PULP FICTION – BIG LEBOWSKI “MASH-UP”
“ENJOYING MY COFFEE”
At JOHNIE’S COFFEE SHOP
Pulp Fiction Big Lebwski Mash-Up Coffee Mug “Enjoying My Coffee” John Travolta
Casanova Secret Venetian Recipe Maccheroni Pie by author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
GIACOMO CASANOVA
“The SEDUCER”
EXPLORING VENICE
TRAVEL GUIDE COOKBOOK
TRAVEL INFO & STORIES of VENICE
With 40 FAVORITE VENETIAN RECIPES
CASNOVA’S MACCHERONI PIE
Free Recipe – Courtesy of author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Excerpted from Daniel’s latest book “EXPLORING VENICE”
This dish was one of Casanova’s all-time favorites. It’s an extravagant dish that is great for parties, as its extravagance is what makes it special. It is a special celebration dish that most people may have never seen, so if you take the time to make it, it is quite gratifying, and is sure to immensely please your guests, as it did the great Venetian Lover – Giacomo Casanova.
RECIPE –
“CASANOVA’S VENETIAN MACCHERONI PIE”
PIE DOUGH – INGREDIENTS :
1 pound all purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
12 ounces (3 sticks) Butter
Place all ingredients in a food processor. Turn on and pulse just as everything forms into a ball. Stop mixing immediately.
Place dough on a lightly floured board or table and knead by hand for 5 minutes form into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
CHICKEN LIVERS :
1 pound Chicken Livers
2 tablespoons Butter
1 small Onion, peeled and finely chopped
¼ cup – Sherry, dry Marsala, or Vin Santo
Salt & ground Black Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
Add butter and onions to a large frying pan. Cook on low heat for 4 minutes, as you stir.
Add the chicken livers and cook on low heat for 4 minutes. Add the Balsamic Vinegar and wine and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes.
Turn heat off and set aside to cool.
FILLING :
1 & ½ pounds ground Pork
2 ounces Dry Porcini Mushrooms
1 medium Onion, peeled and chopped fine
2 tablespoons Butter
½ teaspoon each of Salt & ground Black Pepper
½ teaspoon Cinnamon
2 pinches each of Nutmeg & ground Cloves
2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
⅓ cup Red Wine
Place dry Porcini Mushrooms in a bowl of warm water, just to cover. Let the porcini soak for 20 minutes. Remove from water. Wash two times with cold water. Chop and set aside.
Place the ground pork in a large pot with half the butter. Cook on low heat for 6 minutes until the meat is cooked through. Season with Salt & Black Pepper and stir.
Add the wine and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients and stir. Turn heat to high, and bring everything up to the boil. Once everything is boiling, turn heat to very low, and let simmer on low heat for 1 hour. Be sure to stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot with the spoon to keep from sticking and burning. Be sure to stir every few minutes. Turn off after 1 hour & let rest.
BECHAMEL :
1 quart Milk
4 tablespoons butter
¼ cup Flour
1 Bay Leaf
¼ teaspoon each Salt & White Pepper
pinch Nutmeg
Melt the butter in a medium pan. Add flour and cook on low heat while stirring with a wire whip for 5 minutes.
Increase to medium heat and slowly pour in the milk while stirring. Add bay leaf, salt & white pepper.
Add a pinch of Nutmeg, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes while stirring.
1 pound fresh BUTTON MUSHROOMS
Clean the mushrooms and cut in half. Saute the mushrooms for 5 minutes in 1 tablespoon of butter, with a pinch each of salt & black pepper for 6 minutes over low to medium heat. Set aside.
1 pound frozen PEAS, defrosted
MACCHERONI
1 pound Short Pasta – Rigatoni, Ziti, or other
Cook the Maccheroni in salted boiling water for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and drain in a colander.
Remove pie dough from the refrigerator. Cut the dough into 2 pieces by cutting off a third of the dough that will be the top of the pie. The larger piece is for the bottom.
Place the larger piece of dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out to normal pie size. Place into a 10” Springform pan.
Mix CASNOVA’S MACCHERONI PIE
This dish was one of Casanova’s all-time favorites. It’s an extravagant dish that is great for parties, as its extravagance is what makes it special. It is a special celebration dish that most people may have never seen, so if you take the time to make it, it is quite gratifying, and is sure to immensely please your guests, as it did the great Venetian Lover – Giacomo Casanova.
RECIPE –
“CASANOVA’S VENETIAN MACCHERONI PIE”
PIE DOUGH – INGREDIENTS :
1 pound all purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Salt
12 ounces (3 sticks) Butter
Place all ingredients in a food processor. Turn on and pulse just as everything forms into a ball. Stop mixing immediately.
Place dough on a lightly floured board or table and knead by hand for 5 minutes form into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
CHICKEN LIVERS :
1 pound Chicken Livers
2 tablespoons Butter
1 small Onion, peeled and finely chopped
¼ cup – Sherry, dry Marsala, or Vin Santo
Salt & ground Black Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
Add butter and onions to a large frying pan. Cook on low heat for 4 minutes, as you stir.
Add the chicken livers and cook on low heat for 4 minutes. Add the Balsamic Vinegar and wine and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes.
Turn heat off and set aside to cool.
FILLING :
1 & ½ pounds ground Pork
2 ounces Dry Porcini Mushrooms
1 medium Onion, peeled and chopped fine
2 tablespoons Butter
½ teaspoon each of Salt & ground Black Pepper
½ teaspoon Cinnamon
2 pinches each of Nutmeg & ground Cloves
2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
⅓ cup Red Wine
Place dry Porcini Mushrooms in a bowl of warm water, just to cover. Let the porcini soak for 20 minutes. Remove from water. Wash two times with cold water. Chop and set aside.
Place the ground pork in a large pot with half the butter. Cook on low heat for 6 minutes until the meat is cooked through. Season with Salt & Black Pepper and stir.
Add the wine and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients and stir. Turn heat to high, and bring everything up to the boil. Once everything is boiling, turn heat to very low, and let simmer on low heat for 1 hour. Be sure to stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot with the spoon to keep from sticking and burning. Be sure to stir every few minutes. Turn off after 1 hour & let rest.
BECHAMEL :
1 quart Milk
4 tablespoons butter
¼ cup Flour
1 Bay Leaf
¼ teaspoon each Salt & White Pepper
pinch Nutmeg
Melt the butter in a medium pan. Add flour and cook on low heat while stirring with a wire whip for 5 minutes.
Increase to medium heat and slowly pour in the milk while stirring. Add bay leaf, salt & white pepper.
Add a pinch of Nutmeg, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes while stirring.
1 pound fresh BUTTON MUSHROOMS
Clean the mushrooms and cut in half. Saute the mushrooms for 5 minutes in 1 tablespoon of butter, with a pinch each of salt & black pepper for 6 minutes over low to medium heat. Set aside.
1 pound frozen PEAS, defrosted
MACCHERONI
1 pound Short Pasta – Rigatoni, Ziti, or other
Cook the Maccheroni in salted boiling water for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and drain in a colander.
Remove pie dough from the refrigerator. Cut the dough into 2 pieces by cutting off a third of the dough that will be the top of the pie. The larger piece is for the bottom.
Place the larger piece of dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out to normal pie size. Place into a 10” Springform pan.
