The Perfect Newport Steak? What? I make it. Not everyone can. Number 1, you have to start with a Great Steak, a Newport Steak. A Steak not known to many. Well if you're fortunate to live in New York's Greenwich Village, you might know about them. Then again, you might not, cause just because you live in The Village, doesn't mean you know of this little thing of wonder, The Newport Steak. The Newport Steak is a thing of wonder, especially if you love Steak but don't want to shell out about $19.00 a piece or more to get one. That's uncooked from the butcher, a nice Prime Sirloin Steak that is. Now a Newport Steak on the other hand will cost you about $7.50 on the average, or roughly 2 1/2 times less than a Sirloin, and you do not give up on taste or quality. It's just as good. Maybe better.
The Perfect Newport Steak
Bordeaux and Chianti
"And You Can't Hear But
The ROLLING STONES"
Are Playing in The Background
"BLISS !!!
It is said that The Newport Steak was created by Jack Ubaldi, an Italian immigrant who owned a Butcher Shop in New York's heavily Italian Greenwich Village some time around 1947. The Newport Steak is actually most commonly known as Tri Tip Steak and comes from the Bottom Sirloin portion of a cow. The Tri Tip is not well known nor much in demand. Well not among the masses, but we "Smart Ones" know better. We always get equal or better quality of anything, but always pay less. Thus the case of a Tri-Tip or if as we call it in New York's Greenwich Village "The Newport Steak" In California, Californians know it as The Santa Maria Steak. Anyway, Mr. Ubaldi, wanted to sell this lesser known cut to his customers, but didn't want to sell it as Tri Tip, he wanted a catchyer name. A name that would help sell this wonderful little steak, that was oh so tasty and cost far less than Sirloin, T-Bone, Porter House or Rib Steaks. He wanted a name that in the name itself would sell the steak. One day jack Ubaldi was looking at a pack of Newport Cigarettes and noticed that the logo of Newports was more or less the same shape of the Tri Tip Steaks that he cut. Right then and there Jack Ubaldi named his cut of Tri Tip "The Newport Steak" the name caught on and they've been selling Newport Steaks at Florence Meat Market on Jones Street in Greenwich Village ever since. They're are a couple other spots in the area where you can get a Newport Steak. Ottomanelli's down the block at Bleecker and Joes Streets sells them, as well as Pino's Prime Meats on Sullivan Street, and is a place where I often pick up a Newport Steak or two, along with ones from the original Florence Meat Market. Well, I picked up a couple the other night and cooked them for me and a friend. As usual, they came out perfectly. We had a Couple good bottles of wine as well, in a nice bottle of Villa Sesta Chianti and a fine Bordeaux. And if that wasn't good enough, and don't you think it should have been? We listened to The Rolling Stones while I cooked those "Tasty Steaks" some Roast Potatoes and Carrots. Those steaks, yes they were Perfect. Not many people can cook a Steak as Good as Me, "No Brag Just Fact." Yes it's Fact, I can cook a Steak Better than anyone of ever met or eaten a steak cooked by another, and that includes Steaks I've had at Sparks Steak House, Peter Luger and other places renowned for their steaks. If you knew me, you'd know I'm telling the truth. Ask anyone who has ever eaten a Steak that I've cook, "They tell you." Any way, yes the Steaks were perfect. My mouth is watering now just thinking about them. Dam, I tell you, Those Newport Steaks were "So Dam Good" they were practically "Orgasmic" I kid you not. Ask my Pal Chris, or my Buddies Raoul or Jimmy S, they'll tell you. So we had The Perfect Steak, drank Chianti, and listened to The World's Greatest Rock Band of All-Time "The Rolling Stones." And yes Boys and Girls, Ladies and Gentlemen, "Sometimes Life Can Be Blissful." Yes It Can. Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Newport Steaks are Cut From The Tri-Tip mof The Bottom Sirloin WHERE To GET A NEWPORT STEAK FLORENCE MEAT MARKET "The ORIGINAL" Jack Ubaldi Created The Newports Steak here at Florence Meat Market in the 1940s ..... Jones Street (Near Bleecker) Greenwich Village, New York, NY PINO'S PRIME MEATS ..... Sullivan Street, Soho, New York NY OTTOMANELLI'S .... Bleecker Street between Jones and 7th Avenue, Greenwich Village
YES BOYS and GIRLS, IT'S BACK! Had One Yesterday, and My Second Today ... What? The "McRib" It's Back and I've Had two!! This Is BETTER Than Christmas. WHERE? McDonalds on 6th Avenue Between 14th and 15th Streets in New York City ... YES! NEW YORK NEW YORK !!! We've got The "McRib" BACK ! Oh HAPPY DAY! When The McRib Comes, Oh Yes McRib Has Come ! And Guess What? The Rolling Stones are Back Too! Wow, This Is Too Much Happiness, The Stones and The McRib Both Back and All in The Same Month December 2012, One of The Greatest Months of Any YEAR EVER ! "McRib" News FLASH !!! SUNDAY, December 16, 2012 The McRib Was Spotted at McDonalds on Broadway South of Astor Place (8th Street) Greenwich Village, New York, NY
The Big Guns of Italian Wine were out on the town again. Italian-Wine Guys Charles Scicolone and were spotted at the Italian trade Commissions Gala Wine Tasting in The Cotillion Room at the famed Pierre Hotel on Fifth Avenue in New York drinking, Tasting and discussing their Favorite Italian Wines of the day, which included the likes of Sesti Chianti, Biondi Santi Brunello, Bertani Amarone, Planeta Cerasuolo di Vittoria, various Prosecco and other fine Italian Wines.
