NEW YORK ITALIAN

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Author Daniel Bellino Z

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke, often known as Daniel Bellino, is a New York-based cookbook author, particularly known for his Italian cookbooks. He is also recognized as a prominent figure in New York's Italian wine scene.

Bellino has authored several best-selling cookbooks, including La Tavola, The Feast of the Seven Fishes, Got Any Kahlua?, Sunday Sauce, and Segreto Italiano/Secret Italian Recipes & Favorite Dishes. He is currently working on books about Chianti and other Italian and American cookbooks.

Bellino has a strong connection to Italy, particularly the Amalfi Coast, and often spends time there, staying in locations like Capri, Minori (on a lemon farm), and Salerno. He enjoys exploring the region, visiting local businesses, and sharing his experiences through his writing and social media. In Salerno, he particularly mentions staying at the Hotel Plaza and enjoying the local cuisine and wine. He also mentions family in Salerno, like his cousin Memo who has a Mozzarella factory in Salerno. These places have all been written about by Daniel, in his book Positano The Amalfi Coast - Travel Guide - Cookbook, Available on Amazon.

Bellino's work often reflects his passion for Italian culture, food, and travel, with many of his books and blog posts focusing on his experiences in Italy. He frequently shares photos and stories from his travels, particularly from the Amalfi Coast, showcasing his love for the region's food, scenery, and people.

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Spaghetti alla Pacino Recipe

AL PACINO

"His FAVORITE PASTA"

SPAGHETTI AGLI OLIO

RECIPE

The One DISH AL PACINO CAN'T REFUSE

Al Pacino is a Big Fan of a Pasta Dish called Spaghetti Aglio Olio. It’s a Neapolitan dish that features spaghetti noodles, good olive oil, lots of garlic and red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. It goes without saying the pasta dish and the Scarface star have been linked together a lot in recent history.

In 2015, New York’s iconic Serafina restaurant posted on Twitter that they “Love” Pacino, noting how they have a dish called Spaghetti Aglio & Olio “Al Pacino.” That dish is still exists with that incredible name on the current Serafina menu.

Al Pacino’s love of spaghetti aglio e olio also came up in Daniel Bellino Zwicke’s POSITANO The AMALFI COAST - Travel Guide Cookbook. “When I was the wine director at Barbetta Ristorante in New York City, whenever Al came into the restaurant, he would often ask if we could make him a plate as it wasn’t on the menu,” Zwicke wrote. “Al literally made us an offer we couldn’t refuse, naturally we didn’t, and we always gave Mr. Pacino a plate of his beloved Spaghetti Aglio e Olio , just the way he liked it. You’re welcome Al.”

RECIPE

AL PACINO'S FAVORITE PASTA !

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

With AL PACINO'S FAVORITE PASTA

RECIPE - SPAGHETTI AGLIO OLIO

With 100 REGIONAL NEAPOLITAN Recipes

AMAZON.com

Friday, June 20, 2025

Old School Italian New York

MANGNARO'S GROSSERIA ITALIANA

Was on 9th Avenue in New York's HELLS KITCHEN

Sadly, they CLOSED after 100 YEARS in Business

TONY with MICHAEL LOMANACO

At MAGNARARO'S ITALIANA

MANGANARO'S

Sadly, "They Are Gone"

MANGANARO'S GOSSERIA ITALIANA,

was on 9th Avenue in NEW YORK'S HELLS KITCHEN

The neighborhood where Sylvester Stallone was born, and where author Mario Puzzo wrote the Best Selling Novel "The Godfather" as well as the screenplay to the movie.

Manganaro's Grosseria Italiana, commonly referred to as Manganaro's, was an Italian market and deli on Ninth Avenue in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It opened in 1893 and operated for 119 years, helping to introduce the hero sandwich to Americans. The family closed the business and put the property up for sale in 2012.

The business was founded in 1893 by Ernest Petrucci as a wine and spirits store, Petrucci's Wines & Brandies, that also sold groceries. Its location at 488 Ninth Avenue near 37th Street was on a stretch of the avenue that remained lined with exotic food stores for decades. After the enactment of Prohibition in the U.S. in 1919, Petrucci's nephew James Manganaro, an immigrant from Naples, took over the store in the 1920s and changed the name; in 1927 he was able to buy the building. Manganaro may have invented the hero sandwich, and played a role in introducing it to Americans.

On his death in 1953, Manganaro's passed to his brother Louis and sister Nina Manganaro Dell'Orto and their spouses; in 1955, with a publicity agent's help, they invented the six-foot "Hero-Boy" sandwich, which was successful enough for one of Dell'Orto's four sons to go on the original version of the TV quiz show I've Got a Secret, and for the family to open a sandwich shop next door at 492–494 Ninth Avenue the following year, while continuing to operate a deli and lunch counter in the rear of the grocery store.