Mix the ground pork mixture, peas, and cooked button mushrooms with the chicken livers. Place this mixture into a large bowl with the cooked maccheroni (pasta) and grated Parmigiano cheese and mix. Add ⅔ of the warm Bechamel, and grated Fontina Cheese and mix.
Place the filling in the pie shell. Roll out the smaller piece of dough until it is the thickness of a pie, and top the timballo.
Crimp the dough together with your fingers.
Place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven and bake for 1 hour.
Remove from the oven, and let cool a bit before serving.
Cut each person a generous portion of the Maccheroni Pie. Drizzle a little of the remaining Bechamel Sauce over each person’s serving, with a little grated Parmigiano on top, and enjoy like Casanova.
“SPECIAL ADDED TREAT” Black Truffles
This is an optional add-on that would be most delightful, and keeping with the Casanova’s desire for the best of life’s pleasure, would be to add a dollop of “Black Truffles” to each person’s dish.
You can buy some Black Truffle Pate on Amazon, made by “La Rustichella.” It’s just about $20 for a jar, and completely worth the extra extravagance. “Casanova surely Would.the ground pork mixture, peas, and cooked button mushrooms with the chicken livers. Place this mixture into a large bowl with the cooked maccheroni (pasta) and grated Parmigiano cheese and mix. Add ⅔ of the warm Bechamel, and grated Fontina Cheese and mix.
Place the filling in the pie shell. Roll out the smaller piece of dough until it is the thickness of a pie, and top the with dough Crimp the dough together with your fingers
Place in a pre-heated 350 degree oven and bake for Cut each person a generous portion of the Maccheroni Pie. Drizzle a little of the remaining Bechamel Sauce over each person’s serving, with a little grated Parmigiano on top, and enjoy like Casanova.“SPECIAL ADDED TREAT” Black Truffles
This is an optional add-on that would be most delightful, and keeping with the Casanova’s desire for the best of life’s pleasure, would be to add a dollop of “Black Truffles” to each person’s dish.
You can buy some Black Truffle Pate on Amazon, made by “La Rustichella.” It’s just about $20 for a jar, and completely worth the extra extravagance. “Casanova surely Would.
Excerpted from “EXPLORING VENICE” – Travel Guide – Cookbook by Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Forty Dollar Fucking Cocktails in New York – The High Price of Drinking NYC
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PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER
New York & The $3 PBR
“IT STILL EXISTS” !!!! 2022
2025 update $4 for a PBR at 7B BAR
Still a Great Deal
NEW YORK & The $3 PBR
I wrote this article in 2008, in protest of the ever increasing prices of New York City Cocktails. They were going up. A little too high for my taste, $16, or more. At that price (2008) that meant that if you had 3 cocktails which would be $48, that would be quite a lot. But that wasn’t the end of it. You’ve got to pay sales tax of 8.25%, and then there’s a tip for the bartender or server. We’re taxing $4 tax, and $10 tip, bringing the Grand Total of your 3 precious cocktails up to $62 Fucking Dollars for 3 measly drinks. That was 2008. Fast forward to 2026 and $16 isn’t the price of a high-priced cocktail, but the freaking average. SO you know what that means don’t you? That means that it will cost you on average with tax and tip and the price of the cocktails, about $60 or more for 3 cocktails.
Now how about the high-priced ones? I was at the Lobby Bar at the Chelsea Hotel last month, with a good friend. We wanted to have drinks. Guess how much a damn cocktail cost over there? No, not $22! Nor $24. But $29 Fucking Dollars for a G DAMN Cocktail. “What The Fuck” I say. Yes $29 US Freaking Dollars. But that’s not the end of it, as you should well know by now. No it’s not $87 Fucking Dollars for those damn precious drinks. No, we still have to pay tax and tip. How much is that you want to know. Well, the tax for the Governor comes to $7.20, bring its up to, let us round it out to $94. OK. Now you’ve got to leave at least 20% gratuity which the bartender (or server) expects, that’s $20 right there, bringing your total for 3 cocktails at the Chelsea Hotel to a Whopping fucking $117 “Fucking Dollars” !!! What? Yes just about 120 Fucking precious US dollars for three measly fucking drinks. Haven’t we suffered enough? They don’t make Good Music anymore! “What The FUCK” ? What the Hell Happened to Music? Now? It all Fucking SUCKS !!! I don’t get it? Why don they make good music any more? What’s this World Coming to? WTF ??? And Sandwiches? Sandwiches cost $20 and up these days! Yes, “What the Fuck” ??? Again. Everything is out of Whack. Groceries too. Fucking $1,99 a pound for “FUCKING POTATOES” ? WTF?
Well, let me tell you something. I wrote about $3 PBRs and what a Blessing they were in New York City. And the bars that served them. Well thankfully, we do have something to be grateful for when it comes to going out for some drinks (beers) in 2026. In comparison to everything else, the insane prices of cocktails, and a glass of wine at restaurants and bars in New York, there are still a few places left where you can get a “Cheap Beer iN Manhattan.” I freaking Miracle if there ever was one! They’re not $3 PBRs or Rolling Rocks, but $4 instead, which is pretty damn good, and in comparison to 2008 and today, a $4 beer in 2026, is a much better deal than a $3 PBR in 2008. You can get a $4 Rolling Rock beer at Mialno’s NYC most famous Dive Bar) on East Houston Street, or a $4 PBR at the World Famous 7B Horseshoe Bar on Avenue “A” at East 7th Street in New York’s East Village. You can also get a $4 beer around the block at “Sophie’s” or at the Blue & Gold Bar on East 7th Street, west of 1st Avenue, also in the East Village of New York City.
So there you go Ladies & Gentleman. That’s the state of drinking Manhattan in 2026. You can either go to The Chelsea Hotel and get 3 drinks for $120 all in with tax & tip ($40 for 1 drink). Or you can go to Blue & Gold, Milano’s, or 7B Bar, and get 3 $4 Beers, and end up just spending $16 all in for 3 Beers, including tax & tip. Which will you choose. I love Dive Bars. It’s really all about be with friends, having a good time, and not getting “Ripped-Off” !!!!
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
June 7, 2026 – New York City
READ The ARTICLE BELOW from 2008
NEW YORK & The $3 PBR
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.
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7B “HORSESHO BAR”
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 ..
2025 Update – a PBR is now $4, still a great deal, at one of New York’s most historical dive bars.
7B HORESHOE BAR
by the Artist BELLINO
GET a FINE ART PRINT
Frome FINE ART AMERICA
a $4 PBR
At 7B HORSE SHOE BAR
by Bellino
At 7B
Copyright Daniel Bellino Zwicke
SINATRA SAUCE
COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK
His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES
PASTA – MEATBALLS – CHEESE CAKE
And MUCH MORE ….
AMERICA’S FAVORITE FOOD
And SECRET RECIPES
BURGERS TACOS BURRITOS
SOUP SNDWICHES BBQ
And MORE …
LUCY
“LUCY’S BAR”
135 AVENUE A NY NY
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.
$4 BEERS at “SOPHIE’S”
East 5th STREET Between AVENUES A & B
The EAST VILLAGE NYC
I’ve been going to Sophie’s, along with Lucy’s, Blue & Gold Bar,
the Holiday Lounge and others since first moving to The East Village in 1982.