Charles and Daniel are often spotted at most important Italian Wine Events in New York and Italy, including, The Annual Brunello Tasting, Vinitaly in Verona, Italy, New York Italian Wine Distributors, and The City's most important Italian-Tasting of the Year, The Tre Bicchieri Tasting in March of Italy's Top Wines of The Year.
The Feast of The 7 Fish, a great new book, just in time for Christmas, and Italian-American Christmas at that. The Feast of The 7 Fish, or as it's know in its birth place of Southern Italy the "Vigilia" The Vigil is the great Italian Christmas Eve Ritual Meal of The 7 Fish that represent The Seven Sacraments of The Roman Catholic Church. Some believe the Seven Fish represent The 7 Days of Creation or The Seven Hills of Rome, but most go by the ethos that The 7 Fish represent The Seven Sacraments. So many Italians have this meal of 7 different fish on Christmas Eve, The Vigil, waiting for the Birth of The Baby Jesus.
Many would be surprised to know that this great ritual is mostly practiced by Southern Italians and Italian Americans who the great majority are of the South. Well the surprise would come in the fact that many Italians in Italy have never heard of the Vigilia "The Feast of The 7 Fish." These Italians are from Central Italy on up to the north. It is believed the Vigilia, the meal of The Feast of The 7 Fish was started in and around the great Southern Italian City of Naples (Napoli) and its environs and that its practiced most fervently in-and-around Napoli as well as most of the South including Apulia and Sicily.
The Feast of The 7 Fish - An Italian-American Christmas Eve Feast by Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a wonderful knew book of this great Southern Italian and Italian-American Tradition. The book is filled with stories and recipes on the feast on a whole and individual dishes, and if you're looking to partake and make this wonderful meal, this book "The Feast of The 7 Fish" is just the ticket. It takes you every step of the way to the Feast and gives you suggestions on making The Feast with 7 different Fish in 7 courses, 7 Fish in 3 courses and various different routes to take, which make the meal simpler or a little more complex, depending on which route" you choose" to take. The book is delightful and a "Must Have" for anyone thinking of making this great meal (The Most Fabulous Christmas Meal in The World), whether it's your first time or you've done it before and are looking for new ideas and angles, Daniel Bellino Zwicke's "The Feast of The 7 Fish" is the ticket for you.
Wow! What's the World Coming to? No More Twinkies? can We live without The? Don't Think So! A lot of News about the Powers That Be Shutting Down The Hostess Twinkie Factory. Shutting Down Everything. No More Twinkies, Wonder Bread, Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes with The Little Swirl on Top. First Hurricane Sandy now this! What's Up? Weboxes of the Beloved Golden're Living in Tough Times. What We we do Without Our Beloved Twinkies? Don't Fret. Hostess will be selling off right to their brand products and it's certain someone will snatch-up to rights and "Prestige" or Non-Prestige to Make, Bake, and Sell This Beloved Icon of America, Americana, American Pop Culture, The Twinkie. Of Course the Twinkie Will Be Saved. Kraft Foods or Nabisco are sure to Snatch-Up this Prized Gem that Millions Love and Eat Daily. There has been a lot of News on the Twinkie, The Closing of Hostess Factories, The Shutting Down of the Company, and of Course, "What's to Become of The TWINKIE." Yes it will survive and be back soon, but for now boxes of The Beloved Golden Sponge Cake Filled with Cream, Twinkies are being Sold for Thousands of Dollars on Ebay and other sales avenues. Wow! in other Twinkie News, "The Dudes Big lebowski Recipe of Chocolate Kahlua Sauce Over Twinkies" has been revealed and is Available in The Dudes Big Lebowski Cookbook "GOT ANY KAHLUA" ? The Collected Recipes of THE DUDE, with the Dudes Recipe for the lusious Chocolate Kahlua Sauce to pour over the Twinkies, along with other great recipes like The Dudes Cowboy Chili. You can get The Dudes Cookbook "GOT ANY KAHLUA" ? on AMAZON where it has been Selling on AMAZON Like Hot-Cakes ever since this Twinkie Kahlua Chocolate Sauce Story Broke. Dude says "Abide in The Twinkie" !!!
Have you ever heard of DeGrezia Restorante on the Upper East Side of New York ... There's a good chance you have probably not. Don't worry, there are a lot of people who have not. Business People
"In-The-Know" in-town and from all over the country and the World have known about and have been going to DeGrezia's for years. Pretty smart people. They know of DeGrezia's "Oustanding Italian Regeional Food" Peasant Ambiance, and Impeccable Service. Degrezia's Scores High Marks with Zagats and just about every publication that writes and reviews restaurants.
Yes, business people have known about the Great Food and Service and all-around charms of DeGrezia for years. A new group of Clientele have emerged at DeGrezia of Late, that Being "Celbrities" and Degrezia's has recently seen the likes of Regis Philbin, Susan Lucci, Mario Cantone, and other dining on its Wonderful Food and being pampered by Degrezia's Top-Notch Waiters and Captains.
The Food? Yes, wonderful Veal Dishes like Veal Milanese, Veal Saltimbocca, oustanding Pasta including, Home-Made Raviol, Paparadelle, and The BEST Fettucine Bolognese in Town.
Check out DeGrezia and find out what the Business and Celebrity Community are Raving all about.
