Monday, October 13, 2014

Espresso

ESPRESSO
Espresso, the making, consuming and enjoyment of a properly made Espresso is another facet and time honored tradition of Italian-Americans and their culture. We do love our properly pulled Espresso. A properly pulled Espresso is a thing of beauty and refinement, and must be done just so. We can and do make Espresso in our homes with either a Neapolitan or Moka brewing device, and now these days, there are any number of expensive new-fangled home espresso makers, more on that later.
Some might be surprised but the great art of the perfect Italian Espresso has been around for just about 110 years. Yes Italians drank Espresso before that, but it was only developed into a “Fine Art” that it is today, just a little more then a hundred years ago or so when Luigi Bezzera developed the first Espresso Machine that we know today. After this landmark in Espresso history, the consumption and popularity of Espresso grew rapidly. Caffes and Espresso Bars popped up everywhere all over Italy. These Espresso Bars were places to have an Espresso and socialize. And in Italy, there is a whole act and ritual to going to an Espresso Bar for your habitual morning coffee. And it’s not just for the Espresso but some socializing, a bit of chit-chat, gossip, political talk, sports (Soccer/Futbol), this-that-and-every-other-thing. This morning Espresso is quite ritualistic in Italy, and is practiced by most, and in every corner of the country, on every other street corner in cities like; Rome, Bologna, Palermo, Milano, Verona, all over. And it is quite the sight to see, especially if you’re an American going for the first time. In caffes and bars in Italy it is at the stand-up Espresso bar where all the action takes place. When you go into a caffe (a.k.a. Bar) in Italy and have a Espresso, Cappuccino, whatever, and sit at a table, that Espresso will cost you an additional 50% or more than it will if you consume it standing up at the counter at the Espresso Bar. It’s a tax thing. The caffe owners are taxed on their tables and this tax gets passed on to the customer. Basta!
Anyway, the ritual of the early morning Italian Espresso? People get dressed, leave their homes and are on their way to work, but they don’t go right from their house to their job. No they have to have an Espresso and the ritual of the Espresso and some Chit-Chat (BS) with a quick stop at their favorite local caffe. They might leave their house then go to an Espresso Bar near their home before going to their job, or they may head to their job, then get an Espresso at a favored caffe near the work-place. They might even do both, get an Espresso in their neighborhood before heading to work, then stopping at
an Espresso Bar close to their workplace before bopping into work.
     Well, that’s the way they do it in Italy, quite a ritual and amazing to see.
In America, Italian immigrants to cities like New York, Boston, Providence,
and Philadelphia opened Social Clubs that served Espresso, maybe some
sandwiches, soup, soda, Biscotti, and Anisette Toast, and Cannoli that
they bought from a nearby baker. These Social Clubs which sprung up in
neighborhoods like the Lower East Side of New York or what is now called Little Italy, in Boston’s North End, and San Francisco’s North Beach. These Social Clubs (Caffe) were primarily of and for the working class, and were for Italians. The clubs were for Italians, and people of other nationalities did not go into them unless they were brought in by an Italian guy from the neighborhood. And that’s the way it was back then.
 
 
 
