Rock Star Pizza Guys of Napoli and New York

. . .  

The Biggest ROCK STAR PIZZA GUY of Them ALL !!!

DOM DeMARCO

DiFARA PIZZA

BROOKLYN , NEW YORK

ERNEST CACIALLO

Dal PRESIDENTE PIZZERIA

NAPOLI , ITALY

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON Ate PIZZA Here !!!

MARK IACONO

LUCALI PIZZA

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn NEW YORK

PAULIE GIANNONI

PAULIE GEES PIZZA

ANTHONY FALCO

ROBERTA'S 

BROOKLYN , NEW YORK

GINO SORBILLO

PIZZERIA GINO SORBILLO

NAPOLI , ITALY

This is a Picture of The Perfect PIZZA

Dal PRESIDENTE

NAPOLI , ITALY

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON Eats PIZZA

at Dal PRESIDENTE PIZZERIA

NAPOLI , ITALY

PIZZAILO / Owner ERNESTO CACIALLI Back left "YEE-haa" !!!

SECRET SERVICE AGENT RIGHT

I Ate Here in The Summer of 2015

"FRIGGIN AWESOME"

JULIA ROBERTS 

at Da MICHELE

CLINTON Does Dal PRESIDENT

ROBERTS Does Da MICHELE

THIS GUY Is a PIZZA GUY ROCK STAR

"I don't know his name. He was one of the Pizzaiolo 

at Da MARINO RESTORANTE / PIZZERIA when I had

Lunch there one day June 2015. He's Japanese and is most likely back

in Japan as a ROCK STAR PIZZA GUY in TOKYO."

My SLAME PIZZA at Da MARINA , NAPOLI

So I was ready for Lunch one day and I knew I wanted a nice plate of SPAGHETTI VONGOLE along with some sort of antipasto item to start. I was walking around and came across Da Marino. I popped my head in and it looked pretty good, so as the hostess greeted me I signaled here a table for 1 and she told me to sit wherever I wanted to.  I found a table, settle in and looked over the menu. I ordered a small carafe of Falaghina local white wine and looked over the menu a little more. As I said I knew I wanted Spaghetti Vongole and I decided on an Insalta Frutta di Mare as my first course. It came and it was Awesome and as Perfect as Perfect can be. I ate it, sipped my wine and was more or less "In 7th Heaven" .. Then came my Spaghetti Vongole and it was the same, perfect as perfect can be. 

   After finishing my pasta I had to make a quick trip to the WC. On the way I passed the Pizzaiolo at the PIZZA OVEN. I took a look and the Pizza looked great. When I came out of the WC I stopped by to chat to the Pizzaiolo who was a guy from Japan who came to NAPOLI to Learn how to make Pizza. "Where Else?" Well New York wouldn't be bad, but to the Japanese when he went back to JAPAN, making Pizza in Napoli was going to look better on the resume than New York, though we are known as the 2nd Best Pizza spot on Earth (Napoli), "try telling that to the Japanese." TO make a long story short, though I wasn't planning on having Pizza, the PIZZA coming out of that oven looked so DAM GOOD that I just couldn't resist. I didn't feel stuffed or anything, so I figured "What The Hell," why not try a Pizza here. Id' just eat as much as I could and stop when I felt full. Well the PIZZA came and as you can see above, it was Friggin Awesome. And I surprised myself when I ate the whole thing. "It was that Dam Good." !!!

My First PIZZA of The TRIP

It was at a cute little PIZZERA "Da GAETANO"

PIZZA at 10 AM

JET LAGGED OUT "PIZZA was The CURE" !!!

The FIRST PIZZA of THE TRIP

PIZZA FUNGHI

Da GAETANO

"AWESOME" !!!!

SUNDAY SAUCE

by ME

Daniel Bellino "Z"

BASTA !!!!

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The Cost of BURGER in NEW YORK

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The SHAKE SHACK BURGER

 

 

SHACK BURGER COST $5.19

 

$7.99 for a DOUBLE

 

 

BURGER COST By CITY

The Average PRICE of a BURGER in AMERICA is $4.49

 