So You WANT to Make "SUNDAY SAUCE" ? Well a Great New Book on Just That Hit the Market today. SUNDAY SAUCE "SAUSAGE MEATBALLS & PASTA FAZOOL" was Released on Amzaon KINDLE today and is Available for KINDLE iPhone iPad and all Androdi Devices and for the rest of October is Available at the SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY Price of Jusr $2.99 ... This Book is Awesome, and is sure to Please its ITALIAN-AMERICAN Following of Author DANIEL ZWICKE as well as anyone Interested in the Great Subject of Italian-America and ITALIAN FOOD .. And is there possibly anyone out there who isn't? A few i guess but not many. SUNDAY SAUCE "Sausage Meatballs & Fazool" is Filled with wonderful Stories and recipes of "SUNDAY SAUCE" MEATBALLS "ITALIAN GRAVY" Sausage & Peppers "MEATBALL PARM SANDWICHES" PASTA FAZOOL and more .. All the most important Italian-American Favorites are in Sunday Sauce and its sure to Please. Looks Like SUNDAY SAUCE - Sausage Meatballs & Fazool is going to prove to be the "Hot Food Read of Autumn 2012 ... We at NyFoodie agree!
Keith McNally created the Meatpacking District? Yes Boys and Girls, I've been saying this for years. Never heard anyone else make this statement that I've been saying for the past 10, 11 years or so (remember where you hear this FIRST, Me! Daniel B Z), Keith McNally created the Meatpacking District! Well pretty much to what it is today, the booming, hip neighborhood of Trendy Restaurants, Trendy Designer Boutiques, Clubs, Hip and Cool Boutique Hotels, an Apple Store, The Chelsea Market, this that and every other thing, Keith did it. Well with a little help from Eric Goode and the Maritime Hotel which sprung up around the same time. The Maritme Hotel a Hip and Cool Boutique Hotel created by nightclub empressario Eric Goode of Area, on of New York's coolest and longest lived Night Clubs (I had many a great time there), MK, and The Bowery Bar, Eric is now partner in The Bowery Hotel, The Maritime, and other projects. Yes Eric helped create "The Meatpacking" but it was mostly Keith McNally once he opened the doors of the venerable restaurant Brasserie/ Bistro "Pastis" Even before, as Keith always gets 12 to 18 months advance publicity, once he obtains a space, has a concept and before "Bolt # 1" goes into the place, New York Magazine, The New York Times, Daily News, the Post, Time Out, and the entire restaurant, food, and social press are all over the story, "Keith McNally's Latest Restaurant" (place).
I've said it befor, and I'll say it again, "Keith McNally makes neighborhoods. He made two neighborhoods that were previously nondescript, boom, spring trendy restaurants and shops, increase real estate values, and spark "The Cool Set" to move in. Yes he has, first with Tribeca and his opening and huge success of the Odeon way make in the early 80's, and now in the 21st Century, Mr. McNally Created and Made The Meatpacking District of New York Hot, Cool, trendy, the "Place to Be and Be Seen In." The neighborhood is booming. Since McNally opened Pastis way back in 1999, the neighborhood has seen tremendous growth, spawning the Hugely Sucessful "Hignline," The Ganesvoort Hotel, Soho House, The Standard Hotel, an Apple Store, other hot and hip restaurants, Nightclubs, and a slew of expensive designer boutiques like; Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and others, "Everyone wants to be in the Meatpacking District and it's largely due to Keith McNally and his fine French Bistro/Brasserie "Pastis."
Yes, there were others before Keith, but the neighborhood did not explode until McNally's arrival. Florent was the first great pioneer, way back in 1985, a good 13 years or so before McNally opened Pastis. Florent Morellet was a wonderful 24 Hour Bistro (Diner) "Florent" on Ganesvoort. Yes Florent was way ahead of Keith in terms of when they opened their respective restaurants in the Meatpacking District of New York which was just that, New York's Meatpacking District filled with a hundred or so commercial Meat Purveyors. Floent operated for a dozen years or so before any restaurant of great substance moved into the area. Florent was the King of The Meatpacking District and had no competition in terms of any other hip restaurants in the area. Relatively anyway. But the district never boomed under Florent's rule of the district, that happened after Keith Mcnally moved in with the opening of Pastis in 1999. Eventually, after more than 20 wonderful years in operation of "Florent" Florent Morelett lost his lease to another "Greedy Landlord" wanting insanely high over-inflated rates for their properties. The Original King of The Meatpacking District Florent Morelett was booted out. And now Keith. What? Yes, Keith Mcnally and his Bistro Pastis that created the boom of the Meatpacking Distric, The Highline, The Standard and Soho House Hotels, an Apple Store, Alexander McQueen, and Stella McCartney, this man may lose his lease, and New York and the Red-Hot Meatpacking District may lose the man and the place (Pastis) that made the neighborhood. "We may lose Pastis." Yes Keith McNally creates Neighborhoods. he makes them boom, and makes them Hip and Cool simply by opening one of his great restaurants in a floundering un-hip hood. Case in point, Mr. Mcnally made Tribeca "hip" with the opening of the ODEON way back in the early 80's with The late great Patrick Clarke at the helm of the Odeon Kitchen (1 of New York's most talented Chefs of All-Time), and Keith McNally made The Meatpacking District what it is today with the opening of "Pastis." What's next Keith?
New York and the $3.00 PBR, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer has been a God-Send to many New Yorkers. As you all know, the US Economy has been in the Shitter for the past 5 years or so.
Many people are out of work, and many who are working, are taking home Half-as-Much Money or more of what they used to make. People have had to buckle down and give up or curb many things they enjoyed previous to the current state of our economy, which is in almost a Depression Era State.
Yes, everybody says that we are not in a Depression, we're in a recession. Those are the Rich and Well-Off, The 1%-ers talking. To many, the state of our Union and their feelings are of Depression.
So, because of the Terrible State of our Economy you have given up eating out 3 times a week, you buy less clothes, spend less on Entertainment and any number of things. You haven't had a vacation in the past two years, maybe more. You've given up a lot. We all have.