Prices have gone up in a lot of places, and now in many places – cocktails cost are
in the high teens, Twenty Dollars, and even up to $29 for a cocktail, as I witnessed when
a friend and I went to The Chelsea Hotel a couple weeks ago. Yes, $25 and $29 for a cocktail. Damn?
We spotted a nice looking bottle of Cote du Rhone for $78 a bottle. Not cheap, but in comparison to $29 a cocktail. Four drinks would have costs us $114, so we got the wine for $36 dollars less than 4 drinks, and put that $36 into a tasty Cheeseburger. The Burger came with Fries, and we had them cut it in half. It was Super Tasty. We loved it. Even Better than Burgers at Minetta Tavern. “Seriously” !!!
I’ve been at Blue & Gold recently, as well as “MILANO’S” – Sophie’s, and 7b Bar. All serve $4 beers. Thank God for these places. I’ve said it before. I can go into Andy one of these places and have a couple Beers and live a respectable $4 tip, and walk out just spending $12. Not bad. Two cocktails plus tax and tip at The Lounge Bar at The Chelsea Hotel would be at least $50 for the two drinks plus $4.50 tax plus at least $10 for tip for a grand total of about $65, as oppose to $12 at any of New York City’s awesome Dive Bars.
Don’t get me wrong. Yes, we’re comparing Apples & Oranges. When I went to The Chelsea Hotel, I knew it wouldn’t be cheap, and I was prepared to pay for the privilege (of being there). My friend and I had a great time. We were there for a couple of hours BS-ing about this and that. We killed that bottle of Cote du Rhone and got another glass of wine each ($22 a glass). The check was about $170, not including tip, which was another $50, for a grand total of $220. Not cheap, but we had a “Great Time” and we were happy. You gotta treat yourself sometimes. But most times will be spent at a good dive bar.
“Thank God” for Good Dive Bars”
New York City
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.
Basta !
GOT ANY KAHLUA ?
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
Daniel Zwicke
169 BAR
Lower East Side
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.
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New Book on VENICE – Exploring Venice – Travel Guide Cookbook
EXPLORING VENICE
TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK
The LATEST From DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE
EXPLORING VENICE
Exploring Venice. Daniel Bellino has done it again. He just released has latest book – Exploring Venice – Travel Guide – Cookbook. Speaking of travel guide cookbooks, it seems as though Bellino owns this genre, having written three wonderful books that fall under this genre, which we even think that Bellino-Zwicke may have even invented.
His latest offering is all about one of the World’s most loved and cherished destinations – Venice, Italy. Venice, a city like no other in the world. Venice is totally unique, and the people of the World love it, and love going there. So Mr. Bellino Z has written a quite wonderful book that will help to guide these people – on where to go in Venice – restaurants, wine bars, museums, and other local sights, it’s all there.
Bellino’s “Exploring Venice,” like all of his Italian Travel Books, gives you the authors very own unique perspective, as only Daniel Bellino can. You see, unlike many who write travel books, Bellino has some 40 years experience under his belt, when it comes to visiting and knowing Venice, the place, the people, the lifestyle, and of course the food, of which, no Venetian Travel Guide has ever had such a large battery of great Venetian food recipes such as this. And not many can match when it comes to Bellino & Venice, wine bars, and Venetian food, as Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a master of it all. He created the 1st ever Venetian Bacaro in America in 1998. What is a bacaro you ask? A bacaro is the Venetian dialect name for a wine bar. The word bacaro translates to “House of Bacchus”. – with Bacchus being The Roman Guide of Wine, the name for a wine bar in Venice “Bacaro” is quite appropriate. Daniel Bellino fell in love with the bacari of Venice and wanted to open one of his own, and so he did.
Having wanted to open a Venetian Wine Bar (bacaro) in New York, Bellino needed to know about them, and as much as he could. Everything. And so in the Spring (Primavera) of 1995, after reading an article on the bacari of Venice, Bellino decided he had to go and check them out. He book a flight to Vencie, and stayed for 11 days, going to every wine bar (bacaro) in town. He ate, drank wine, chatted with the owners and clients alike, took pictures, and absorbed it all, find out all about the food (cichetti), the local wines, and how the food and wine was produced, presented, and consumed in these bacari of the enchanting city of Venice.
Daniel Bellino went back to New York, and along with business partner Tom T, opened Bar Cichetti – “America’s 1st Ever Venetian Bacaro” (wine bar). Danie was the Chef, Wine Director, and managing partner of Bar Cichetti which the food-press and Italian wine professionals in New York and Italy absolutely loved. We could go on and on about Bar Cichetti, but sorry, though a great subject, we actually got off the main subject at hand – the book by Bellino, EXPPLORING VENICE.
So, like any other travel guide, there’s a list of the best restaurants to go to, and bacari. A list of museums, best sights to see, some history, and the hotels of Venice. Then there’s a few stories, containing the authors own wonderful experiences and insights into the enchanting city of Venice. The author touches on the most famous Venetians of all : “Casanova,” Vivaldi, & one Giuseppe Cipriani, the creator of World Renowned Venetian Treasure “Harry’s Bar.” Not every guide book of Venice touches on these subjects, but Bellino does. And his insights are quite valuable. The author tells you of several of Casanova’s favorite haunts that remain open and active to this very day. And you can go to Caffè Florian and the wine bars of Venice , eat and drink, and enjoy these establishments just as Giacamo Casanova did, almost 300 years gone by. Now that’s quite something, wouldn’t you say?
Now the recipes, some of which are quite unique. Oh, we almost forgot to inform you, the author cooked professionally in New York City for some 14 years, before getting heavily involved in Italian Wine, as the wine director of some New York’s most renowned Italian restaurants, and became one of the foremost authorities in America, on Italian wine. So Bellino’s experienced is quite significant.
Yes, back tot he recipes in the book. The author / chef has included some 40 recipes on the most important dishes of Venetian Cusine, including, Risi Bisi, Baccala Montecato (whipped Salt Cod), Bigoli con Anatra (Venetian pasta with Duck Ragu), Calves Liver Veneziana, and more. Daniel has also touched on Cichetti and throwing your very own “Cichetti Party,” when you get back home. And he tells you how to do it. The author, in writing his Italian travel guide -cookbooks, has said that his does this in order to inspire people to cook the foods that they love from their travels. Daniel states that it’s a great way to relive cherished memories of certain trips, by cooking some dishes that you loved while on vacation. He has done this with other travel -cookbooks he has written, such as – Poistano The Amalfi Coast – Travel Guide – Cookbook & ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL.
We almost forget to inform you. Daniel Bellino cooked professionally in some New York’s most renowned Italian & French restaurants of 15 years, after which he became heavily involved in Italian Wine. He opened Bar Cichetti, and for this, every Italian Wine Estate Owner wanted to meet him, and have him sell and promote their wines. And so Daniel became one of America’s foremost authorise of Italian Wine. For his passion and great knowledge of Italian wine, Daniel Bellino Z is one of the most highly respected Italian Wine Guys of America – known and respected by most of Italy’s top Italian Wine producers (Italian Estate Owners), such as : Giovanni Manettiof Fontodi, Conti Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinaia (Chianti in Greve), The Marches Piero Antinori (Antinori Wines of Florence, Tuscany), Francesca Planeta (Paneta Wines, Sicily), Cavelierie Luigi Cappellini of Castello Verrazzano, and many more. Too many to name.