Espresso e Dolce at home? When I was growing up and went to my Aunt Fran and Uncle Tony’s house in Lodi, or to Aunt Helen’s for Sunday Dinner, and we ate our meal, and it moved on to coffee and dessert, this was quite a sight that brings back nice memories for me to this very day. And it was a wonderful ritual, and unlike the quick grab your Espresso, Chit-Chat for a few minutes and run out the door as is done at caffe’s and Espresso Bars in Italy, the Espresso was anything but Espresso (Fast) at Bellino Family meals, as is with millions of Italian-American families over the years. No, this was no quick hit-and-run affair. The coffee and dessert course at our family gatherings was the longest portion of our all day affair of the Sunday Meal. My Aunts and Uncles would sit around the table, we (the Kids) would too, but we would go back and forth, cause this sit-down at the table usually lasted about 3 hours, maybe more. We’d sit down, and Aunt Fran and Aunt Helen had the Neapolitan going with Espresso. The table was laden with all sorts of goodies; Cannolis of course, one or two different cakes, and an assortment of Italian Cookies and Pastries (Sfogiatelle, Mille Foglie). There was always enough to fill Pastry Shop Showcase, “I kid you not!”
The table full of my aunts and uncles was a wonder. They’d sit around drinking coffee, eating pastries, and talk-talk-talk, about politics, sports, gossip, this-that-and-everything. My uncle Frank who was the Ring-Leader could have solved all the Worlds problems, right there at that table, filled with Cannoli, Biscotti, Coffee (Espresso), cakes, Anisette, heated discussion, laughter, and a “Bundle of Joy,” all over Espresso.
Aunt Helen and Aunt Fran made the Espresso in Neapolitan Espresso Maker.
The Neapolitan is from Napoli, Italy. It was developed so Neapolitans (and all Italians) could make Espresso in their homes. The Neapolitan is a two-piece device whereby, you fill the bottom of the vessel with water, the ground espresso goes in the middle and you screw on the empty top. To make Espresso with the Neapolitan you put the device on the stove over a flame with the piece filled with the water on the stove. The water heats, and when it comes to the boil, you turn the flame off, flip the vessel over so the hot water is at the top and will then drip down through the ground coffee to make the Espresso.
The Espresso is not as good as that you’d get at a caffe or Espresso Bar with a large machine, but it’s good enough, and adding a little shot of Anisette is never a bad thing, something my Uncle Frank always did. This is called a Caffe Corretto, the act of adding a few drops of your desire liquor into your espresso. You can add; Grappa, Sambucca, Brandy, Anisette, or other liquor to make a caffe corretto. At Aunt Fran & Unlce Tony’s, it was always Anisette. Basta.
 
 
My NAPOLITAN
I Bought in NAPOLI 1987
 
As a child it was always something to see, watching Aunt Fran or Aunt Helen go through the pleasant little ritual of making Espresso in that curious looking contraption, the Neapolitan. As I said, it always intrigued me, and when I took my first trip to Italy and was in Napoli walking through a street market and spotted a merchant selling Neapolitans and other kitchenware’s, I just
had to get myself one, a Neapolitan of my own and from the great city
it was invented in, Napoli. I also brought back some beautiful ceramic
plates from nearby Vietro sul Mare on the nearby Amalfi Coast, and
I’ve been making Espresso with my Neapolitan (bought in Napoli), and eating Spaghetti on those beautiful Amalfi Coast Plates from ever since, a joy, and a way to bring Italy into your own American home. Doing so, brings back beautiful memories of; Positano, The Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and the rest of Italy. If you can’t be there (which is a shame), then bring Italy into your home. And that is what we do, every time we sit down to a meal, a glass
of wine, or a simple little cup of Espresso, “we bring Italy home.”
 
 
 
ESPRESSO is Excerpted from Daniel Bellino-Zwicke 's  SUNDAY SAUCE
 
 
SUNDAY SAUCE  - When Italian-Americans Cook is Available in Paperback & Kindle
on Amazon.com
 
 
 
Cannolis Were Always on The Table
 
 
And a Bottle of Anisette
 
 
SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A MOKA POT
 
For Making Espresso
 
 
 
 
 
Toto & Peppino 
 
with a NAPOLITAN
 
in
 
The BAND of HONEST MEN 1956
by DANIEL BELLINO-ZWICKE
 

Bellino Zwicke #1 BEST SELLER AMAZON

 
DANIEL BELLINO-ZWICKE
 
# BEST SELLER
Greenwich Village New York based Italian Cookbook author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke has grabbed the # 1 and # 2 spots back-to-back on Amazon's Best Seller List .. Daniel's latest book SEGRETO ITALIANO is The # 1 Best Seller Italian Cookbooks Amazon Kindle and his book Sunday Sauce - When italian Americans Cook is hot on its heals at the # 2 Spot Amazon Best Selling Italian Cookbooks .. That's quite a feat .. We talked to Daniel and he is quite proud and very excited at this latest great news .. Daniel is currently working on a new cookbook to come out sometime in the Spring of 2015 .. Daniel is also working on a book called Chianti and a few other smaller projects. We patiently await his upcoming books, and are enjoying Sunday Sauce and Segreto Italiano for now.
 