Now when it comes to socializing, going out for a few Beers or Cocktails with some friends, you've had to cut back on that too. But hey, you gotta draw a line somewhere, and everyone is entitled to a few drinks to unwind every now and then, and to be with friends. Yes times are bad, people are hurting, you need your friends more than ever. And having a few Beers or Drinks is one of the most common adult ways to do so. It's natural and part of everyday life. You should be able to have two or three drinks or beers and not have to spend a small fortune doing so. You should be able to have 2 beers for about $10 including tip, and about $16 for tow drinks including tip. That's reasonable. That's what most people pay around America, and even less. But we don't live in America, we live in the greatest City in The World, New York, and Cocktails and Beers here can be oh-so-dear. "Expensive!" Expensive as Hell, "Ridiculously Expensive." It's absurd and outrageous, with many places thinking it's normal and OK to charge $16.00 or more for a measly little Cocktail made by a friggin so-called "Mixologist." Ha! It's not OK, what's a person to do? So yes, we live in New York, and having a couple cocktails here can be a costly undertaking.. What is a Poor Working Guy or Working Girl to do??? Well Boys and Girls, let's Thank God for that great thing of wonder and the Bars and establishments who so graciously and kindly serve it, The $3.00 PBR, That's right, a $3.oo Beer in The Land of The Over-Priced $16.00 Cocktail, Manhattan, New York, NY..... It's quite Sad, Greedy too, not to mention "Ridiculous Ludicrous and Insane."
Yes, Thank God and let's thank the Kind-Hearted proprietors who serve $3.00 PBR'S or any Beer for just $3 or $4 in a New York Bar. You are doing your fellow man a public service and we thank you for that. Whoever you are, you are to be commended, and Shame-On-You, all those places that serve $14 PLUS Cocktails. "RIP-OFF" !!! Wish the masses would Boycott these places and patronize places like Blue & Gold Bar, 7B, and anyplace who has a heart. Bars that serve 3 and 4 Dollar Beers.
I just have to say, it's great to go to a place like Blue and Gold Bar on East 7th Street and know that you can have 3 or 4 Beers for just $12 to $16, accounting for a Buck a Pop for the Barkeep. Now that's pretty good. I have had the best times hanging at Blue & Gold with some friends. You sit at the Bar or get into a nice comfy booth, drink your Beers ($3 PBR'S), relax, listen to the Music, Chit Chat, and just enjoy, and it's not going to cost you The Shirt Off Your Back.
Yes, you can have 4 Beers, tip included for the price of 1 Rip-Off Drink at one of those Rip-Off Joints. And if you are Dumb enough to have four drinks in one of those places, guess what it's going to cost you? About $75 my friend.
Well, do the Math, and if you can afford $75 for only 4 drinks, God Bless You. And if you can't, you've got an alternative. Right, your local $3.00 PBR Joint. They're a God-Send.
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Copyright 2008 Daniel Bellino Zwicke
PLACES To GET A $3.00 PBR in NEW YORK
BLUE & GOLD BAR in the East Village, on East 7th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Blue & Gold has long been a favorite of mine ever since I lived in the East Village from 1982 to 1994. It's just a cool ol normal old style bar with a pool table, standard 50's 60's Bar Decor, and Best-of-All $3.oo PBR'S and $6.00 Cocktails. I love it.
.
7B a.k.a. The Horseshoe Bar, also in the East Village, a bastion of cheap and fare prices in Manhattan and Land of The $3.00 PBR and other $3 and $4 Beers. 7B is located on the corner of Avenue B at 7th Street, hence the name "7B" ... The nickname Horseshoe Bar comes from the shape and dimensions of the bar, "Horseshoe Shaped." The bar has been the setting of numerous movie shoots, including the scene in Godfather II when Frankie Pantangeli (Frankie 5 Angels) goes to this bar for a meeting with the Rosato Brothers, and Danny Aiello raps a Piano-Wire around his neck. A scene from Crocodile Dundee and other movies as well .... But Best of all, at 7B they serve $3.00 Beers, cheap drinks, and they have a photo and sell Potato Chips and Pretzels which practically no bars in Manhattan ever do any more. And this is a good thing when you get the munchies from the Beer. Glory Hallelujah, thank God for 7B ..
Lucy’s Bar is the most aptly named bar in New York. For Lucy—the quiet and small and sweetly proper Polish owner with the well-coifed gray hair and floral blouses—is who you’ll see when you go there, and Lucy is the one who will serve you. If there are other employees, they’ve hidden themselves somewhere in the back.
Though Lucy’s is undeniably a dive (and one of the last in the neighborhood), it feels more like your aunt’s aging rec room, a place where you’d never think of disrespecting the house’s hospitality. It’s also one of the last vestiges of the Polish community that was once made up a significant part of the East Village’s character.
Ludwika “Lucy” Mickevicius moved from Poland to New York in the late 1970s and soon got a job at Blanche’s, a bar on St. Mark’s Place run by another Polish woman. She became such a fixture that people began to think of the bar as Lucy’s, and, when Blanche retired, she sold the place—by then located on Avenue A—to her bartender.
Lucy’s life doesn’t range much further than the twin poles of her joint and Poland, which she visits regularly, shutting up the tavern at a moment’s notice and disappearing for weeks at a time. Most nights, she stations herself at the far end of the bar near the ancient cash register. (It’s cash only here.) One recent evening, the Halloween balloons hadn’t yet been taken down. Then again, assorted Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations were already out. Maybe none of the decorations are ever packed up?