And so, we highly recommend any of the fine books of Italy, by one of America’s foremost authorises on the subjects – the subjects of Italian Food, Italian Wine, Italy, & Travels in Italy – chef ‘ author Daniel Bellino Zwicke. He knows it all.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND
“ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS”
ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS
ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ???
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Ultimate Positano Travel Guide 2026 – The Amalfi Coast Italy
Positano
WELCOME to BEAUTIFUL POSITANO
And The ULTIMATE GUIDE to EVERYTHING POSITANO
EAT – DRINK – SLEEP – EXPLORE – SWIM – PLAY – GET AROUND
The MAIN Beach at Positano
Pulling Into POSITANO
This is a Great Car … But it’s Best to Leave the Car at Home
GETTING to POSITANO
The BEST WAY
ROME to POSITANO PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION
There are several ways to get to Positano, either by Bus, Car, or Boat, and some ways are much better than other ones.
If you are Flying into the Airport in Naples, you can get Affordable Ground Transportation , directly from the Airport to Sorrento, where you can take a spectacular Bus Ride, or Ferry Boat directly from Sorrento right to the center of Positano.
POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE
CAPRI – NAPLES – SORRENTO
The AMALFI COAST ITALY
The AMALFI COAST
The ROLLING STONES !!!
POSITANO – ROLLING STONES
This is an “EXCLUSIVE” SHIRT
YOU CAN NOT GET IT ANYWHERE ELSE !!!
If YOU LOVE IT ? “CLICK HERE” !!!
POSITANO
Wish You Were There ???
Positano Getting There
NAPOLI DAY TOURS to POSITANO
ITALY
View of Positano
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.”ONLY YOUR”
How to Get There
Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. arrive
by FERRARI in “ONLY YOU”
WHERE to Stay
This is Where Billy Zane, Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. Stayed
Le SIRENUSE Hotel
“ONLY YOU”
in POSITANO
In POSITANO
ITALY
ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL
ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ???
NAPLES CAPRI SORRENTO The AMALFI COAST
ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK
Lo SMERALDO
AMALFI
WHERE to EAT on The AMALFI COAST
GET GREAT RATES on AIRLINE FLIGHTS
The AMALFI COAST
SUNDAY SAUCE
Cooking Like
The You’re in Positano
The AMALFI COAST
Daniel Bellino “Z”
Clark Gable with Sophia Loren
Naples and The AMALFI COAST
ITALY
WHAT to DO on The AMALFI COAST
The Path of The Gods
POSITANO
The AMALFI COAST
Cheapest Budget Hotels
In POSITANO
The AMALFI COAST
ITALY
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VIEW From Le SIRENUSE
Thee PLACE to STAY in POSITANO
CASA ALBERTINA … Positano
Look at This View ??? !!!!
How’d You like to Have Your Breakfast Here ?
One of Our ALL-TIME FAVORITE
POSITANO
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Casa Albertina
LUXURY For LESS
Beautifully Appointed Rooms
Casa Albertina is a wonderful 1st Class little family run Hotel that is perfectly situated so you get a nice view of the town from just a little way up, yet a short easy teen minute walk to the Beach and Center of Positano.
I first discovered Casa Albertina way back in 1986 and had 3 glorious days staying there. The son Lorenzo gave me a special rate, seeing I was a young man (22) and probably didn’t have much cash. This hotel is beautifully appointed and the entire staff provides the most friendly service. Casa Albertina is an Absolute Gem.
Note : The first time I stayed at CASA ALBERTINA was the Summer of 1986. The owners sone Lorenzo gave me a special rate of $79 a night, and I had an absolutely wonderful time. The next year when I came back, the price had gone up to $119 a night. When I checked the prices in May of 2018, the rate was $279 a night, and actually a reasonable rate for the quality of this hotel, which is not super deluxe, but does make it in to the luxury category of hotels.
CASA ALBERTINA … Via Tavolozza 3 … POSITANO , ITALY … Reserve a Room
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Me at Casa Albertina
Breakfast with Nicoletta
Summer 1986
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BUCA di BACCO …. Positano
View From a Room
HOTEL BUCA di BACCO
HOTEL BUCA di BACCO … Via Rama Teglia 4 … Positano, Italy … tel. 39 081 1892 2289 CLICK to Book a Room INFO & RESERVATIONS
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Le SIRENUSE
Le SIRENUSE
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The POOL
Le SIRENUSE
A Room at Le Sirenuse
“ROOMS GO FAST”
ARE YOU COMING From ROME ?
ROME to The AMALFI COAST
“I LOVE POSITANO”
View From Terrace Bar at Le SIRENUSE
Le SIRENUSE HOTEL … Via C. Colombo 30 , Positano, Italy .. tel. 39 0862 060556
Book a Room at Le SIRENUSE HOTEL – INFO & RESERVATIONS
il SAN PIETRO
View from the SAN PIETRO
One of The Worlds Most Renowned Hotels
For The DREAM VACATION of a LIFETIME
One of The SAN PIETRO’S FABULOUS Rooms
Your Own Private Balcony
GROUP & PRIVATE TOURS
SORRENTO CAPRI POSITANO POMPEII The AMALFI COASTS – BUS TOURS
WINE TASTING LUCNHES – PIZZA & ITALIAN FOOD COOKING CLASSES
NAPLES – SORRENTO – The AMALFI COAST & CAPRI
THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE !!!
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SUNDAY SAUCE
AMERICA’S FAVORITE
ITALIAN COOKBOOK
“FLY WITH EXPEDIA”
HOTELS & FLIGHTS
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HOTEL ART PASITEA
View from the Terrazzo at Hotel Art PasItea
POSITANO
Lounge at HOTEL ART PASITEA
Free Wifi, Free Breakfast, Beautiful Views, affordable Prices …
HOTEL ART PASITEA …. Via Pasitea 207, Positano, Italy
FIND a Room
HOTEL DIMORA FORNILLO
View from the Terrazzo at Hotel Dimora Fornillo
POSITANO
A Room with a VIEW
Hotel Dimora Fornillo
HOTEL DIMORA FORNILLO … Via Fornillo 27 , POSITANO
About 200 Steps up to the Hotel from the Beach and Center of town.
AC Free Wifi …
Free BREAKFAST Reserve a Room
VILLA MARIA ANTONIETTA
View From VILLA MARIA ANTONIETTA
If You’re on a Budget, Villa Maria Antonietta is on of The Best Options in Town …
Posiitano has to be one of the hardest place in the World to find a hotel room, and in the Budget Category, almost but not Impossible. Villa Maria Antonietta is one of your best options if you want to pay less than $150 US Dollars a night. It’s almost impossible finding a room here in the high season (April to Mid October). You have a much better chance getting a room here in the off-season when you can get a room for about $96 a night (US Dollars).
I first stayed here in the Summer of 1985, and was recommended this place by the late Poet RENE RICARD. At the time I paid $40 a night, so considering the way things have skyrocketed here in Positano, that you can get a room for about double the price in 2018, that’s pretty reasonable.
The accommodations are basic, but most important, they are clean, the location is Fantastic, you are in Positano and it’s relatively Cheap.
If you want to stay in in Summer, Book Far in Advance !!!
Just 1,900 Feet from the Main Beach and Marina to catch Boats (Ferries) coming and going to Positano.