The Most Expensive average Price of a BURGER is in NYC at $9.52

To most New Yorkers paying about $18 for a Cheeseburger and $7 for a Beer, paying tax and leaving an appropriate Tip (at least $6.50) to spend an average of $33.00 for your Cheeseburger and just one Beer, many New Yorkers wouldn't even give this high cost for only one Beer and a Burger a second thought. Well as for myself and a multitude of others this is insane. People are in the habit of excepting things, not saying anything or making any kind of a protest such as a boycott or anything of the sort. I myself do not accept these insane prices, so all I can really do is to do as I've done, which is though numerous times I felt like going over to JG Melon or The Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village and having myself a Burger and Beer, I stopped and thought about it, the high price I've payed in the past. For example, I went to JG Melon on Macdougal Street, sat down and ordered a Bourbon Old Fashion and a Cheeseburger. I sipped my drink and ate my Burger and I enjoyed. But was the price of $34 worth it all. Well, yes and no. If you have a ton of money and are not one of of the multitude of several Million people in New York who pay high Rent and don't really make an appropriate amount of money to pay rent, the Con Ed bill, phone bill, and all your other expenses, than a $34 tab which includes the gratuity is a bit high for a Cheeseburger and one measly drink. Yes I enjoy it, but the thing is, I can't afford to enjoy it as much as I would if the Price was more REASONABLE like at The CORNER BISTRO in GREENWICH VILLAGE where a BURGER with Cheese is just $7.75, a Beer a mere $4, and you leave a $5 Tip and you can walk out the door for just $17 ... Now that's more like it and I feel this should be about the norm as opposed to an average $33 for a Burger and a Beer or Drink and most other places. That average price of $17 at The Corner Bistro is just fine with me, and I can easily do that 4 times a month, as opposed to the high average price ($33) to go to JG Melon, PJ Clarke's or Minetta Tavern where the same Cheeseburger with Fries and a Beer will cost you  $19 for a MINETTA BURGER, $9 for a Beer, plus tax and tip will set you back about $38 for just a Beer and a Cheeseburger, and Jack It Up another $7 if you want a Cocktail instead of a beer, for a whopping $45 tab .. Not Good!

   So it comes down to this, no I'm not cheap, just frugal and of the 99% who have to watch are dough, so to speak. Yes I'd like to be able to go to Minetta or JG Melon ad have 2 Old Fashion Cocktails instead of 1 which I refrain myself to out of cost. But I'm not rich, and neither are my Millions of other fellow New Yorkers who happen to be your average New York and the greatest fabric of our great city. Well, that's all I have to say for now, but I'll be back, and that's that. Later !

 

 

 

 

The FLAGSHIP ORIGNAL PJ CLARKE'S

 

3rd AVENUE at 55th STREET

 

NEW YORK NY

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHEESBURGER at PJ CLARKE'S 

 

A Whopping $17.95

 

UP $7.50 in just a few short years.

 

 

 

 

JG MELONCHEESEBURGER $11.00

 

 

 

 

CORNER BISTRO

 

For 30 YEARS Before The Big BURGER BOOM

 

The CORNER BISTRO'S BURGER was Considered 

 

NEW YORK'S BEST BURGER

 

Their CHEESEBURGER is ONLY $7.75

 

The Famed BISTRO BURGER $8.75

 

 

 

 

 

SCNIPPERS

 

CHEESEBURGER $6.99

 

 

 

 

MINETTA TAVERN

 

 

GREENWICH VILLAGE , NEW YORK

 

 

 

 

The MINETTA BURGER

 

$19.00

 

 

Much BETTER Than The More FAMOUS

 

More EXPENSIVE BLACK LABEL BURGER $28

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEARN HOW to MAKE

 

GREAT BURGERS at HOME

 

For LESS

 

Including The SHAKE SHACK

 

SHACK BURGER Secret Recipe

 

and More ....

 

 

 

 

 

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LUGER BURGER $13.95 with CHEESE $14.45

FRIES $1.95 Extra

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New York's 5 Best BURGERS

..  

SCHNIPPER'S Is # 1

This is The # 1 BEST BURGER in NEW YORK

SCHNIPPER'S CHEESEBURGER

 

SNIPPER'S

Great BURGERS on 23rd Street

If You Don't Want to Wait on Line

At SHAKE SHACK

     

JG MELON

Upper East Side Manhattan

Now, also in Greenwich VIllage

JG MELON BURGER ROCK at SECOND BEST

"Some Would Say First. Even Me"

SHAKE SHACK BURGER # 3

"MANY SAY IT'S THE BEST"

We Wouldn't Disagree, But You Gotta Pick Some Kind

of Order .. Everyone Has Their Own Choices, and These Are Ours

"GUESS WHAT? 

We LOVE THEM ALL, and FEEL THEY'RE 

ALL # 1 The BEST, or DAM CLOSE To IT" !!!