Lucy doesn’t budge much behind the bar, but she keeps herself busy for a woman in her mid-70s. She will draw you a pint or a glass of tequila. And, if she likes you, she might pour you a shot of żubrówka, a Polish bison grass vodka, on the house. When the place gets stuffy, she’ll swing open the door to let some fresh Avenue A air in; just as quickly, she’ll close it if it gets chilly.
The clientele ranges from a less-intense sort of downtown hipster, who exchange a few friendly words with Lucy—who, even all these years later, still speaks in broken, accented English—and then retire to their personal conversations, to old Polish regulars. In fact, on another recent night, a young couple came in to show Lucy their young child. All four spoke entirely in Polish and a delighted Lucy let the little scamp climb atop the pool table. As they left, she handed the kid one of the old Halloween balloons. For those few minutes, Lucy’s was a family bar.
2022 and You Can Still GET a $3 PBR
LYS MYYKTA aka "The SLY FOX
142 2nd Avenue, New York NY - The EAST VILLAGE
LYSMYKTA aka "THE SLY FOX" is a Ukranian Bar in a Ukranian neighborhood in
New York's East Village. There's a Ukranian Restaurant in the back, serving delicious Ukranian Food and very reasonable prices. Yes this is thee main neighborhood of Ukranian peoples in New York City. The restaurants great, and any bar that serves $3 PBR Beer is great in my book too.
If you can go some place for drinks (beers), to hang and chit-chat and have 3 Beers, and not have to spend more than $15, that's a place for me. You shouldn't have to pay $40 plus for just 2 drinks (or $60 for 3). People who don't make quite so much money as Lawyers, Wall Street Guys and whoever, should be able to afford to go for 2 or 3 drinks and not spend an "Arm and a Leg" to do it.
The SLY FOX is a place where you can do that, and thank God we have them, and a few other joints that we can do so.
LUCKY'S BAR
168 Avenue "A" New York NY , East Village
Get $3 PBRs at LUCKY'S BAR
168 AVENUE "A" NY NY
EAST VILLAGE
JOHNSON'S BAR ... 168 RIVINGTON STREET, LES NEW YOIRK NY
Inside JOHNSON'S BAR
$2 PBRs
PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER
Johnson's Bar
NY NY
MORE PLACES to GET $3 PBRs
CATS SPORTS BAR - 96 GREENWICH STREET at RECTOR NY NY $3 PBRs
WALTER'S BAR - 389 8th Avenue Near 32nd Street and MADISON SQUARE GARDEN .. $3PBR
DOC HOLIDAY'S 141 AVENUE "A" East Village NY NY - $2 PBRs
MILANO'S
MILANO'S
51 EAST HOUSTON STREET
NEW YORK NY
One of the last authentic old-school bars in NYC. How old-school? Milano's opened in 1880, and maintains a no-frills comfortably old-fashioned atmosphere.
The SPRING LOUNGE
aka SHARK BAR
45 SPRING STREET NEW YORK NY
The SHARK BAR
SPRING STREET at MOTT
Back in the day, when it was an ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD here.
Where it GOt its NICKNAME "SHARK BAR"
Nobody "In The KNow" calls it Spring Lounge, only Green Newcomers to Downtown New York would ever call it SPRING LOUNGE. For years it was a neighborhood "Shot & Beer" Joint. It became treny about 20 years ago (1999)
Those "In The Know" like me, only ever call it "The Shark Bar" ... It got this name from
the fake SHARK hanging over the bar, and that's that!
You can't get $3 Beers here, but we incuded it anyway. And although it's a Trendy so-called Hipster Bar, those of us Old Timers who still call it The Shark Bar, it still has a special place in our hearts.
If Clockwork’s happy hour special seems too good to be true, you’ve got a little good old fashioned neighborhood competition to thank. Located right around the corner, 169 has been in operation since 1916. And its 11:30am-7:30pm HH is among the best in the city. $3 will get you an “Old Man Can/Bottle” of beer (PBR, Carling Black Label, Schaefer, Genesee Cream, High Life/Miller Lite) and any well shot. Subtly New Orleanian environs (window shutters look like they’re fresh off a Creole cottage; beads are strung here and there; there’s crawfish on the menu) evoke genuine good times.
As I've said and written before, Daniel makes probably the finest Bolognese Sauce in the country, among other dishes. Daniel besides creating America's first ever Venetian Wine Bar, has now created and given America another great wonder, in his marvelous new book "La Tavola" Italian-American New Yorkers Adventures of The Table, a wonderful book with wondrous stories of Sunday Sauce, Meatball Parms, The Feast of The 7 Fish and much more. La Tavola is one of the finest books ever written on Italian-American Food and Cuisine, with some excellent wine info and stories as well. This book take the read on a journey through the Italian-American culinary world; the Food, Cooking, people, and time spent at the table with wonderful stories of all the great dishes, rituals, and the realm of Italian America. This book is a "Must Read" for anyone interested in Italian food and food in general.
Robert Roma article from JOURNAL of ITALIAN FOOD WINE and TRAVEL
Wow! What a Great Shot of Keith .. You gotta love it! Keith Cooking, and he looks pretty proficient. Like he knows what he's doing. He does! He's Keef for goodness sake. What's in the Pan? What is Keith Cooking? Could it be BANGERS and MASH Keith? No, it looks like a couple fried eggs in there.
Hey Where's The CIGARETTE KEITH ?
This picture was taken was taken in Montauk, Long Island, New York in 1975 .. A great candid shot of our hero Keith Richards. You just gotta love it. Keep on Rockin Keef.
WE HEAR KEITH"S FAVORITE New Cookbook is "GOT ANY KAHLUA" ? The DUDES BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK .. KEEF and The DUDE "They Go Together!"