VILLA MARIA ANTONIETTA … Via C. Colombo 41 , POSITANO , ITALY
ROME to POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
PRIVATE DOOR to DOOR TRANSPORTATION
NAPLES AIRPORT to The AMALFI COAST
HOTELS & FLIGHTS
HOTEL CONCA D’ ORO
Hotel Conca D’ Oro
Positano
View From Balcony
HOTEL CONCA D’ ORO
POSITANO
Afforadable with Average Room Rate of $145 a Night US Dollars
150 Steps Up, about a 15 Minute Walk to The Main Beach
HOTEL CONCA D’ ORO …. Via Boscariello 16 , POSITANO , ITALY Info
Find Your HOTELS
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TIPS on GETTING a ROOM in POSITANO and The AMALFI COAST
Positano has to be without question one of the hardest places in the World for the Budget minded to get a hotel room. There are not many options, as most hotels, the prices are astronomical priced. Seriously! This being said, it’s not impossible and there are some options available.
We have Compiled a List of Several Affordable (Cheapest Hotel Rooms in POSITANO) Options for the Budget Minded. It wasn’t easy, but we did it.
It goes without sayint that’s it’s markedly more dificult to find a reasonably priced room here during the high season which runs from mid April to mid September, with mid May to the first weel of Septemeber being super busy.
This all being said, if it’s possible for you to go in October or April, these two months might be your best possible option. If you have plenty of cash and can afford to pay $300 or more a night for a hotel room, then you won’t have as much as a problem.
The other alternative to see Positano if you want to go during the High Season, is to stay in another town like, Paiano right next door to Positano, or Minori, Sorrento or other town near by, and take a bus or Boat to visit Positano, have a nice lunch and do some sightseeing.
Good Luck!
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POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
COOKBOOK & TRAVEL
POSITANO – ROLLING STONES
At BUCA di BACCO
Positano , Italy
Yes a Wonderful Ristorante Amazing View Great Food Excellet Service … This Hotel and Restaurant is a mainstay of the hugely popular town of Positano on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Everything about the place is First Class, the hotel of course , the restaurant and a friendly professional staff of waiter, BBs, host, Chef, cooks, and all who work at this establishment. I’ve eaten here numerous times since 1985, and it’s always been a great experience including my latest trip this past May with my cousin Tony. We went for lunch, this was my cousin Tony’s first time, and he loved as I always have. I think I created a Monster when my cousin Tony said let’s get a bottle of Champagne and a suggested we might get a good quality Italian Sparkling Wine. A few days before we were at Lo Smeraldino Ristorante right on the water in Amalfi. I ordered the Ferrari “Perle” Brut 2007. It was wonderful and Tony was hooked, he loved it, and wanted to get it at almost every restaurant we went to for the rest of the trip. Now back to Buco di Bacco. Tony scanned the Wine List at Buco, he found the Ferrari “Perle” and ordered another bottle (Vintage 2010). We started drinking it and as with the 5 or so bottles of this wine we had on the trip, it was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed. Now when it came to ordering, for Antipasto we got an order of Melanzane Parmigiano (Eggplant Parm) and some grilled vegetables. Now, though we both love eating Seafood when down on the Amalfi Coast, when we saw Meatballs (Polpette) on the menu, we both ordered some. I ordered a plate of Spaghetti Meatballs while Tony ordered just Meatballs minus any pasta.
The BAR at BUCO Di BACCO
The service as usual was excellent, it was a absolutely gorgeous day in Positano and we were both a couple of Happy Campers outside on the lower Terrazzo of Buca Di Bacco. We both commented on how relaxing and peaceful it felt sitting there on the deck and we both sat back and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and good fortune to having lunch there at such a nice restaurant in the beautiful town of Positano n the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Yes, we knew we were lucky and we were most certainly grateful to be sharing such a memorable meal together, two Italian-American cousins in Italy in Positano, The Amalfi Coast. Basta !
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The WINE LIST
BUCA Di BACCO
Since 1916
POSITANO
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PESCE MISTI di Mare
BUCO di BACCO
POSITANO … I won’t give you the address, as you can’t miss it. The Hotel and Ristorante BUCA di BACCO is front and center, right at the main beach in the center of town in Positano. If by some insane reason you have a problem finding it, just ask, it’s right down near the water. telephone : 39 081 837 0723
PS … If you can Afford It? The Hotel is Wonderful.
Da VINCENZO
A Great View of POSITANO from a outdoor table at Da VINCENZO
That’s the terrazzo of Caffe Positano where all the people are sitting outside, which if you started going to Positano long ago, you may know that spot as the old BAR DeMARTINO, one of my favorite places ever in Positano, but sadly no longer there. Anyway, this is a spectacular spot to get an Aperitivo, have lunch or dinner, and just enjoy the moment and the beauty before you, and just how “Lucky” you are to be in this Gorgeous Place, known as Positano.
Enjoy!
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Italian Cookbook Author (Me)
Daniel Bellino Zwicke, Enjoying Lunch
at Da VINCENZO
Been Going there Since 1985
Positano
Yes, I started going to Da Vincenzo way back in 1985. Ever Since my first trip to the lovely little Seaside Town on The Amalfi Coast, that was yet to be discover by the masses all around the World. Yes, there were people who had heard about this gorgeous place, but not nearly as many as do now. Yes, Positano for the most part was still relatively un-known back then. That’s before Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. made the movie ONLY YOU that brought the town to the attention of so many more Millions of people then had ever even heard of the palce before. Anyway Cei la Vie.
Now back to Rene Ricard and myself and how I discovered and went to Da Vincenzo way back in the Summer of 1985 (Bar DeMartino also). It was just a few days befor my long awaited first trip to Italy, Spain, and the South of France when as I waas walking down 2nd Avenue one night I ran into my friend Alma who was with the Poet RENE RICARD. We were all chatting on the street when I emntioned my trip. When I said I was going to Rome, Venice, and positano, Rene got quite excited and told me the best places to go to in Rome, Venice and Positano. So besides all the info Rene gave me on Rome and Venice, he told me all about Positano and where to stay and where to eat which included going to Da Vincenzo where Rene told me I’d get the Best Plate of SPAGHETTI VONGOLE that Id’ ever have in my entire life.
La CAMBUSA
La CAMBUSA
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View From a Table at La CAMBUSA
La CAMBUSA … Piazza A. Vespucci / Spiaggi Grande POSITANO … tel # 39 089 812051
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Linguine Frutta di Mare , La CAMBUSA
La CAMBUSA
PIAZZA A. VESPUCCI
POSITANO
La CAMBUSA
Out of most of the places we went in Positano this was easily best. They are so friendly and the food was perfect while overlooking the beach. Our first night they were about to close and stayed open for us to get a light bite and a great bottle of wine and we told them we would be back and they didn’t not disappoint. The seafood pasta was amazing and once again the staff was accommodating. I couldn’t recommend this place more. Enjoy Positano and really get to know the people because it’s a great place.
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Le PERGOLA
La CAMBUSA
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La CAMBUSA and The Piazza Amerigo Vespucci
POSITANO
POSITANO
LATTERIA
“Alimentari” … Via Pasitea , POSITANO
LATTERRIA
“Some of The BEST FOOD in All of POSITANO”
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FRITTATA FORMAGGI ARANCINI PANINI MELANZANE SALUMI e FRUTTA
The Selection at “LATTERIA” is AMAZING
And You Can Take it out and Eat on Their Lovely Little Terrazzo
“I Did”
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The Terrazzo at “LATTERIA ALIMENTARI”
We just lucked out and stumbled into this place for sandwiches while we waited for check in time at our hotel. We took them down to the beach and ate them on benches. Several people came up and asked where we got them! They were delicious and SO reasonably priced. Fantastic!
