were back, as was the tile floor, Zinc Bar, and all the fixtures and feel that made Pastis, well Pastis. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Keith is a Genius, and he always gets it right. He is now partnered with famed Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr who it seems should be a good fit, considering the fact that Keith is getting a bit older and recovering from a recent illness, but the man is back, and we all wish him and Pastis well.

Thanks Keith.

"KEITH"

Besides his many famous New York City restaurants Keith McNally's restaurants are famous for having by-far The Best Fries in Town (Pomme Frites). The McNally Empire's famed French Fries were first introduced by the Late / Great Chef Patrick Clarke at The ODEON restaurant (Keith's 1st) back in 1982.

READ More on KEITH McNALLY'S Empire

The New PASTIS

52 Gansevoort Street

Night of  Friends / Family Party

June 4, 2019

New York, NY

Meatpacking District

READ  "HOW KEITH McNALLY CREATED The MEATPACKING DISTRICT"

And The GENIUS of KEITH McNALLY

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke Oct. 3 , 2012

/

Fabricant at NY Times Missed Mark on McNally s Genius opening PASTIS

PASTIS "Friends and FAMILY PARTY"

June 4, 2019

 

As I go about writing about Italian Food, food, bars, and the restaurant scene New York, Italy, Paris, Asian New Orleans, and the World, it never fails to amaze me how far ahead of the curve I am as opposed to other food writers with  a greater and faster knowledge of wine, restaurants, food trends than many food writers with high profile positions. People like former NY Times food-critics; Frank Bruni, Ruth Reichl , and especially Florence Fabricant who recently wrote about the re-opening of Keith McNally's (along w/ Stephen Starr) Pastis in the Meat Packing District, which Keith McNally created, though I'm quite certain Florence Fabricant doesn't know, and never made the analogy. In her piece she states, that the new Pastis is around the corner from the original one which has been closed for 5 years (lost lease). She states that the High Line and The Whitney Museum are now in the neighborhood, but Fabricant and just about ever other food / restaurant writer / critic out there are no doubt oblivious to the fact that, not only did Keith McNally create Tribeca, but he created what has become the boom of the Meat Packing District, a neighborhood that had but two high-profile restaurants in the neighborhood, which was more or less a restaurant waste land until McNally opened Pastis back in 1999. Florent and Macceleria were the only two restaurants in the neighborhood until McNally opened Pastis. Once he did, more restaurants began to sprout, and eventually there was an explosion of what the Meat Packing District is today, the hottest restaurant, night club, boutique hotel spot in all of New York, and all because Keith McNally, the "Restaurant Genius" that he is opened Pastis on 9th Avenue, the neighborhood exploded, and the rest is history.

Unlike the original Pastis, Keith McNally has a partner in his new Pastis is the form of famed Philadelphia / NY Restaurateur Stephen Starr ... From the looks of what I saw at the party tonight, The New Pastis should be just as big of a hit as the old one. Good Luck to Keith McNally and Wishing him well.

  Daniel Bellino Zwicke

  June 4, 2019

.

I first wrote an article on this fact back in October of 2012. Read my piece on how Keith McNally Created The Meatpacking District (Oct. 3, 2012 NY - Foodie ) ...  

The Original PASTIS

Created by Restaurant Genius Keith McNally

READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE

At NewYorkFoodie.com

The GENIUS Himself

KEITH McNALLY

2005

BONO Dining at PASTIS

As Many Celebrities Did

   Daniel-Bellino-Zwicke.com    



  EATER NY Pastis Reopening ..


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The History of BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS / Recipe

 BUFFALO WINGS ORIGINAL RECIPE  


 After Burgers and Pizza, these Buffalo Chicken Wings may very well be America’s 3^rd most popular dish. And guess what? They’re not just American, they’re Italian American Teressa Bellissimo one night at her families Anchor Bar in Buffalo New York. Legend has it that Teressa’s son Dom was hanging out at the bar one night with his buddy’s. The guys were hungry so Mamma Bellissimo whipped up a little snack for the boys. Teressa fried up some wings, made a little hot sauce and coated the wings with them. And served them to the boys. They went nuts they loved them. They started serving them as a free at the bar for the bar customers. It was just a matter of weeks before all of Buffalo found out about these tasty wings. They became famous almost over night, whereby the Bellissimo’s stopped serving them for free at the bar and put them on the menu. The Bellissimo’s served Italian Food at their Anchor Bar, and the Italian Food was quite special. However the Bellisimo’s tasty Chicken Wings quickly out sold all the regular Italian Specialty Dishes and the Bellissimo’s Wings became the number 1 best seller on the menu. Not only that, but Teressa’s Italian-American created Chicken Wings became uber famous all over America and subsequently all over the World. That’s Italian, “Italian-American.”   RECIPE : Ingredients: 36 chicken wing pieces (one wing makes 2 pieces - the "flat" & the drum) 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 6 tablespoons Frank’s Hot Sauce (or other) 6 tablespoons unsalted Butter or Margarine Celery Sticks 1 bottle of Blue Cheese Dressing Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Cut whole wings into two pieces at the joint. In a bowl toss the wings with the oil, and salt. Place into a large plastic shopping bag, and add the flour. Shake to coat evenly. Remove wings from the bag, shaking off excess flour, and spread out evenly on oiled foil-lined baking pan(s). Do not crowd. Bake for about 20 minutes, turn the wings over, and cook another 20 minutes, or until the wings are cooked through and browned. While the Wings are baking, mix all the ingre-dients for the sauce in a pan, and cook over low heat for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. After the Wings are cooked, remove from oven. Place wings in a large bowl and pour sauce over wings to coat. Mix thoroughly. Serve with Blue Cheese Dressing and fresh Celery Spears.