Yes Boys and Girls, great News today, Big News, or as The DUDE would say," New Shit Man." It's The Dudes Cookbook, "GOT ANY KAHLUA" The Collected Recipes of The Dude, by Daniel Zwicke author of La Tavola and other titles. The book is Awesome, and a must read for any fan of The Dudes and the great "Cult-Classic" The BIG LEBOWSKI. The book is filled with recipes and stories by The Dude of all his favorite dishes and philosophy on food and cooking it. The Dude is a pretty dam good cook. Who knew? Fans of the Dude are gonna just Eat this One Up, no pun intended. Some wonderful recipes in the book, complete with wonderful antidotes, stories, and Dudeisms, are; The Dudes Cowboy Chili, Maude's Meatloaf, Berkholtzer's Sauerkraut "I told that F_ckin Kraut I Don't Roll on Shabbos," gooey Chop-Meat, Da Fino's Meatballs, Bozos Clam Chowder, and instructions on how to make great Tacos, Burritos, and of course the perfect White Russian. "You gotta Love it!" And we're sure you will.. It's a Great Day in Big Lebowski and Duderly History. Abide!
Another unfortunate accident in New Orleans. The Hubig Pie bakery was destroyed by a fire last week. Hubig's Pies have been a beloved mainstay in New Orleans ever since there inception way back in the 1920's of the last century. Yes there is a good amount of history there. OK they may have not been a immediate institutional mainstay at first, but in time they did, for you can find these lovely little packaged treats in just about every little grocery store and many Po-Boy Shops all over New Orleans and throughout southern Louisiana.
These little pies are fried and Sugar Glazed, filled with apple, cherry, pineapple, and Chocolate. The Hubig Pie is half moon shaped flaky crust that is made with lard. In the fall, Hubig's makes pies filled with fresh Louisiana Yams. They're always a big hit. Yes, you find Hubig's Pies all over the big Easy and Louisiana the same as we New Yorkers would find the similar Hostess Pies in many a grocery store in the Tri-State area growing up. Only difference the Hubig Pie is far more beloved in New Orleans than the Hostess Fruit Pies were ever loved here. Company heads say they will rebuild and will be back once again. Right now and for an undetermined time there will be many sad new Orlineans and Louisiana folk unable to pick upa fix of a Hubig's Chocolate or Apple Pie whenever they might have a hankering. They will miss seeing them at every little convenience store and many gas stations between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and all over the great state of LA. The Hubig Pie Co. has gone through some rough times in the past 8 years or so, with Hurrican Katrina doing damage shutting the company done and now the disaster of this fire that has destroyed the bakery for who knows how long.
We send out prayers for Hubig's, and hope they will be back soon, stocking every supermarket, gas station and grocery stores with there beloved little Half-Moon Sugar Glazed Chocolate and Fruit Pies. Bet those New Orlineans just can't wait.
My Morning Coffee. Couldn't live without it. Get's me goin, hundreds of Millions a day. each and every day. You just gotta have that cup of Joe. For most Americans, they drink it at home, though millions get it out, on the go, at the office, or if your lucky, you'll sit down and enjoy it leisurely at your local cafe, the way I like mine, and I don't mean at Starbucks which I only do in a pinch when there's no better alternative. To me and millions others, Starbucks is too commercial, it's the "Bottom of the Barrel" and akin to McDonald's of the Coffee World.
I Love my morning Coffee, the Coffee itself, but it's not just the coffee, it going to the cafe, chit-chatting with the counter girls, maybe bumping into a friend or two, or having a conversation with a cafe regular like me.
I'm happy to get my Coffee, jump onto my Laptop, read the News, my emails, Surf, do a bit of writing, Or a lot!
And that first sip, it Taste so Good. I just Love it, "warm and Comforting" that Morning Coffee is. Don't you just Love it? I do! How many Millions do? Americans, Italians, the French, Swedes, an-on-and-on, 1 Billion people every day, Two or Three, who knows. OK, I just did a little research (I wouldn't have been able to do this Pre-Internet Days). OK, about 150 Million Americans drink about 225,000,000 cups of coffee every day. Worldwide about 1.5 Billion people drink about 4.8 Billion cups of Coffee a day. That's a lot of friggin coffee. In the United States alone we drink about 480 million cups a day, almost a 1/2 billion cups of Coffee consumed a day in the U.S. or almost 3 1/2 Billion cups of coffee a week, tallying up to about 172 Billion Cups of Coffee a year in the United States of America. Wow!
In Italy, your morning Coffee could be either an Espresso or Cappuccino, but after 1130 A.M. Italians no longer would drink Cappuccino or Caffe Latte any longer in the day, and they laugh at Americans who order a Cappuccino in a restaurant after Dinner.
For me, my morning Coffee has just gotta be a regular. Nothing else will do. Well maybe an occasional Cappuccino which was my morning coffee for years at what used to be my favorite Caffee for a couple decades, Caffe Dante. I Loved my Cappuccino, but many a time, I sat there in Caffe Dante wishing I had a Regular Cup of Joe. The cappuccino doesn't last as long as that Cup of Joe, plus it's "Twice the Price," and when you go out for about 800 Coffees a year, as I do, the price of the Cappuccino plus tip can add up to quite a lot more Money. I've figured it out, to about $750 difference between getting a Cappuccino as opposed to a much cheaper American Coffee. Yes I was spending about $2500 a on coffee when I was having about 1.2 Cappuccinos a day and 1 regular coffee. Now that I drink mostly just American Coffee (Regular), about 2.2 cups a day, with just an occasion Cappuccino, I spend about $1,750 a year, for a "Savings" of about $750 a year since I switched. In the 7 years that I've drastically reduced my Cappuccino consumption I have saved $5,200 .. Pretty dam good. And I've saved it and put it in the Bank. Yes besides the taste, this is a good reason to love that Regular Cup of Joe.