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The GIRLS at Latteria Positano
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Eat out on The Terrace or Take Out to Your Hotel Room or Apartment
or for Your BEACH LUNCH
They’ve got everything you need : Water, Wine, Sandwiches, Fruit, Rice Balls, Cheese, Salami, Eggplant Parmigiano, Frittata, Olives, Sweets, everything.
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Daily Specials at LATTERIA POSITANO
The AMALFI COAST
ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE
DELIKATESSAN
Delikatessan
Yes another deli (Salumeria). Believe it or not, Salumerias / Rosticerias have some of the best food in almost every city in Italy, and so is the case in Positano with Latteria Deli and here at Delikatessen. We decided to grab some food to take back some food to enjoy on our balcony. The food was of great quality and very reasonably priced. We bought some Pasta, Panini, and Eggplant, Arancini (Rice Balls) . Everything was super tasty. They make greay Sandwiches (Panini) that a great to take along with some Fruit and Arancini for an awesome Beach Lunch. If you are staying in Positano for a while and don’t want to eat out all the time then this is a great option. They have a great wine selection if you like to do as we do and keep a bottle or two back at our room , as well as fruit and bottled water which you always need.
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In The KITCHEN at DELIKATESSEN
POSITANO
Look at This Awesome Panino
Eggplant, Salami, Mozzarella, Peppers
One of the Girls at DELICATESSEN
POSITANO
DEICATESSEN …. Via Mulini 5 , POSITANO
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The BEACHES
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View from Beach Club La SCOGLERE
at Music on The Rocks
POSITANO
“My own personal Favorite Beach in Positano”
ITALY
Arienzo Beach
POSITANO
Spiaggi Grande
The Main Beach of Positano
Fornillo Beach is a Great Spot with Several Nice Bars and Restaurants
POSITANO
3D BEACH MAP
of POSITANO
The AMALFI COAST
The Boat to Da ALDOLFO
POSITANO
at LAURITO BEACH
ITALY
Map of Positano and its Beaches
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POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE
Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
FLY With EXPEDIA !
THINGS to DO ALL OVER ITALY !!!
The AMALFI COAST
Back in Panzano – Steak Feast with Dario
DARIO CECCHINI
MACCELERIA CECCHINI
PANZANO, ITALY
DARIO CECCHINI
DARIO CECCHINI Says “HELLO”
“HELLO NEW YORK” !!!
The MENU
A BEEF STEAK FEAST
5 COURSES of PRIME BEEF
CARNE CRUDO (STEAK TARTARE)
CARPACIO di CULO
(Seared Rump Steak)
TAGLI CECCHINI (Dario’s Signature Cut)
BISTECCA PANZANESE (Panzanese Steak)
COSTATA alla FIORENTINA (Bone-In Ribeye)
Served with FAGIOLI (Beans) & PATATE (Baked Potato)
CHIANTI
OLIVE OIL CAKE & VIN SANTO
“ALL For ONLY 50 EUROS”
OUR TUSCAN STEAK FEAST
I have known Dario Cecchini since 2001. That was the first time I went to his macceleria in Panzano. I don’t know him very well, but I have been to his butcher shop a few time, and said hello. Since the last time I was in Panzano, and at Dario’s butcher shop (Macelleria Cecchini) Dario has opened a restaurant, Officina Bistecca in Panzano, across the street from his famous butcher shop. Ever since I heard I was dying to go there. At Officina Bistecca you are treated to an amazing Tuscan Steak Feast by Dario. The feast incudes several courses of Prime Beef Steak in numerous forms – Carne Crudo (Steak Tartare), Carpaccio di Culo which translates to Carpaccio of the Ass, “Haha.” Just a little joke. The Carpaccio is made from Beef Rump (Culo). Then you move on to Tagli Cecchini, then Bistecca Panzanese (T-bone Steak), and then Crostata di Fiorentian (Ribeye Steak), alls served with Fagioli (Tuscan Beans) Roast Potato, Tuscan Butter (Lardo), and all the Chianti you can drink. You finish the meal with a tasty piece of Olive Oil Cake and Vin Santo Dessert wine, all for only 50 Euros. “Quite a Deal? And we Loved it”
The we? Me, and my cousins Tony & Debbie. We had a hard time convincing my cousin Tony. He didn’t want to go, but his wife Debbie loves Steak better than anything, and I love steak as well, and had been yearning to eat there, ever since I heard about it. I had to go. I told Debbie, “come on Debbie, we Gott go.” She agreed, and talked Tony into it. So on Tuesday March 3rd (2026), we drove down there. To Panzano and to the Macceleria Cecchini, for an amazing Tuscan Beef Feast at Dario’s Officina della Bistecca (Office of Florentine T-bone Steak). We were not to be denied, cousin Debbie and I. And so we arrived. It was quite exciting. When we arrived, and parked our car in the adjacent parking lot, we walking in through the maccelleria which was already abuzz with people meeting Dario and getting ready for the steak feast of their lives. The Antica Macelleria Cecchini has been in Dario’s family for many years and Dario is the 8th Generation of his family to run this butcher shop. Dario and the macelleria became famous, a couple years after Dario took over the shop. Dario would often quote the famed Florentine poet – Dante Alighieri, and that’s how he started gaining notoriety and thus became famous, along with the butcher shop. It didn’t hurt that Mario Batali became good friends with Dario, and author Bill Buford apprenticed with Dario and wrote about him in his Best Selling book “HEAT,” which is almost like a biography of Batali, with parts about Dario, and Buford’s experiences apprenticing with both Dario at the macceleria and with Mario at Babbo.
Anyway, back to me and my cousins, and our Tuscan Steak Feast. We had a wonderful time. The dining room is quite convivial, festive, and it’s loads of fun. Needless to say, everyone is happy and in high-spirits. It all starts with Dario making a speech to charge everyone up before we go into eat. Dario blows his bus horn and welcomes everyone to the Maceelleria & Officina dell Bistecca for the Feast to come. “Carne Diem !!! Carne Diem,” Dario shouts, and the crowd outside repeats his chants. Everyone is all charged-up and ready to go.
Anyway. We had the Steak Feast. We Loved it, and all agreed that it was a very special thing to do, and a day we shall always remember. And needless to say, “Cherish,” always.
After we got back home in the USA, me in New York, and Tony & Debbie down in Florida, I gave Tony a call one day, and we talked about the trip, (a Week in Tuscany). We talked of Lucca, going to Villa Santo Stefano Wine Estate (Lucca), our day in Bolgheri, on the Tuscan Coast, and our day at Dario’s, and Tony said to me, “You know, the Best Thing we did, was going to Dario’s (Macelleria Cecchini & Officina Bistecca). I agreed, and was quite happy to say that. Happy that he didn’t just agree because that’s what Debbie & I wanted to do more than anything, and Tony was going along. No Tony loved it just as much as we did. And so, that was our day with Dario. I chatted a bit with Dario and I shot some video to make a little film (video) of Dario, the famous butcher shop, and our “Wonderful” Tuscan Steak Feast. Yes a day to remember, and one I hasn’t forget. It was so very cool.