In 1962, Louis Manganaro retired and two of his four nephews took over the grocery store and the other two the sandwich shop, Manganaro's Hero-Boy, and the businesses were separated.

Sal Dell'Orto, who bought out his brother's half ownership of the grocery store, and James Dell'Orto, who bought out his brother's half ownership of the sandwich shop, fell out over rights to the "Manganaro's Hero-Boy" name, trademarked by the sandwich shop in 1969, and advertising for party sandwich telephone hotlines, which led to two separate court cases. The business' neon sign installed in the early 1930s, which became blinking in the 1960s, was turned off in 2000 so that Manganaro's Hero-Boy could not benefit from it.The grocery store was repeatedly found at fault over the hotline and was ordered to pay damages to the sandwich shop, and the financial drain plus waning popularity, some of it due to the declining neighborhood, led to the decision to sell the building and close. This was first announced early in 2011, but the building was withdrawn from the market; the business then closed in late February 2012.

Anthony Bourdain featured the store, on the episode title "Disappering Manhattan" on No Reservations TV Show.

AMERICA'S FAVOrITE

ITALIAN COOKBOOK

TONY TOO !!!

DeROBERTIS'S PASTICCERIA ITALIANA

1st Avenue NEW YORK NY

SINCE 1904

Photo - 1928

DeROBERTO'S PASTICCERIA ITALIANA

Year of Picture Unknown

LANZA'S

1st Avenue, New York NY

Lanza’s was an Italian restaurant in the East Village, Manhattan. It was opened in 1904 by Sicilian immigrant Michael Lanza in a tenement built in 1871. Lanza was rumored to have been a chef for Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. They closed in 2015. Eater reported it officially closed in 2017 after seizure by a marshal for non-payment of taxes. It is also said to have closed in 2016. The former restaurant's murals, stained glass, and sign were retained by Joe and Pat's, a pizzeria that opened at the location in 2018.

They were known to be a favorite of Lucky Luciano, Carmine “Lilo” Galante and Joseph “Socks” Lanza.

LANZA'S

SINCE 1904

The DINING ROOM

Sadly, LANZA'S Closed in 2017

SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

"STILL GOING STRONG"

JOHN'S of 12th STREET

CUCINA ITALIANA

Since 1908

Thankfully, JOHN'S is open (2024) and going as strong as ever, and will be around for many more years to come.

Photo by Italian Cookbook author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

At one point in his long restaurant career, author Daniel Bellino worked as a waiter at JOHN'S for 7 years.

At the time, he worked as a cook in Italian Restaurants in New York. He worked 2 jobs for 7 years, cooking at various restaurants full-time, while working as a waiter / bartender at John's for 3 nights a week.

RAO'S

SINCE 1896

EAST HARLEM, NEW YORK

Charles Rao bought a small saloon from George Ehret Brewery at the corner of 114th Street and Pleasant Avenue in East Harlem, New York City. It was 1896. He called the place Rao's.

Rao's is still a family owned restaurant. It is owned by Frank Pellegrino Jr. and Ray Straci, dependents of the founder Charles Rao. They say Rao's is "The Hardest Table in Town," meaning it's hard to get a table there. Actually not impossible, but "Almost Impossible." Rao's has a very unique reservation system. Tables are actually owned by loyal long-time customers who are close to the family. Rao's only has 10 tables, and they are highly coveted. Former owner Frank Pellegrino Sr., father of current partner Frank Pellegrino Jr. was known as "Frankie No." Why? Because if you asked him for a table, 99.9% of the time, his answer was "No," thus the nickname.

Yes, they have only 10 tables and they do not turn them over. Each night, those 10 tables have one owner for each table, every night. Rao's is only open 5 nights a week, Monday to Friday. The restaurant is closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Vincent Rao is the person who put Rao's famous Lemon Chicken on the menu, which was one of the things that put Rao's on the Map, so to speak. It was around 1970 when Rao's started getting popular with the general public of New York City. That's about the time that Rao's started giving table rights to their loyal customers who had been frequenting the restaurants for decades. Anyway, it is very hard to get to eat at Rao's. If you happen to know somebody who has a table and invites you, you might get to eat there. If you hang out at the bar hoping to get a table for whatever reason, it's highly unlikely you will, but not totally impossible. There's always a remote chance, if you are lucky, and happen to be there on the right night, and right time, that something somehow becomes available. highly unlikely, but you never know.

Basta !

MONTE'S TRATTORIA

SINCE 1918

Monte's Trattoria is one of the few remaining Old-School Italian Joints left in New York City.