The LUGER BURGER at PETER LUGER

The WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS STEAK HOUSE

Is a STEAL at Just $11.95

GET With THEIR FAMOUS BACON

"IT ROCKS" !!!

THE LUGER BURGER

With LUGER BACON and CHEESE

"DAM THAT BABY Is TASTY" !!!

photo DANIEL BELLINO-ZWICKE

MINETTA TAVERN

GREENWICH VILLAGE NEW YORK

NEED a ROOM in NEW YORK

BOOKING.com

MINETTA BURGER

TAKE The "MINETTA BURGER Over The

More Famous BLACK LABEK BURGER ...

"IT'S BETTER" !!!

The MINETTA BURGER TAHT IS !!!

And IT'S CHEAPER To BOOT !!!

"TRUST Us On THIS ONE" !!!

..............................................................

NEW YORK'S 5 BEST BURGERS

1.  SCHNIPPER'S

2.  JG MELON

3.  SHAKE SHACK

4.  PETER LUGER

5.  MINETTA TAVERN

New York's 5 Best Burgers? Wow! Who are they? Who right? Who's Not? Yes, it's not easy, and who's to say who is the best, who's not, and that they are thee authority and decider of who is # 1 and Who's Not? Well, there are any number of people, magazines, newspapers, and other intitties doing articles, stories and what-not on the Best Burger or Best Burgers in town and around the country. It's a big and popular subject.

Well, this is just ours. Not seeing that his is the definative list and list to end all. It's just ours. And of these 5, we ourselves what put any number at the Top of The Heep, they're all great burgers.

THE SKINNY On EACH

SCHNIPPERS

Schnippers is awesome. They came on the scene a couple years ago. They didn't make all that much of a splash in the first year or year 1/2, but now? They've Splashed, and in quite a big way. They just opened their 3rd location in Manhattan and seems like their expansion will lead to any number across the country, alla Shake Shack. Spaeaking of Shake Shack, Schnipper's opened their first place less than 200 feet from Shake Shacks hugely famous Flagship Burger Joint (and 1st) at Madison Park at 23rd Street and Madison Avenue.

Anyway, the Schnipper Burger is awesome. The Schnipper Burger is a classic straight forward burger. It's 5 ounces, fresh beef (never frozen), cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. We love it, and think it taste exactlt as a burger should, with an emphasis on the tasty beef patty.

JG MELON

JG Melon is one great old institution up on 3rd Avenue at 74th Steet on New York's Upper East Side. The Melon is a cool classic old school bar, the kind that just can't be duplicated. Great natural vibe, and un-contived. And guess what? they've got one of New York top burgers, if not thee # 1 tops .. Some say, they are the best. Their Burger, and we wouldn't give them a fight on that. We love em too, and almost picked them for the # 1 spot on our list. What do you think.

SHAKE SHACK

A Great Burger! Some say the Best. We did too for some time, but we feeel that Schnipper's has edged them out. Though we wouldn't gie anyone a hard time if they Shake Shack is # 1 ... They're Buger is Classic, just the right size, seasoned and cooked to beautiful tasty perfection. We just Love Em.

PETER LUGER

The Luger Burger is awesome. It's quite tasty, and makes our top 5 list for it's tastieness and the fact that you can go into this Mecca of Steakdom and get a Burger for just 12 Bucks .. But you probably won't. You gonna want some cheese on that $1.50 and the Bacon ($4.25) is a "Must Have" at Lugers. If you go for Fries (Only $1.95), your burgers gonna cost you about $19.00

But hey, "It Peter Luger" and that's a bargain. 

You can only get The Luger Burger at Lunch, and we just love hopping over the Williamsburg Bridge every 2 or 3 months to get one. You will too.

MINETTA TAVERN

You can't beat the ambiance and History of Minetta Tavern .. This Historical Old Greenwich Village Haunt is cool as can be. And you'll feel you are too once and if you secure a seat inside. The master of the restaurant business in New York, Keith McNally rescued this great old joint, spruced it up just a bit, retaining its wonderful orignal decor, placed a couple great chefs at the helm and opened her up to rave reviews. The menu is French Bistro Steak House, with big juicy Steaks, Bistro Classics, and a pair of New York's Hottest and most loved burgers; The Famed Black Label Burger ($24.00) and The Minetta Burger ($16.00) .. The Black Label Burger is by far the most famous of the two, made with the Black Label Blend of Dry Aged Beef from famed New York Butcher Pat La Freida .. Dry Aged Beef may be great for Steaks, such as the ones so famous at Peter Luger and Minetta Tavern, but we feel that this beef doesn't translate so well to Burgers ... We prefer the Minetta Burger. How bout you?

