Month: July 2017

Apollonia’s Wedding The GODFATHER

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APOLLONIA & MICHAEL
 
 
The WEDDING DANCE
 
SICILY
AL PACINO
 
 
as MICHAEL CORLEONE
 
Hiding Out in SICILY
 
 
He Meets beautiful APOLLONIA
 
is Smitten
 
and GETS MARRIED
 
 
 

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BAR VITELLI
 
SAVOCA , SICILY
 
Near TAORAMINA
 
 
 
 

On The PATH of The GODFATHER
 
 
 
 
 
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The GODFATHER
 
FILMING LOCATIONS
 
 
 
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Marlon Brando
 
as DON VITO CORLEONE
 
Scene with BONASERA
 
 
 
 
The WEDDING DANCE
 
Simonetta Stefanelli & AL Pacino
 
 
as APOLLONIA VITELLI & MICHAEL CORLEONE
 
in FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S The GODFATHER
 
 
 
 
COOK LIKE THE CORLEONE ‘S
 
APOLLONIA & MAMMA CORLEONE
 
GRANDMA BELLINO’S ITALIAN COOKBOOK
 
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
 
by DANIEL BELLINO “Z”
 
 
 
 
 
 
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MARIO PUZO ‘S
 
The GODFATHER
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Rock Star Pizza Guys

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The Biggest ROCK STAR PIZZA GUY of Them ALL !!!
 
DOM DeMARCO
 
DiFARA PIZZA
 
BROOKLYN , NEW YORK
 
 
 
ERNEST CACIALLO
 
Dal PRESIDENTE PIZZERIA
 
NAPOLI , ITALY
 
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON Ate PIZZA Here !!!
 
 
 
 
MARK IACONO
 
LUCALI PIZZA
 
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn NEW YORK
 
 
 
PAULIE GIANNONI
 
PAULIE GEES PIZZA
 
 
 
 
 
ANTHONY FALCO
 
ROBERTA’S 
 
BROOKLYN , NEW YORK
 
 
 
GINO SORBILLO
 
 
PIZZERIA GINO SORBILLO
 
NAPOLI , ITALY
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is a Picture of The Perfect PIZZA
 
Dal PRESIDENTE
 
NAPOLI , ITALY
 
 
 
 
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON Eats PIZZA
 
at Dal PRESIDENTE PIZZERIA
 
NAPOLI , ITALY
 
PIZZAILO / Owner ERNESTO CACIALLI Back left “YEE-haa” !!!
 
SECRET SERVICE AGENT RIGHT
 
 
I Ate Here in The Summer of 2015
 
 
“FRIGGIN AWESOME”
 
 
 
JULIA ROBERTS 
 
at Da MICHELE
 
CLINTON Does Dal PRESIDENT
 
ROBERTS Does Da MICHELE
THIS GUY Is a PIZZA GUY ROCK STAR
 
“I don’t know his name. He was one of the Pizzaiolo 
 
at Da MARINO RESTORANTE / PIZZERIA when I had
 
Lunch there one day June 2015. He’s Japanese and is most likely back
in Japan as a ROCK STAR PIZZA GUY in TOKYO.”
 
 
My SLAME PIZZA at Da MARINA , NAPOLI
 
 
So I was ready for Lunch one day and I knew I wanted a nice plate
 
of SPAGHETTI VONGOLE along with some sort of antipasto item to start.
 
I was walking around and came across Da Marino. I popped my head in and it
 
looked pretty good, so as the hostess greeted me I signaled here a table for 1 and she told me
 
to sit wherever I wanted to.  I found a table, settle in and looked over the menu. I ordered a 
 
small carafe of Falaghina local white wine and looked over the menu a little more. As I said I 
 
knew I wanted Spaghetti Vongole and I decided on an Insalta Frutta di Mare as my first course.
 
It came and it was Awesome and as Perfect as Perfect can be. I ate it, sipped my wine and was
 
more or less “In 7th Heaven” .. Then came my Spaghetti Vongole and it was the same, perfect 
 
as perfect can be. 
 
After finishing my pasta I had to make a quick trip to the WC. On the way I passed the 
 
Pizzaiolo at the PIZZA OVEN. I took a look and the Pizza looked great. 
 