Basta!
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
May 21, 2026
Do You Know Sinatra – Sinatra Best Songs – Love Songs
The MUSIC ?
FRANCIS ALBERT SINATRA
DO YOU KNOW SINATRA?
Do you know Sinatra? We’re not talking about the man and his personal life here. No we’re talking about the music. The music of Frank Sinatra? Sure, if you’re a fan, you know My Way, Strangers in The Night, New York New York, That’s Life, and The Summer Wind. You know the hits, and some others, but do you know Sinatra greatest most beautiful music of all? Maybe yes/ Maybe not?
Frank Sinatra recorded more than 1,200 songs during his 54 year career, and in all likelihood you haven’t heard them all. Most of us haven’t, even myself who I feel that I know more than most, when it comes to the music, and the recordings of of one Francis Albert Sinatra, The Greatest Singer of The 20th Century, and beyond. Beyond? Yes beyond, for as of now in 2026, a quarter century into the 21st Century, the music of Frank Sinatra who passed away almost 40 years ago, his music is hugely relevant, and 100 of millions of him, and of some of his music.
Yes, some know a bit of Mr. Sinatra’s music, maybe a couple handfuls of hits, and that’s about it? Others, who consider themselves fans, they know more. And those who feel they are more of a super fan, and think they know quite a lot of the mans music, but maybe not. There are all different degrees of what one might know. I myself, who has loved the music of Frank Sinatra for just about 60 years now, I’ve seen Sinatra perform live 7 times, and have about 40 of the mans albums, and I consider myself a sort of Super Fan as they say, and feel I know a good bit about the man and his music. But even I who in all likelihood knows more than probably 9o or 95% of his fans, I’m still learning more. All of a sudden on any given day, I might hear a Sinatra recording that I’ve never heard before. Yes, once in a while but not that often.
Anyway, speaking of the people who believe they are great fans, and feel they know his music, I’m afraid many may not know Frank Sinatra’s “Best Stuff.” I’m talking about Sinatra’s greatest of all “Love Songs.” Songs like : All My Tomorrows, You & Me, You Will Be My Music, Let Me Try Again, and a few others. These songs are Mr. Sinatra’s most beautiful, loving, and passionate songs. Sung with the most real feeling that only Sinatra could convey. So poignant and beautiful, they (Sinatra Love Songs) can make you cry. “I have.” Yes I have, listening to Frank Sinatra sing a song like “All My Tomorrows,” and I think of a great love, and how I had yearned to love her, as Sinatra states in the song, I can get all choked up, and on the verge of crying. I’m not ashamed to admit. This is what a great singer Frank Sinatra was. His music conveyed such genuine feelings. Feelings of love, lost love, heart ache, and bittersweet romance, that when listening to one of these songs, you feel it too, and it brings out strong emotions. Strong enough to choke you up, and perhaps shed a tear.
If you haven’t heard these songs, and you say you’re a great fan of Sinatra. Now is the time. You absolutely must listen and become aware of these beautiful Love Songs. The Greatest Sinatra songs of all. They’re listed below.
PS .. Yes, we were talking about Frank Sinatra, and how beautifully he sang. And the complete package of these beautiful love songs, were Sinatra singing over beautifully compose music, beautifully executed by the most wonderful orchestras, which Sinatra demanded, whether recording, or playing live, Frank Sinatra was always backed by the World Best Musicians and orchestras, that’s what completed these wonderful packages – beautiful lyrics & music, sung by Sinatra, backed by the most perfect bands.
Basta !!!
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
May 17, 2026
The LOVE SONGS of FRANK SINATRA
Frank Sinatra
LIVE
Frank Sinatra
YOU & ME “We Wanted it All”
From the TRILOGY Album
1980
.
“All My Tomorrows” is a 1959 ballad with lyrics by Sammy Cahn and music by Jimmy Van Heusen . The song was expressly written as a Frank Sinatra vehicle. It was introduced in the film A Hole in the Head where Sinatra sings it in the opening credits.
Sinatra later featured “All My Tomorrows” on his 1961 album All the Way. Sinatra re-recorded it for his 1969 album MY WAY , in a new arrangement which Charles L. Granata considers to be superior to the original, and which AllMusic calls “lush and aching”. Rolling Stone describes the song as “the poignant monologue of a man determined to turn his life around”.
.
“ALL MY TOMORROWS”
Francis Albert Sinatra
“All My Tomorrow Belong to You”
Listen to The Master at Work. Francis Albert Sinatra, the greatest singer of the 20th Century.
There is no one in the 21st Century, a Century of Crappy Music and Crappy Musicians (so-called) to campare to the great Frank Sinatra, not only the greatest singer of The 20th Century, but one of
the greatest singers of all-time. Listen to Sinatra sing this beautiful song written for him by the
great songwriters Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn.
Sinatra’s voice was in impeccable instrument, which hi conveys most masterfully in this wonderful song. And the musical composition and arrangement of the song is stunning, with lovely Violins, Flute, Harp, and an expert orchestra, made up of top-notch professional musicians. Listen, savor the music, and enjoy one the greats, Mr Francis Albert Sinatra. It doesn’t get any better than this. We’re sure you’ll agree.
.
“I Was at This Concert”
One of the Greatest Times of My Life
I Talk About This Concert Quite Often
Frank Sinatra
OL BLUE EYES is BACK
FRANK SINATRA
LET ME TRY AGAIN
From The Album “Ol BLUE EYES is BACK”
1973
Written by PAUL ANKA
Musical Arangement by Don Acosta
FRANK SINATRA
MacArthur Park
IF I HAD YOU
FRANK SINATRA
FRANK SINATRA
“IT MIGHT as WELL BE SWING”
With COUNT BASIE
FRANK SINATRA
“MORE”
The THEME From MONDO CANE
SUNDAY SAUCE alla SINATRA
In The SUNDAY SAUCE COOKBOOK
WHEN ITALIAN-AMERICANS COOK
FLIGHTS & HOTELS WORLDWIDE
FLY WITH EXPEDIA
“FRANK” !!!
FRANK SINATRA
Ol BLUE EYES is BACK !!!
FRANK SINATRA
YOU & ME “We WANTED IT ALL”
Frank Sinatra
“ALL MY TOMORROWS”
One of Franks most Beautiful Recordings of All
“LOVE IT”
FRANK SINATRA
“YOU WILL BE MY MUSIC”
From Ol BLUE EYS is BACK
MacARTHUR PARK
Frank Sinatra
TRILOGY Album
1980
SINATRA SAUCE
The COOKBOOK
COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK
As YOU LISTEN to The MUSIC
Best Selling Cookbook author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE
NEW YORK, NY
DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE
Daniel Bellino Zwicke (often credited as Daniel Bellino “Z”) is a prominent New York City-based author, restaurateur, and food, wine, and travel writer with over 35 years of experience in the culinary industry. Based out of Greenwich Village, he is widely recognized as an authority on Italian-American culinary traditions and Italian wine.
Professional Culinary Background
Before transitioning into a full-time writing career, Zwicke established a robust footprint in the New York food scene: [1, 2]
- Bar Cichetti: He was the creator, chef, wine director, and managing partner of this establishment, which was celebrated as America’s first-ever Venetian wine bar (Bàcaro).
- Da Silvano: He spent several years working as a manager and maître d’ at this legendary Greenwich Village institution.