LEARN How To MAKE The Perfect BURGER

in

GOT ANY KAHLUA?

Its

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

CLICK HERE For The DUDE !

PRIVATE TOUR of NYC

In a BEAUTIFUL OLD CLASSIC CAR

CLICK HERE !

EAST VILLAGE SPEAKEASY TOUR

Learn the story of Prohibition in the United States, and hear about the nationwide ban on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages between 1920 and 1933.

Meet your guide at McSorley's Old Ale House, 15 E 7th Street, New York, 10003 (7th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues). Where Abraham Lincoln once drank Ale.

Visit 4 Prohibition Era Speakeasies. 

Drinks & Snacks Included

Mickey Rourke and Robert DeNiro Angel Heart Scene in Lanza's Restaurant

. . .

 

 

LANZA'S

OLD NEW YORK

ITALIAN RED SAUCE JOINT

 

 

ROBERT DeNIRO and MICKEY ROURKE

in ANGEL HEART

Shot at LANZA'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

SINCE 1904

EAST VILLAGE , NEW YORK

LANZA 'S MENU

1935

 

 

 

 

ZITI a la SICILIANA .75 Cents

 

 

 

 

VEAL and PEPPERS .75 CENTS

 

 

 

LEARN HOW to MAKE

VEAL and PEPPERS

ZITI

LASAGNA

and Other Dishes From Historic LANZA 'S

 

 

 

 

My Old BUDDY VINNY

 

was part of the GREENWICH VILLAGE LES SICILIAN ENCLAVE

 

Hs father started La FOCACCERIA on 1st Avenue way back when ?

 

VINNY continued running La Focacceria until 2010 when sadly the doors 

 

were shuttered. Sadly because it was a cool old-school Sicilian Joint of which there was

 

no other quite like it in Manhattan. Brooklyn Yes but not in Manhattan, not ever

since I moved to New York in 1983 ...

 

 

 

A VASTEDDI SANDWICH at La FOCACCERIA

A VASTEDDI is a Specialty of PALERMO. It's a sandwich made of BEEF SPLEEN

fried in lard and set on a Sesame Seed Bun with RICOTTA and CACIOCAVALO CHEESE. 

 

 

The ONLY Place to get a good VASTEDDI Now is

 

at FERDINANDO'S FOCACCERIA on Union Street

 

CARROLL GARDENS , BROOKLYN

 

 

 

 

 

RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA

 

by DANIEL BELLINO "Z"

 

 

BASTA !!!

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Inside FERDINANDO'S FOCACCERIA , Union Street, Brooklyn

JUST LIKE LANZA'S Since 1904

Historical NEW YORK

 

 

 

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Greatest Pizza Video Ever

.  

Lombardi's Pizza

Soho, New York

The Birthplace of American Pizza

WATCH THIS !!!!

This is The GREATEST PIZZA VIDEO Ever Made !!!

  BASTA !!!!

Mark Iacona (Lucali's Pizza)

eating a SLICE on PRINCE STREET

New York, NY

Luigi's Pizza Brooklyn

SUNDAY SAUCE

by DANIEL BELLINO "Z"

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BigLebowski Spam Recipes DUDE

   