Terragni Wines & Liquors

1912

Monte's was opened in 1918 by Italian immigrants Louis & Sylvia Medica. They took over the storefront of Terragni Wines & Liquor on 97 Macdougal Street in New York's Greenwich Village.

Louis & Sylvia Medica

1918

CHEF PIETRO MOSCONI

CHEF PIETRO & His FAMILY

HAVE OWNED MONTE'S Since the EARLY 1980s

And STILL RUN The RESTAURANT TODAY

MONTE'S is Known for its wonderful Italian Food, Cozy Ambiance,
and Friendly Service.

Well loved dishes are : Cannelloni, Fettuccine Bolognese, Manicotti, fresh made Gnocchi, Baked Clams, Stuffed Artichokes, Veal Valdostana, Chicken Parm, Eggplant, Spaghetti with Clam Sauce, Bisteca (Steak), and Chef Pietro's famous Tiramisu Mi Su, which many say is "The Best in Town."

Monday, May 5, 2025

NewYork.Italian Instagram

@NewYork.Italian

New York Italian - Instagram is the Leading Italian Content Instagram Page

for New York City. Pasta, Pizza, Nonna's, Sinatra, Stallone, Italian Film, Music,

and Everything and Anything "ITALIAN"

NewYork.Italian is run by Bestselling Italian Cookbook author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

"CHECK IT OUT" !!!

@NewYork.Italian

BESTSELLING ITALIAN COOKBOOKS

by author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

AMAZON.com

SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES

AMAZON.com

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Old School Italian New York

MANDARO'S

ITALIAN CHEESE SHOP

LITTLE ITALY NYC

79 MULBERRY STREET NYC

Circa 1930s

LOUIS'S RESTAURANT

LUNA RESTAURANT

WHITE PLAINS AVENUE - BRONX NY

This was The Restaurant where Michael SHOT SOLOZZO

In The GODFATHER

JOHN'S OF 12TH STREET

NEW YORK NY

SINCE 1908

JOHN PUCCIATTI

JOHN'S of 12th STREET

"A FAVORITE of "LUCKY LUCIANO"

John’s of 12th was established in March 1908 by another John, John Pucciatti. Pucciatti Immigrated from Umbria, Italy to the present-day East Village, where there was a thriving Italian American community centered around 1st Avenue.

In 1907, Pucciatti had Italian marble brought in for the interior of his shop and had a painter come in to paint scenes of historic Italy, all of which are still there today. It’s important to clarify that John’s of 12th is not a pizzeria, but a white-tablecloth Italian restaurant. They do serve pizza, but that wasn’t the case until recently. They’re known for their famous chicken parmesan, but also for being one of the few traditional Italian restaurants to change with the times and become more vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free friendly, a switch they made 10 years ago.

John’s Restaurant was a prominent speakeasy of the era, making wine and whiskey in the basement. These illegal beverages were served in espresso cups in case of a raid. Opened in 1908 by John Puciatti, an immigrant from Umbria, this was a red sauce and wine joint that exuded the type of Old World Italian spirit to which mobsters have been known to gravitate.

During the prohibition era, the restaurant had a speakeasy on the second floor that sold moonshine made by Pucciatti’s wife, who went by Mama John. Mama John would have a candle lit in the restaurant and if they were alerted that police were near, they would blow out the candle and everyone would finish their alcohol. After prohibition, they decided to keep the candle going as decoration, and now, after 85 years of wax, that candle is 250 pounds, still on display in the dining room.

The "RED SAUCE SOCIETY"

A Meeting of The Italian Red Saucce Society

Italian Cookbook author Daniel Bellino"Z" with Vince Attard,

and Mr. Krescha

JOHN'S of 12th STREET

NEW YORK , NY

Tuesday JANUARY 15 , 2019

Me, Kresh, Vince, Alexis, and Sophia

We drank a lot of good wine, inclucing; Rosso di Montalcino, Falerno, Altro Pavia, and ?

We ate; Speedino al Romano, Polpette (Meatballs), Spaghetti Carbonara, Escarole, Melanzane al Parmigiano (Eggplant), Veal Bismark (al Holstein), Rigatoni con Ragu, Cheesecake and TiraMi Su.

Oh buddy Jimmy took care of us and we had the most marvelous time.

LANZA'S

Lanza’s Italian restaurant opened in 1904 at 168 First Ave., an East Village favorite until it closed in 2016. A regular customer, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, was Carmine “Lilo” Galante, boss of the Bonanno crime family. Lanza’s had a reputation as a mob hangout since the Bonanno and Columbo families dined there.

For perhaps the entire life of Lanza’s, all its customers passed under a turn of the century ad for PN Corsets. The sign was there in 1993 when Woody Allen used Lanza’s for a restaurant scene in Manhattan Murder Mystery.