 
 
SEGRETO ITALIANO # 1 BEST SELLER
 
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
 
*
*
 
SUNDAY SAUCE was The # 1 BEST SELLER ITALIAN COOKBOOK
on AMAZON for 4 Months ... It's now at # 2 Right Behind Daniel's SEGRETO ITALIANO
 
 
 
La TAVOLA 
 
Daniel's First Book
 
GREAT STORIES
with Tasty Recipes
 
IT'S NEW YORK ITALIAN
 
 
 
 
 
GET READY For a GREAT ITALIAN CHRISTMAS
 
and MAKE The Feats of The 7 Fish
 
THE FEAST of THE 7 FISH
 
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS
 
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
 
 

Friday, October 10, 2014

I Don't Want to Miss Thing AEROSMITH Armageddon

 AEROSMITH
Aerosmith

I DON'T WANT To MISS a THING

From The Movie

ARMAGEDDON

Steven Tyler, Joe Perry & Aerosmith

ROCK ON !!!



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La TAVOLA

 
New York Italian





La TAVOLA

Is

IT'S NEW YORK ITALIAN


Friday, October 3, 2014

The GENIUS of Keith McNally

 
The Keith McNally Empire
 
# 1
The ODEON
 
 
When all is said and done, Keith McNally will go down as the Greatest Restauranter in the history of New York City .. Just about everyplace Kieth ever opened would turn out to be uber hot and the Hottest restuarant of it's time .. From his very first venture, The Odeon, then Cafe Luxenbourg, then Nell's, Pravda, Balthazar, Schillers, Pastis, Pulino  Morandi, Minetta Tavern, (The only place to fail), Cherche Midi, Balthazar London ...
 
 
BRIGHT LIGHTS BIG CITY
 
by Jay McInerney
 
 
 
THE GREAT PATRICK CLARKE
 
Patrick Clarke 
 
Executive Chef
 
Sadly Passed
 
 
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="263"] The GIRLS of CAFE LUXENBOURG[/caption]
Cafe Luxenbourg Advertisement
 
 
Cafe Louxenbourg
 
# 2
# 3
 
NELL'S
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="393"] KEITH HARRING at NELL'S[/caption]
KEITH HARRING & ???
 
At NELL'S 
 
Sometime in The 80's
 
 
# 4
 
PRAVDA
 
 
Layfayette Street, Noho
 
 
# 5
 
BALTHAZAR
 
 
Spring Street at Crosby
 
Noho / Soho
 
 
# 6
 
SCHILLERS
 
 
Lower East Side
 
NEW YORK
 
 
 
# 7
 
PASTIS
 
 
PASTIS
 
Keith McNally
was The Major Force
with
His Opening of PASTIS
 
Along with Eric Goode (Maritime Hotel, Chelsea)
in
Creating The Meatpacking District
 
 
KEITH CREATES NEIGHBORHOODS
 
He Did So For TRIBECA and Later with The
MEAT PACKING DISTRICT
 
 
# 8
 
MINETTA TAVERN
 
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] MINETTA TAVERN .. photo Daniel Bellino-Zwicke .. Coyrighted 2010[/caption]
Minetta Tavern
 
Macdougal Steet, GREENWICH VILLAGE
 
NEW YORK
 
photo by DANIEL BELLINO-ZWICKE 
 
.. Copyright 2010
 
# 9
 
PAULINO
 
Bowery, NEW YORK
 
KEITH Only Failed Project
 
 
# 10
 
CHERCHE MIDI
 
 
Cherche Midi
 
On The BOWERY
in
The Former Paulino Space 
 
 
# 11
 
BALTHAZAR LONDON
 
 
CONVENT GARDEN
 
LONDON
 
 
 
 
 
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="226"] SUNDAY SAUCE ITALIAN GRAVY[/caption]
Italian-American
 
SUNDAY SAUCE
 
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
 
 
 
SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES
 
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="282"] SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES[/caption]
SEGRETO ITALIANO
 
Rare & Secret Italian Recipes
 
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
 
 
 
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
 
 
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="281"] The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK[/caption]
GOT ANY KAHLUA?
 
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

The Perfect New York Breakfast

BALTHAZAR
Noho NEW YORK
NEW YORK 'S # 1

POWER BREAKFAST
The PERFECT BREAKFAST

BAGELS & LOX
COFFEE
FRESH ORANGE JUICE
The NEW YORK TIMES

Balthazar New York
*
*
*
81e7e-sundaysauce-small-new-cvr 
SUNDAY SAUCE ITALIAN GRAVY

    
55b01-screen2bshot2b2014-06-112bat2b12-53-012bpm 

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Monday, September 29, 2014

Coffee Is GOOD For You

COFFEE LOVERS REJOICE !!!
 