- Education: He formalized his culinary foundation by attending the New York Technical College in Brooklyn.
Notable Published Works
Zwicke has written an array of best-selling cookbooks and travel guides available on platforms like Amazon and ThriftBooks. His books blend traditional recipes with personal stories, local histories, and cultural anecdotes.
- Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook: His highly popular definitive guide exploring the rituals and recipes behind traditional Italian-American “gravy”.
- Grandma Bellino’s Italian Cookbook: A collection of authentic Sicilian recipes passed down from his grandmother.
- The Feast of the 7 Fish: A dedicated cookbook detailing the traditional Italian Christmas Eve seafood dinner.
- Sinatra Sauce: Music, Meatballs & Merriment: A cookbook designed for lifelong fans of Frank Sinatra, blending food with musical culture.
- Segreto Italiano: A deep dive into secret Italian family recipes and regional favorite dishes.
- Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook / Travel Guide: A multi-genre book offering travel insights alongside coastal southern Italian recipes.
- Got Any Kahlua?: A pop-culture culinary departure subtitled The Collected Recipes of The Dude, a.k.a. The Big Lebowski Cookbook. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9] on AMAZON.com
You can read further updates on his literary projects through his Official Website or check his author updates on his Goodreads Author Profile. [1, 2]
If you are looking for something specific, please let me know if you would like:
- A breakdown of a specific recipe from his books (like his Sunday Sauce or Ragu)
- Information on his latest upcoming book projects
- Recommendations for Venetian wine pairings inspired by his restaurant background.
DANIEL at The TEATRO GRECO
SIRUCUSA, SICILY
WINE DIRECTOR DAYS
At RISTORANTE BARBETTA
NEW YORK CITY
DANIEL’S LATEST
“SINATRA SCUCE”
Pregame Cocktails in New York – Daniel Bellino Z – Pregaming
MARTINIS
Pre-GAMING? Have you heard about it? What is it you want to know? Pre-Gaming, when it comes to cocktails, or the drinking of any alcoholic beverages, is when you are going out to a nightclub, or for drinks at a bar or cocktail lounge, but have one or two drinks at home before going out. Why? Well, mostly to save money. Especially these days, days of $20 plus cocktails. The act of pre-gaming serves as social, financial, and preparatory way to start off the evening. Pre-gaming is a major way to save money, as it’s a lot cheaper to buy alcohol at a liquor store and make cocktails at home, as compared to drinking in a nightclub or cocktail lounge where drinks can cost $20 or more, plus with tax and tip, you’re looking at a cocktails cost $30 or more by the time you pay for the drink and add the tax and tip. “It’s insane.”
Back in the 1980s when I was a young man in my 20s, I often pre-gamed. My apartment was on Avenue A in New York’s East Village, and on nights offf, if my friends and I were going out to a club, we’d often pre-game at my house, having a drink or two before we left. At the time Stolychnya was a popular Russian Vodka, and my personal favorite in those years, so I always had a bottle of Stoli in my freezer. It’s customary to keep Russian Vodka in the freezer, just in case you didn’t’ know, and my drink of choice was Stoli & Grapefruit. During those times drinks ranged from $5 to $7 a pop. It was much cheaper back then, but still, at the time, though not expensive, that was exactly cheap, so as today, with everything from groceries, gas, and cocktails at bars and cocktail lounges in New York City, we were looking to save money too. My friends would come over, we’d drink Stoli, then head on out, primed with one or two drinks at home.
Back in the 1980s East Village, wE had another way to pre-game before heading to one of our favorite nightclubs. We had lost of great inexpensive bars in my neighborhood, where you could get a cheap beer or cocktail. My favorite was the Holiday Ounge on St Marks Place, where I could get my favorite drink – Stoli & Grapefruit for only $2.It was a cool little bar run by one of the local Ukrainians “Stephan,” who I always loved seeing behind the bar, and ordering my drink from. Yes, it would cost me just $3, paying $2 for the drink, and leaving Stephan a $1 tip, so it was almost as cheap as (very cheap anyway) to pre-game at a local bar, as it was to drink at home, so we’d pre-game at the Holiday Lounge, have a one drink there, then head to Nell’s, Area, The Paladium, or whichever club we were going to that night. Yes things were much cheaper back then. You could go to a diner, and get a whole breakfast of 2 Eggs, with potatoes, toast, and coffee for just $2.99, which would cost you a little more than $4 zithtax and tip. Today, that same breakfast cost you $20 plus. That’s why I never go out for breakfast anymore. I eat breakfast at home.
Besides saving money, which often is the main reason for pre-gaming (pre-drinking), saving money is not the only reason to do pre-game drinking at home. Having pre-game cocktails at home allows people to gather in a more intimate quieter setting to converse, listen to your own chosen music, and bond before going to a completely different World inside a New York City nightclub.
Yes, I was listening, as usual to 1010 New Radio at home in Greenwich Village, as I always do. 1010 Wins New Radio “Give Us 1o Minutes & we’ll Give You the World,” is there slogan, and I’m a fan. Besides getting all the Big World News Stories, and the biggest news stories of New York City, they always give you all sorts of interesting other stories and info, that you wouldn’t get on network news. I find out so many things from 1010 news radio, I just love it. They give you little tidbits and if I need more info, I just jump on my phone and Google for more info. And so, I heard that Pre-Gaming Drinks at Home has now become a big thing, do to the “High Cost” of cocktails in New York City, bars, cocktail lounges, clubs, and restaurants. It’s just too much, and people have a choice. They “Pre-Game.” Something I’ve been doing in New York, since 1983. Yes, I’m usually ahead of the curve. On many things. I started drinking Negroni’s way back in the Summer of 1985, a good 30 plus years before most Americans discovered the famous Italian cocktail, and it became all the rage in New York and all over America. But I knew about them 33 years before they became the rage. Same thing with Cubano Sandwiches, and the Aperol Spritz, I discovered them many years before the rest of America finally caught up. Brag? No, just facts. I’m usually ahead of the curve. Anyway?
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke – NYC
A NEGRONI COCKTAIL
HOW to MAKE a NEGRONI
Ingredients :
CAMPARI
GIN
SWEET VERMOUTH
ICE
Fresh ORANGE Slices
Fill a Rock Glass with Ice. Add equal parts of Campari, Gin, & Sweet Vermouth. Garnish with a slice of Orange.
Serve.
Note : Most people probably don’t have Rock Glasses. You can make the drink using a wine glass instead.
An APEROL SPRITZ
HOW to MAKE an “APEROL SPRITZ”
INGREDIENTS :
APEROL
PROSECCO
CLUB SODA
ICE
ORANGE Slices
1 & 1/2 ounces Aperol
3 & 1/2 ounces Prosecco
1 ounce Club Soda
Ice
Orange Slice
Fill a wine glass with Ice. Add the Aperol, then the Prosecco, and top with the club soda. Stir, and add a fresh Orange slice.
Serve and Enjoy.
ALSO –
The 3-2-1 RULE for making an APEROL SPRITZ
To make a classic Aperol Spritz, use the 3-2-1 rule: combine 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol, and 1 part soda water in a wine glass filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh orange slice for a refreshing, bittersweet, and bubbly cocktail
CLASSIC COKTAILS
FRANK SINATRA
SINATRA SAUCE
The COOKBOOK
COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK
“COCKTAILS TOO”
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