A regular American Coffee is more satisfying, just the right balance of roast Coffee Beans brewed in the drip method with just the right amount of water. I add some Milk, no sugar, and for me, that is my perfect cup of Morning Coffee. You can keep your high priced Cappuccino, Espresso, and those ridiculous things they serve to Amateur Coffee Drinkers at Starbucks. It's all Marketing which most Americans are easily Brainwashed into. The same reason that "Ridiculous Sitcoms like Two and a Half men and other sitcoms are popular. And the same reason why that "Awful Garbage Hip Hop" is so popular. Most Americans have "Horrible Taste," are Followers, and easily Brainwashed. Sorry, but this could be the only reason why Millions would pay Millions of Dollars every day for "Abortionated Drinks" like Caramel Lattes and the like, and such "Awful Tasteless Noise as Hip Hop."
Ok, I've made my point. Back to my Morning Coffee, and it's just gotta be a "Regular." In New York, a "Regular Coffee" is King. No matter that many Cappuccinos, Espresso, those ridiculous Starbucks Concoctions are drunk everyday. In comparison they make up just a small percentage of the many various forms of coffee that can be made. Regular American Coffee is king, whether in your home, on the go from a Deli, after Lunch or Dinner in a restaurant, or even in, yes Starbucks. More than 85% of the millions of cups of coffee made every single day in New York, day after day, 365 of them a year, 85% of them are the good old American Classic, American Coffee. A Regular. Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Prime-Rib and Ringo! What you say? Yes I say "Prime-Rib and Ringo."
What the Hell do they have to do with one-and-other? Isn't Ringo a Vegetarian? Yes? But isn't he English, Prime Rib Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding? Yes? Ringo is a Vegetarian, but he probably ate and loved Prime-Rib Roast Beef before he stopped eating meat, no? Yes, we thinks so. Question to you Ringo, "Did you eat and like Prime-Rib of Beef before you became a vegetarian?" We'd love to know. Please.
So, what the Hell does Ringo have to do with Prime-Rib you want to know. OK, I'll tell you. Number one, I've loved Ringo way before I ever loved or ate my first tasty piece of Prime-Rib way back when. I've loved and known Ringo and The Beatles ever since I was 4 or 5 years old. Yes I did. I grew up with Ringo and The Beatles. They were the biggest thing on Earth, practically any ways. "Love Me Do," I Wanna Hold Your Hand, "She Loves You Yeah Yeah Yeah," The Beatles, Fab Four, John, Paul George, and Yes RINGO. And yes this was the order you would say their names when saying them one by one; first John, then Paul, George 3rd, and then at The End, for the Grand Finale "Ringo."
OK so you love Ringo, you grew up with him and The Beatles you, "But What the Hell Does Ringo have to do with a juicy piece of Prime-Rib of Beef that he probably wouldn't or couldn't even want to eat?"
OK so as you all know by now, I love Prime-Rib, I love The Beatles, I love Ringo, so what does one have to do with the other? Where's the tie-in?
Mr. Ringo Starr, some years ago put together a band called The All Stars. Being a Beatle, a drummer, musician, and performer Ringo as it so happens still loves playing drums and performing live.
Lately I have been thinking and dying for me a nice "Juicy" Piece of Prime-Rib. Dam they're so yummy, so tasty. Having grown up in Jersey, I love me a nice piece of Prime-Rib of Beef every now and then. Prime-Rib of Beef is a big item in restaurants in Jersey, and many will have once a week Prime Rib Night where you can get yourself a nice piece of Prime Rib, a salad, vegetables, and potato, and maybe even some desert and or soup to start or a All-You-Can-Eat "Salad Bar" all for one nice very affordable price, somewhere around $19.99 to $24.95, whatever.
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"PEACE & LOVE"
I've lived in the great city of New York for more than 25 years now, and if there's two things a former Jerseyite can't get in New York, it's Taylor Ham a good piece of reasonable priced
Prime Rib. Two things people in Jersey really love. You just can not find Taylor Ham in New York anywhere. Taylor Ham is a Jersey thing.
Now your'e talking about Taylor Ham you say? What the Hell? Real quick for those who don't know, Taylor Ham is a commercially made pork-product similar in taste to "Spam" only better that was created in 1856 in Trenton, New Jersey by John Taylor. It's yummy, and Jerseyites love it. It's in there blood. Taylor Ham is sliced and pan-fried and usually goes on a plate with eggs for breakfast or in its most famous way with scrambled or fried eggs on a Taylor Ham & Egg Sandwich. Yumm! My mouth waters just thinking of one.
OK so that's the quick skinny on Taylor Ham, along with Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, and yes Prime Rib, the most beloved of Jersey Eats. So to Prime Rib and New York City. Well Prime Rib is no where near as big, popular, or beloved in NY NY they way it is New Jersey, but you can get it here, and another "but," but for a "Price." And a big price at that. Pretty much the only place more or less that you'll find Prime Rib in Manhattan is at any one of New York's great Steak Houses. Yes, besides Sirloin Steaks, T-Bones, Porter House Steaks, Filet Mignon, and Jumbo Lobsters, you can get a nice piece of juicy Prime Rib of Beef at any Steak House in New York.