When I came out of the WC I stopped by to chat to the Pizzaiolo who was a guy from
 
Japan who came to NAPOLI to Learn how to make Pizza. “Where Else?” Well New York
 
wouldn’t be bad, but to the Japanese when he went back to JAPAN, making Pizza in Napoli
 
was going to look better on the resume than New York, though we are known as the 2nd
 
Best Pizza spot on Earth, “try telling that to the Japanese.” TO make a long story short, 
 
though I wasn’t planning on having Pizza, the PIZZA coming out of that oven looked so
 
DAM GOOD that I just couldn’t resist. I didn’t feel stuffed or anything, so I figured
 
“What The Hell,” why not try a Pizza here. Id’ just eat as much as I could and stop
 
when I felt full. Well the PIZZA came and as you can see above, it was Friggin Awesome.
 
And I surprised myself when I ate the whole thing. “It was that Dam Good.” !!!
My First PIZZA of The TRIP
 
It was at a cute little PIZZERA “Da GAETANO”
PIZZA at 10 AM
JET LAGGED OUT “PIZZA was The CURE” !!!
 
 
The FIRST PIZZA of THE TRIP
 
PIZZA FUNGHI
 
Da GAETANO
 
“AWESOME” !!!!
SUNDAY SAUCE
 
by ME
 
Daniel Bellino “Z”
 
 
 
 
BASTA !!!!
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The HIGH COST of BURGERS in New York

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The SHAKE SHACK BURGER
 
 
SHACK BURGER COST $5.19
 
$7.99 for a DOUBLE
 
 
BURGER COST By CITY
The Average PRICE of a BURGER in AMERICA is $4.49
 
The Most Expensive average Price of a BURGER is in NYC at $9.52
To most New Yorkers paying about $18 for a Cheeseburger and $7 for a Beer, paying tax and leaving an appropriate Tip (at least $6.50) to spend an average of $33.00 for your Cheeseburger and just one Beer, many New Yorkers wouldn’t even give this high cost for only one Beer and a Burger a second thought. Well as for myself and a multitude of others this is insane. People are in the habit of excepting things, not saying anything or making any kind of a protest such as a boycott or anything of the sort. I myself do not accept these insane prices, so all I can really do is to do as I’ve done, which is though numerous times I felt like going over to JG Melon or The Minetta Tavern in Greenwich Village and having myself a Burger and Beer, I stopped and thought about it, the high price I’ve payed in the past. For example, I went to JG Melon on Macdougal Street, sat down and ordered a Bourbon Old Fashion and a Cheeseburger. I sipped my drink and ate my Burger and I enjoyed. But was the price of $34 worth it all. Well, yes and no. If you have a ton of money and are not one of of the multitude of several Million people in New York who pay high Rent and don’t really make an appropriate amount of money to pay rent, the Con Ed bill, phone bill, and all your other expenses, than a $34 tab which includes the gratuity is a bit high for a Cheeseburger and one measly drink. Yes I enjoy it, but the thing is, I can’t afford to enjoy it as much as I would if the Price was more REASONABLE like at The CORNER BISTRO in GREENWICH VILLAGE where a BURGER with Cheese is just $7.75, a Beer a mere $4, and you leave a $5 Tip and you can walk out the door for just $17 … Now that’s more like it and I feel this should be about the norm as opposed to an average $33 for a Burger and a Beer or Drink and most other places. That average price of $17 at The Corner Bistro is just fine with me, and I can easily do that 4 times a month, as opposed to the high average price ($33) to go to JG Melon, PJ Clarke’s or Minetta Tavern where the same Cheeseburger with Fries and a Beer will cost you  $19 for a MINETTA BURGER, $9 for a Beer, plus tax and tip will set you back about $38 for just a Beer and a Cheeseburger, and Jack It Up another $7 if you want a Cocktail instead of a beer, for a whopping $45 tab .. Not Good!
   So it comes down to this, no I’m not cheap, just frugal and of the 99% who have to watch are dough, so to speak. Yes I’d like to be able to go to Minetta or JG Melon ad have 2 Old Fashion Cocktails instead of 1 which I refrain myself to out of cost. But I’m not rich, and neither are my Millions of other fellow New Yorkers who happen to be your average New York and the greatest fabric of our great city. Well, that’s all I have to say for now, but I’ll be back, and that’s that. Later !
 
 
 
 
The FLAGSHIP ORIGNAL PJ CLARKE’S
 
3rd AVENUE at 55th STREET
 
NEW YORK NY
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHEESBURGER at PJ CLARKE’S 
 
A Whopping $17.95
 
UP $7.50 in just a few short years.
 