ABIDE in IT !!!

GREAT RECIPES For SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

In The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

RECIPES :

DUDES COWBOY CHILI

BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS

CRAZY WINGS

and More ...

ANCHOR BAR

Where it all Started.

Italian-American Teressa Bellisimo Invented Hot Chicken Wings

at The ANCHOR BAR in 1964 ..

NOTE : At the ANCHOR BAR and all over BUFFALO, what is called

BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS all over AMERICA, are not called Buffalo Chicken Wings

in Buffalo, but simply "CHICKEN WINGS"

Teressa Bellisimo

Inventor of BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS

Buffalo , New York

1964

On March 4th, 1964, Dominic Bellissimo was tending bar at the now-famous Anchor Bar Restaurant in Buffalo, NY. Late that evening, a group of Dominic’s friends arrived at the bar with ravenous appetites. Dominic asked his mother, Teressa, to prepare something for his friends to eat.

They looked like chicken wings, a part of the chicken that usually went into the stock pot for soup. Teressa had deep fried the wings and flavored them with a secret sauce. The wings were an instant hit and it didn’t take long for people to flock to the bar to experience their new taste sensation. From that evening on, Buffalo Wings became a regular part of the menu at the Anchor Bar.

The phenomenon created in 1964 by Teressa Bellissimo has spread across the globe. Although many have tried to duplicate the Buffalo wing, the closely guarded secret recipe is what makes Frank & Teressa’s the proclaimed “Best Wings in the World”.

The BADASS COOKBOOK 

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY FOOD

McRIB RECIPE

KILLER CHILI

How to Make KFC FRIED CHICKEN

and More ..

..

Notre Dame de Paris Tribute Art

Notre Dame

EDWARD HOPPER

Paris

 

Notre Dame

Andre Chapuy

 

Notre Dame

PARIS

Jean Francois Raffaelli

 

Notre Dame

Unknown Artist

 

Notre Dame

In Front of Ground Zero - France

IL d' CITE

Paris

 

On 15 April 2019, just before 18:50 CEST, a fire broke out beneath the roof of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. By the time the fire was extinguished fifteen hours later, the building's spire and roof had collapsed and its interior, upper walls, and windows had been severely damaged; even more extensive damage to the interior was prevented by the stone vaulted ceiling, which largely contained the burning roof as it collapsed. Many works of art and other treasures were evacuated early in the emergency, but many others were damaged or destroyed. The cathedral's two pipe organs, and its three 13th-century rose windows, suffered little or no damage. No person, firefighter or civilian, was killed by the fire.

President Emmanuel Macron promised the country would restore the cathedral and launched a fundraising campaign which brought in pledges of €800 million within 24 hours. It has been estimated that restoration could require twenty years or more.

Construction of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris ("Our Lady of Paris") began in the 12th century, using stonework for the walls and vault and wood for the main roofs and spire. The original flèche (spire) lasted until 1383, its replacement was lost in a 1630 fire, and a third was damaged by wind and removed between 1786 and 1791; the spire lost in the fire, made of lead-covered oak and designed by Eugène Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, was added in the mid-19th century. The cathedral was listed as part of the "Paris, Banks of the Seine" UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

In recent years the cathedral suffered significantly from crumbling stonework, primarily due to environmental pollution; for example, acid rain attacks limestone. In 2014, the Ministry of Culture estimated the cost of the renovation work needed by the cathedral at €150 million.

In 2016, the Archdiocese of Paris launched an appeal to raise €100 million over the following five to ten years to meet the costs of maintenance and restoration. At the time of the fire, it was undergoing renovations on the spire, estimated to cost €6 million. Steel scaffolding had been erected around the roofs.

 

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