A Prime Rib dinner at a New York Steak House? What's it gonna cost? Be prepared to dish out about a Hundred Bucks, maybe a little less depending upon if you go for lunch or dinner, lunch being a bit cheaper of course. Let's take Smith & Wollensky one of New York's great and most icon steak houses. At lunch you can get a nice piece of juicy Prime Rib for $36.50 .. You do mot get any vegetable or potato on the plate so add $6.50 for a baked potato. You have to have a least one drink, a beer, or glass of wine, add another $12.00 and your sub-total is $55. You gotta pay tax and leave the waiter a good tip, so your grand total is gonna be about $72 for a bare minimum Prime Rib lunch, at dinner your gonna be around a hundred bucks. No thanks unless you are rich or have a rich friend picking up the tab. Oh yeah I can afford this, but not very often, as most of us out there in the year 2012, 11, 2010, we hope 2013 will be better and 2014, the U.S. economy booming or near to it once again. "Hope and Pray my friends," all of us 99%ers.
OK so I been dying to have me some Prime Rib of late. Even thinking of taking a trip out to Jersey to get one in one of the World's Prime Rib meccas. Yes.
I have also been wanting to see Ringo and His All Star Band for some years now. Every time I'd see his name up on the Radio City Marquee, I'd say to myself "Self, one of these days you just gotta go see Ringo." Yes.
So it's June 2012 and I see Ringo is playing at the Jones Beach Theater and I might want to go. He's not playing Radio City this year and getting to Jones Beach from Manhattan without a car can be though not impossible, a bit difficult it is, especially as compared to jumping in a cab or hopping a Subway up to Radio City, easy and just a matter of minutes. Well I started doing some research and went on to good ole Ringo's website at RinogStarr.com .. As I browsing through I see Todd Rundregn is in this years (2012) All Star Band ... This seals the deal for me. Todd is awesome. I continue to look on the website and see the schedule for the whole concert tour. Ringo is playing The Mohegan Sun Casino Arena on June 17, a Sunday and my day off. Perfect. It's my day off and it will be easier to get to the Mohegan Sun than to Jones Beach, and cheaper too with all the casino bus discounts and special offers. "I'm in." I go on line and buy some tickets. Yee-Ha I'm all set. Gonna go see Ringo, finally, and this will complete me see each and every Beatle in person. I went to a George Harrison Concert at Madison Square garden when I was just a teenager. My first Beatle. Second was John Lennon as I saw him walking down West 72nd Street one day. Quite a thrill. Even more of a thrill was when I was the Maitre'd at Da Silvano Restaurant and met Paul McCartney twice. One of those days, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits and the great Bozz Scaggs just happened to be dining at Da Silvano as well. Paul chatted with both of them for several minutes. Quite exciting. So that's three Beatles down, John, Paul, George, and now Ringo. I can't wait, and there's going to be a bonus, my Prime rib Dinner, and it's almost for free.
A free Prime rib Dinner you say? Where? At the Mohegan Sun Casino at their buffet restaurant Seasons. Well I got on the Casino Bus, rode up there to Connecticut to the casino. The bus trip is only $15 round trip and when you get to the casino and get off the bus you get two $20 betting vouchers and the all important $20 food voucher good at any Mohegan Sun Restaurant. Yeah Babee! I did as most people do opt for the big Buffet Dinner, just $24 and all the Spare Ribs, Oysters, Clams, Fried Clams, Fried Chicken, Pasta, Stir Frys, Fish, Roast Turkey, Salads, Veggies, "PRIME RIB" and tasty deserts you can eat. And believe me people eat.
So I get there, get on line, then pay just $4 after giving them my $20 food voucher. Awesome! We sit down, and I go up for my first bit of food, the appetizers. I get 1 piece of fried chicken, 2 Spare Ribs, and some Fired Clams. Yumm! Dam the Barbecued Spare Ribs are some of the tastiest I've ever had and if it was 2 or 3 years previous and I wasn't eating healthier, I swear i would have eaten at least 8 or 10 of these Tasty Little Bad Boys. They were so dam tasty that I was seriously tempted to go get a couple more, as opposed to getting 6 or 8 more which I would have done a few years back. I'm proud of myself I had will power, I did not get any more Spare Ribs that I desperately wanted. good boy.
After I finished that 1st plate it was time to go up and get the Main-Event, the Prime Rib. As I approached the Prime Rib Roast Turkey Carving Station i noticed the carver guy was cutting the Beef kind of thin, especially for Prime Rib, "Man Prime Rib Has Just Gotta Be Thick!" You can't eat it any other way. So I approached the guy cutting the Prime Rib and said nice and friendly like and with assertion, "Hey Buddy Give Me a Nice Thick Slice of That Prime Rib Please." And he did, twice the thickness of others I'd seen him slice. Thank You Sir! I appreciate that. As you know, the Prime Rib has just Got To Be Thick.
Yes, the Prime Rib was Excellent, nice and Juicy, Dam tasty, just like the Pork Spare Ribs. Yummm!!!! We had a few deserts and it was off to see Ringo.
Needless to say, the concert was great. Ringo, Todd and the rest of the Band were absolutely Awesome. The All Star Band also had in it Steve Lukather of Toto (Friggin GREAT Guitarist), Rochard Page of Mr. Mister, and founding Santana keyboard player and lead singer Greg Rolie, aka "The Duke" of Santana. Todd did Hello It's Me, a "Rockin" rendition of Bang The Drum, and my favorite Rundgren song "I Saw The Light." Love it! The Band led by Santana keyboardist Greg Rolie did awesome renditions of "Black Magic Woman," Everbody's Everything, and Evils ways and former Toto guitaristist Steve Lakather was every bit Carlos Santana's equal in lead guitar roll for the Santana songs along with Lakather playing guitar and lead vocals for Toto Monster Hits done by Ringo and The All Stars, which included the iconic "Roseanna" (written about actress Roseanna Arquette, along with "Africa." Awesome Show and it exceeded our expectations.
I Loved it, "Prime-Rib and Ringo." a Tasty Combination to say the least...
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