SPAM

Spam? Yes Spam! Here we go again, one of The Dudes all-time favorites from childhood. His Mom always had some in the cupboard where she would pull some out and serve it up with Scrambled or Fried Eggs if she was all out of fresh Polish Kielbasa, which the Lebowski’s liked best, but they always had a good old can of Spam on hand just in case they needed it. Little Jeffrey really loved the taste and still does till this very day. And like his Mom, The Dude always has a can or two on hand right next to the Tuna in the cupboard. It’s there if he has to make something good and tasty in a pinch. The Dude also always has eggs in the frig, so if he doesn’t have anything else, The Dude always has of course the Tuna, a can or two of Spam, and Eggs, so he can always have a plate of tasty Fried Eggs & Spam. Yumm!!! It’s a good thing to do, so make sure you do as the Dude and always have a can on hand too, along with; butter, canned Tuna, Eggs, and Spam, Ramen, Mustard, and Mayo and you’ll never go hungry. Oh, yes, and you just know that along with Potato Chips and canned Tuna, The Dude subsisted on Spam as one of his main staple-foods during his illustrious college days of yore. The Dude’s Mom was always very kind and considerate during the Dudes college years, sending many Care Packages to her son Jeffrey. The care packages always filled with cans of Tuna, Spam, packages ofSpaghetti, Jars of Tomato Sauce, Twinkies, and Ring Dings. What a nice Mom that Mrs. Lebowski was, and still is to this day. Yes “SPAM?” Spam is somewhat of a social food phenomenon of the U.S., especially in the great state of Hawaii where it is it is as Hawaiian as Apple Pie is American. Spam is a pork based Ham-Type product that was developed during World War II to help to feed both Soldiers and civilians during the Second World War. Spam the brand is not all that economical compared to other meats or meat product. However, used in the proper manner with other ingredient and compared to going out to eat a Breakfast or Lunch out, the use of Spam or other similar product can prove to be quite inexpensive and a great saver of Money, something the Dude always keeps in mind when shopping and cooking his meals. The price per pound of Spam does make it a bit expensive compared to buying a larger piece of real ham or a fresh piece of pork. The latest price we’ve seen was $3.59 for a 12 oz. can. There are other products that are almost the same as Spam and cost far less, and The Dude usually buys a brand from Holland that you can get in most markets in Chinatown in LA or New York for $1.59 for the same 12 oz. can. A savings of $2.00, that’s quite good. One of the best meals to make from Spam and one of the Dudes personal favorites, is to slice and fry two pieces of Spam and serve with either dry-seasoned Ramen Noodles and or two Fried or Scrambled Eggs. Nuff said.       SPAM DISHES So as the Dude has already pointed out, simply frying up some Spam and a couple eggs is one of his favorite of all his Spam-Dishes. Fried Eggs or Scramble depending on The Dudes mood, these are all good for The Dude in whatever mood. Also pretty much the same thing but on a roll is a Spam and Egg Sandwich. You get yourself a nice Hard Roll (or Bread), fry up a couple slices of Spam and fry or scramble 1 or 2 eggs, plop them on your roll or between two slices of bread and “Voila” you’ve got yourself a tasty Duder Spam & Egg Sandwich. And yes if you want to Guild the Lilly as they say, yes you can throw on a slice of cheese.  

DUDE'S SPAM & EGG SANDWICH

This one on an English Muffin

Supposedly there are tons of ways to cook and utilize Spam. There are books written on the subject. Booklets anyways. Dude knows this, but he likes to keep it simple and the few Spam preparations he makes are so tasty and satisfying, the Dude doesn’t see any reason to mess with a whole bunch of others. So the Dude eats the Spam in two different ways, either as is in the just mentioned sandwich, simply 2 slices of Fried Spam with 2 eggs, or he throws Ramen into the mix, in which he’ll have on a plate, a portion of Ramen seasoned with salt, pepper, and Sesame Oil, 1 Fried Egg, and a slice or two of fried Spam. That’s it, nice, simply, and easy, and of course, tasty as can be. Walter likes em too, as the Spam in the can reminds Walter of his days in “Nam,” (Vietnam) and the K-Rations the soldiers were given to eat in the field.  

SPAM & RAMEN alla DUDERINO

Dude invented this tasty little dish one day when he was hungry for mid-afternoon lunch. He made it with some favorites that he always has on hand; Eggs, Spam, Peas, and Ramen Noodles of course. It’s right quick (12 minutes) to make and tasty as can be, and you know The Dude just wouldn’t have it any other way. INGREDIENTS : 1 package Ramen Noodles 1 Extra Large Egg 2 slices Spam ¼ cup frozen Peas 3 tablespoons Olive Oil, Salt & Black Pepper ¼ teaspoon Maggi’s Sauce, 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil Hot Sauce, optional Cook Spam in olive in a frying pan, 2 minutes on each side until nicely browned over medium heat. Remove Spam from pan and set aside. Beat an egg in a small bowl with a pinch of salt & pepper and cook in the pan the spam cooked in until eggs are cooked through. Cook Ramen in boiling water according directions on pack-age. Cut Spam into small squares and add to pan. Add peas to pan and cook 1 minute. Turn heat off. Drain Ramen from water and add to pan. Add Maggi’s Sauce and Sesame Oil to pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste, mix all ingredients and serve.    

DUDE'S   "RAMEN & SPAM"

One of The MANY VARIATIONS on The THEME

ABIDE in IT !!!

Recipe in GOT ANY KAHLUA ? aka The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

More Great Recipes in Daniel Zwicke's 

BADASS COOKBOOK

SECRET RECIPES Include :

SECRET KFC KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN Recipe

SHAKE SHACK BURGER

and More ....

AVAILABLE in PAPERBACK & KINDLE on AMAZON.com

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