 
 
 

JG MELONCHEESEBURGER $11.00

 
 
 
 
CORNER BISTRO
 
For 30 YEARS Before The Big BURGER BOOM
 
The CORNER BISTRO’S BURGER was Considered 
 
NEW YORK’S BEST BURGER
 
Their CHEESEBURGER is ONLY $7.75
 
The Famed BISTRO BURGER $8.75
 
 
 
 
 
SCNIPPERS
 
CHEESEBURGER $6.99
 
 
 
 
MINETTA TAVERN
 
 
GREENWICH VILLAGE , NEW YORK
 
 
 
 
The MINETTA BURGER
 
$19.00
 
 
Much BETTER Than The More FAMOUS
 
More EXPENSIVE BLACK LABEL BURGER $28
 
 
 
 
 
 
LEARN HOW to MAKE
 
GREAT BURGERS at HOME
 
For LESS
 
Including The SHAKE SHACK
 
SHACK BURGER Secret Recipe
 
and More ….
 
 
 
 
 
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Screen Shot 2017-07-13 at 2.54.21 PM.png
 
 

LUGER BURGER $13.95

with CHEESE $14.45

FRIES $1.95 Extra
Screen Shot 2017-07-13 at 2.46.45 PM.png
DANIEL BOULUD’S
DB BURGER Started It All
At $34 Stuffed with FOE GRAS & TRUFFLES
For Just $6 More I’ll take Daniel Boulud’s DB BURGER Over The BLACK LABEL BURGER
ANY DAY of THE WEEK !!!
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Screen Shot 2017-07-13 at 3.41.16 PM.png
The SPOTTED PIG
I love going to The SPOTTED PIG in Greenwich Village, but at $22 for the Burger, $8 for a Beer plus Tax and Tip for a total of $40, it’s a bit much for just a Burger and a Beer, so instead of going once a month or so, it’s more like just 2 times a year here.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






The 5 Best Burgers in New York

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SCHNIPPER’S Is # 1
This is The # 1 BEST BURGER in NEW YORK
SCHNIPPER CHEESEBURGER
JG MELON
Upper East Side Manhattan
 
 
JG MELON BURGER ROCK at SECOND BEST
 
“Some Would Say First. Even Me”
 
 
 
SHAKE SHACK BURGER # 3
 
“MANY SAY IT’S THE BEST”
 
We Wouldn’t Disagree, But You Gotta Pick Some Kind
of Order .. Everyone Has Their Own Choices, and These Are Ours
“GUESS WHAT? We LOVE THEM ALL, and FEEL THEY’RE 
ALL # 1 The BEST, or DAM CLOSE To IT” !!!
 
 
The LUGER BURGER at PETER LUGER
The WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS STEAK HOUSE
Is a STEAL at Just $11.95
GET With THEIR FAMOUS BACON
“IT ROCKS” !!!
 
 
THE LUGER BURGER
With LUGER BACON & CHEESE
 
“DAM THAT BABY Is TASTY” !!!
 
 
 
 
 
photo DANIEL BELLINO-ZWICKE
 
MINETTA TAVERN
 
GREENWICH VILLAGE NEW YORK
 
MINETTA BURGER
 
TAKE The “MINETTA BURGER Over The
More Famous BLACK LABEK BURGER …
 
“IT’S BETTER” !!!
The MINETTA BURGER TAHT IS !!!
 
And IT’S CHEAPER To BOOT !!!
 
“TRUST Us On THIS ONE” !!!
 
……………………………………………………..
 
 
NEW YORK’S 5 BEST BURGERS
 
1.  SCHNIPPER’S
2.  JG MELON
3.  SHAKE SHACK
4.  PETER LUGER
5.  MINETTA TAVERN
 
 
New York’s 5 Best Burgers? Wow! Who are they? Who right? Who’s Not? Yes, it’s not easy, and who’s to say who is the best, who’s not, and that they are thee authority and decider of who is # 1 and Who’s Not? Well, there are any number of people, magazines, newspapers, and other intitties doing articles, stories and what-not on the Best Burger or Best Burgers in town and around the country. It’s a big and popular subject.
Well, this is just ours. Not seeing that his is the definative list and list to end all. It’s just ours. And of these 5, we ourselves what put any number at the Top of The Heep, they’re all great burgers.
 