 
 
COFFEE IS GOOD FOR YOU !!!
Yes Boys and Girls, all you Coffee Lovers out there, it's True, Coffee is Good for You. Ye-Ha! Don't you just love it. You might have heard from time-to-time that coffee is not good for you, bad for your health. Not So, but just the opposite, Coffee is Good for you. Coffee is High in Antioxidants, which can protect against damaged cells and  reduce your risk of chronic disease including Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Strokes. 
Now this is really good news, Great News in fact, the prevention and reduced risk of getting Heart Disease,   Diabetes, and Stoke is major, and anything any sane person should be ecstatic and rejoice over, "I am." Coffee can help prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson Disease. Awesome!
Just remember, moderation is the key, too much coffee can cause nausea, jitters, and a rapid heart beat. It is safe to drink up to 5 cups a day, if you start getting over 8 cups you may have problems and adverse side affects. So remember, enjoy your coffee, you can love it, but stay moderate and it will love you back. As for me, I just love and adore my morning coffee. I usually have a second cup in the late afternoon, but hardly ever after 4 PM and I'm finished for the day, until my next glorious morning cup to start another day, my Coffee, in the Cafe, the newspaper and I'm set, Buon Giorno!
 
 
 
*THIS ARTICLE FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF DRINKING COFFEE, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE DRINKING COFFEE CAN BE BAD FOR YOU, SUCH AS PEOPLE WITH ANXIETY OR SLEEPING DISORDERS.  IN TERMS OF HEALTH, COFFEE IS BEST DRUNK WHEN IT'S BLACK OR WITH VERY LITTLE SUGAR AND MILK ADDED. DRINKING A VENTI MOCHA WITH WHIPPED CREAM FOUR TIMES A DAY ISN'T GOOD FOR ANYONE.  
 
 
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="282"] Secret Italian Recipes[/caption]

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

PJ CLARKES


PJ CLARKE'S
New York

Are you a True Downtowner who has found themselves for one reason or another on the Upper East Side and needed a good place to have a drink and grab a good Burger. You need a good joint, not a obnoxious Sports Bar with 20 annoying Flat Screen TVs. You're not from BumFu_k Iowa, so Applebee's or Tj McFunsters just won't do. You're a Downtowner, you need a inexpensive, unpretentious, non-contrived place with a Cool Vibe. Well for years now, my Go-To all-around place on the Upper East Side (for the Rare Times I'm in that neighborhood) is without question PJ Clarke's. The ambiance is beyond compare, wonderfully well worn, charming, and awash in History.
    PJ Clarke's was one of Sinatra's Favorites along with the 21 Club, Jilly's and Patsy's on 56th Street. And speaking of Sinatra who recorded a wonderful version of "One For My Baby" which was written at PJ Clarke's on a Cocktail Napkin by the great Johnny Mercer in 1941.
    When I go to PJ Clarke's, I'm thinking of a Burger, a Beer or Bourbon Old Fashion, and an order of Onion Rings. With all the rage of Burger's these days, PJ Clarke's has been serving one of New York's tastiest Burgers for close to a Hundred Years. Even Jackie Kennedy loved PJ Clarke Burgers and ate them often. And Nat King Cole proclaimed after eating a tasty Bacon Cheeseburger that it was the Cadillac of Burgers. "You know Nat, I agree." And combined with the wonderful ambiance, History, and allure of the place, PJ Clarke's just ca not be beat. Try it!
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke PJ CLARKE Facts One of Sinatra's favorite joints ..... Johnny Mercer wrote One For My Baby a Sinatra Favorite on a Cocktail Napkin at PJ Clarke's  ..... Jackie Kennedy often brought John F. Kennedy Jr. for a Saturday lunch Burger....... Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman) orders a Burger here in The French Connection ...
Author Charles Jackson was a regular at PJ Clarke's and in the movie version with ray Miland, PJ Clarke's was used and called Nat's Bar in the movie ... On June 20, 1958 Buddy Holly proposed to his fiancee there ... Johnny Depp gave a gift of a Guitar to Keith Richards and Keef played on the spot Brown Sugar .... PJ Clarke's was a Favorite of Ted Kennedy, Richard Harris, Jake LaMotta, and Dick Clark, all of who love the burger ... Regular Liza Minelli loves the PJ Clarke Burger as well ...






  SUNDAY SAUCE



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