THE SKINNY On EACH
 
SCHNIPPERS
 
Schnippers is awesome. They came on the scene a couple years ago. They didn’t make all that much of a splash in the first year or year 1/2, but now? They’ve Splashed, and in quite a big way. They just opened their 3rd location in Manhattan and seems like their expansion will lead to any number across the country, alla Shake Shack. Spaeaking of Shake Shack, Schnipper’s opened their first place less than 200 feet from Shake Shacks hugely famous Flagship Burger Joint (and 1st) at Madison Park at 23rd Street and Madison Avenue.
 
Anyway, the Schnipper Burger is awesome. The Schnipper Burger is a classic straight forward burger. It’s 5 ounces, fresh beef (never frozen), cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. We love it, and think it taste exactlt as a burger should, with an emphasis on the tasty beef patty.
 
JG MELON
 
JG Melon is one great old institution up on 3rd Avenue at 74th Steet on New York’s Upper East Side. The Melon is a cool classic old school bar, the kind that just can’t be duplicated. Great natural vibe, and un-contived. And guess what? they’ve got one of New York top burgers, if not thee # 1 tops .. Some say, they are the best. Their Burger, and we wouldn’t give them a fight on that. We love em too, and almost picked them for the # 1 spot on our list. What do you think.
 
SHAKE SHACK
 
A Great Burger! Some say the Best. We did too for some time, but we feeel that Schnipper’s has edged them out. Though we wouldn’t gie anyone a hard time if they Shake Shack is # 1 … They’re Buger is Classic, just the right size, seasoned and cooked to beautiful tasty perfection. We just Love Em.
 
 
PETER LUGER
 
The Luger Burger is awesome. It’s quite tasty, and makes our top 5 list for it’s tastieness and the fact that you can go into this Mecca of Steakdom and get a Burger for just 12 Bucks .. But you probably won’t. You gonna want some cheese on that $1.50 and the Bacon ($4.25) is a “Must Have” at Lugers. If you go for Fries (Only $1.95), your burgers gonna cost you about $19.00
But hey, “It Peter Luger” and that’s a bargain. 
You can only get The Luger Burger at Lunch, and we just love hopping over the Williamsburg Bridge every 2 or 3 months to get one. You will too.
 
MINETTA TAVERN
 
You can’t beat the ambiance and History of Minetta Tavern .. This Historical Old Greenwich Village Haunt is cool as can be. And you’ll feel you are too once and if you secure a seat inside. The master of the restaurant business in New York, Keith McNally rescued this great old joint, spruced it up just a bit, retaining its wonderful orignal decor, placed a couple great chefs at the helm and opened her up to rave reviews. The menu is French Bistro Steak House, with big juicy Steaks, Bistro Classics, and a pair of New York’s Hottest and most loved burgers; The Famed Black Label Burger ($24.00) and The Minetta Burger ($16.00) .. The Black Label Burger is by far the most famous of the two, made with the Black Label Blend of Dry Aged Beef from famed New York Butcher Pat La Freida .. Dry Aged Beef may be great for Steaks, such as the ones so famous at Peter Luger and Minetta Tavern, but we feel that this beef doesn’t translate so well to Burgers … We prefer the Minetta Burger. How bout you?
 
 
 
 
 
LEARN How To MAKE The Perfect BURGER
in
GOT ANY KAHLUA?
Its
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
 
CLICK HERE For The DUDE !
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Don’t Give Me No Dam Americano Coffee

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A BEAUTIFUL
CLASSIC CUP of JOE
An AMERICAN COFFEE
“DON’T GIVE ME NO FRIGGIN AMERICANO”
When It COMES To AMERICAN COFFEE
LEAVE THE O  Off of AMERICAN-O


Coffee Shop Barista: “Sorry we’re out of Coffee. I can make you an Americano.”


Me: “No Thanks, they don’t taste the same.” But I’m thinking, Hell No, They Taste Like Shit !


Me: “I’ll wait to you brew a new pot.”


Do you know what I’m talking about? Do you know what an Americano in terms of Coffee is? Well, an Americano is a supposedly “Regular American Coffee” that instead of being made with coffee beans that have bean specifically made for brewing a good ol Cup of Joe, an “American Coffee” (Regular), they make a the coffee with coffee beans that have been specifically roasted to make Espresso coffee, but instead of using just a very small amount of water as in making an Espresso, they use 8-10 the amount of hot boiling water brewed with ground espresso and call it an “Americano,” Guess What? “It Taste like Shit.” It’s friggin awful!!! An Espresso is an Espresso, Regular American Coffee is Regular American Coffee, “Don’t be given me no Dam Americano!”
   Hey, I’m Italian-American. I  have a perfectly made Italian Espresso every morning for the past 25 years at New York’s best and most authentic Italian Caffe, “Caffe Dante” on Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village, a bastion of New York and America’s finest Italian Food, Italian Restaurants, Caffe’s, Pastry Shops, Pork Stores, Espresso and Cappuccino, but don’t give me no “Dam American” when I want my beloved Regular Cup of Joe, “You Just Don’t Do It” as John Travolta said in Pulp Fiction. And as Samuel L. Jackson said as Jules Winfeild. “A Sewar-Rat may taste like Pumpkin Pie, but I wouldn’t no cause I wouldn’t Eat The Dirty Mother F-er.” Well that’s how I feel about Americano Coffee. I love Espresso and I love regular American Coffee, “Just Don’t ask me if I want a Friggin Americano!”








Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

 

 

badass-small

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The WORLDS COOLEST RESTAURANT

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   The World’s Coolest Restaurant? Why, it’s Harry’s Bar,Venice of course. Without a doubt. There is no contest for any to compete. Well many will beg to differ, but I know better, and better than most. No Brag, Just Fact! Let me tell you why.
If you are in any of the Great Renowned Cities of the World, cities such as; New York, Paris, Rome, Bangkok, Tokyo, London, Hong Kong, wherever. There will in all these cities be a number of restaurants where the In-Crowd, the Jet-Set, Those in The Know, the Movers-and-Shakers of the World will go to. There are usually at least 6 to 12 restaurants for those in the know to go to. For example, if you are in my City, New York and you are one of these people, “Those In the Know,” you might go to any one of these restaurants. right now in the year 2011 these restaurants would be; Minetta Tavern, Bar Pitti, The Waverly Inn, Pastis, Momofuku Ssam, The Standard Grill, John Dory at The Ace Hotel, and at least 6 others. Same goes for LA, London, Paris, Rome, and so-on.
In Venice there are many restaurants, but really just one more or less that “Everyone Who is Anyone” will go when in town. One, that one is “Harry’s Bar.” No other restaurant in the World quite like it. If you are of the Jet Set, The In Crow, those “In-The-Know,” you’ll know one thing for sure, when you go to Harry’s Bar you will be amongst the all of

The “in Crowd” will be there and nowhere else. Well this is a bit of an exaggeration to make a point, but this point is true 85% of the time.


Ernest Hemingway & Friends at Harry’s Bar



And of the place, Harry’s Bar, Venice. And i keep saying Harry’s bar Venice, for it is thee only one, but there are many others around the World with the same name. There is only one Great “Harry’s Bar” and that is Harry’s Bar, Venice at the Vaporetto stop of San Marco.

Yes, and of Harry’s. The restaurant is Wonderful. It has a beautiful casual elegance in the decor. The place is always filled with the “Beautiful People,” the service is great, and the food Fabulous. Though at a price. Harry’s bar is very expensive. For some this is of no consequence, but if it is expensive for you, it is definitely worth a splurge. The place is awesome.

After-All, they invented the “Bellini” Cocktail here. And

Beef Carpaccio as well.

If you go to harry’s Bar, you will Love it. The place is filled with quite a exciting energy. It’s a experience you’ll always remember. So, do remember, The World’s Coolest restaurant, Harry’s Bar, Venice that is.

 

 

by DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cool Cars

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This is a ART Rendition I had an Artist Do 
 
of My DAD’S CADILLAC
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A Cool Old DOODGE
 
Taken on BLEECKER STREET
 
 
GREENWICH VILLAGE NEW YORK
 
 
photo Copyright Daniel Bellino Zwicke
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My Dads CADILLAC
 
 
1958 CADIILAC ELDORADO BROUGHM
 
 
 
 
 
PINK & WHITE DESOTO
 
FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK
 
 
 
 
 
1948 Desoto
 
Look at That MONSTER GRILL
1954 Desoto
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gas Station
 
Edward Hopper
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
,
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
 
 
 
 
 
 
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