WATER MELON ! Yummmmm !!!!!
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
Uncategorized
Forced Into Starbucks
Monday, June 25, 2014
Forced to Starbucks! Yes, I’ve been forced to Starbucks against my will .. I didn’t want to, but I’ve been forced into it. Forced against my free will .. Well . I’m here at Starbucks on Bleecker Street, corner of Morton in Greenwich Village .. My favorite cafe, the beloved Once Upon a Tart closed Saturday. They had a party for the staff and favorite customers yesterday, which I went to, but today? No more Tart. If you read any of my post the past two days, I’ve already said a bit about the Tart .. Just here today letting the world know, I’ve been forced to do Starbucks .. Well yes, there are other choices, and I did one this morning by going to an old favorite, Caffe Dante on Macdougald Street, but you see I have two coffees a day. That’s 2 trips to cafes practically everyday. A coffee (Cafe Latte) cost me a whopping $5 at Caffe Dante, so I can’t afford to go there twice a day as I did at Once Upon a Tart for years. I’d spend about $6 a day at The Tart. At Dante, those same 2 coffees would cost me $10 mutliplied by about 350 times, is $3,500, quite a lot of money for coffee (that’s 1 year). Those same coffees cost me about $2,100 a year, for a savings of $1,400 a year. That adds up. I love Caffe Dante and have about 4 coffees (Cappuccino or Cafe Latte) times a week, but 14 times? No can do.
So, as I said, I went to Caffe Dante, did my writing and such, and that Cafe Latte cost me $3.75 plus $1.25 tip for a total of $5 .. It’s waitress service, so you have to leave at least a dollar tip. Anyway, I had my morning coffee as I always do (and write for 2 hours), then I go home for an hour, make a little lunch, and then go for my second cafe trip of the day, a coffee and an hour at the Tart before I head up to work at 4PM .. Kanai at The Tart used to call my 2nd appearance at The Tart in a day, “My 2nd Shift,” and so I do everyday. Now I already spent $5 for my first coffee of the day. Now I’m having my second. I’m not going back to Dante for another $5 coffee, and The Tart is closed (so Sadly), so here I am at Starbucks for a coffee and Wifi for just Two Bucks … Well, I guess there are worst things in life. I know millions of people really love Starbucks. Me, I’m not a big fan. I had The Tart and Caffe Dante, I love nice little independent cafes, not Giant Corporate Conglomerate owned ones, but to each hsi own.
Anyway, that’s it for now, “Adios Amigos!”
56 DODGE CONVERTIBLE
Macdougald Street, Greenwich Village New York
photo by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
Forced to Starbucks
Monday, June 25, 2014
Forced to Starbucks! Yes, I’ve been forced to Starbucks against my will .. I didn’t want to, but I’ve been forced into it. Forced against my free will .. Well . I’m here at Starbucks on Bleecker Street, corner of Morton in Greenwich Village .. My favorite cafe, the beloved Once Upon a Tart closed Saturday. They had a party for the staff and favorite customers yesterday, which I went to, but today? No more Tart. If you read any of my post the past two days, I’ve already said a bit about the Tart .. Just here today letting the world know, I’ve been forced to do Starbucks .. Well yes, there are other choices, and I did one this morning by going to an old favorite, Caffe Dante on Macdougald Street, but you see I have two coffees a day. That’s 2 trips to cafes practically everyday. A coffee (Cafe Latte) cost me a whopping $5 at Caffe Dante, so I can’t afford to go there twice a day as I did at Once Upon a Tart for years. I’d spend about $6 a day at The Tart. At Dante, those same 2 coffees would cost me $10 mutliplied by about 350 times, is $3,500, quite a lot of money for coffee (that’s 1 year). Those same coffees cost me about $2,100 a year, for a savings of $1,400 a year. That adds up. I love Caffe Dante and have about 4 coffees (Cappuccino or Cafe Latte) times a week, but 14 times? No can do.
So, as I said, I went to Caffe Dante, did my writing and such, and that Cafe Latte cost me $3.75 plus $1.25 tip for a total of $5 .. It’s waitress service, so you have to leave at least a dollar tip. Anyway, I had my morning coffee as I always do (and write for 2 hours), then I go home for an hour, make a little lunch, and then go for my second cafe trip of the day, a coffee and an hour at the Tart before I head up to work at 4PM .. Kanai at The Tart used to call my 2nd appearance at The Tart in a day, “My 2nd Shift,” and so I do everyday. Now I already spent $5 for my first coffee of the day. Now I’m having my second. I’m not going back to Dante for another $5 coffee, and The Tart is closed (so Sadly), so here I am at Starbucks for a coffee and Wifi for just Two Bucks … Well, I guess there are worst things in life. I know millions of people really love Starbucks. Me, I’m not a big fan. I had The Tart and Caffe Dante, I love nice little independent cafes, not Giant Corporate Conglomerate owned ones, but to each hsi own.
Anyway, that’s it for now, “Adios Amigos!”
56 DODGE CONVERTIBLE
Macdougald Street, Greenwich Village New York
photo by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
The Last Days of The TART … Once Upon a Tart
ONCE UPON A TART Closing After 23 Years in Soho
SATURDAY August 23, 2014
The LAST DAY of THE TART
It’s a very sad day in our neighborhood of South Greenwich Village / Soho today. Our beloved favorite little Mom & Pop Bakery / Cafe UNCE UPON A TART is Closing today. It’s the last day, my last Coffee and the last time to see our lovely friends; Cleo, Samina, Kanai, and Jerome ..
Once Upon a Tart has been like family to us. Those of us living in the neighborhood like myself who go there the first thing in the morning after leaving my house, I go to Once Upon a Tart fo my morning Coffee. But it’s much more than that. It may sound Cliche, but in my case it really is, these people (the gcounter girls) are literally like family to me. I’m single and don’t have a family and going to The Tart is almost like going to a second home where these lovely ladies, Cleo, Anna, and Samina are so nice and sweet, seeing them each morning brightens my day and starts it off just right. It really means a lot to me. And let me not forget Jerome, the owner of the Tart who with his wonderful little bakery / cafe, has brought joy and a place to go for those of us in the neighborhood as well as a multidude of tourists who find a lovely little cafe were they can get a bite to eat, a coffee and a bit of relaxation in a wonderful independent non-Starbucks cafe. How refreshing.
I’ve bee going to the Tart for 23 years since the place first opened. My girlfriend Dante and I were strolling the neighborhood and discovered this lovely little place. I’ve been going there ever since, never missing a beat. I love this place and will “Miss it Greatly.” I will miss the nice ambiance, the coffee, tasty muffins and tarts, but most, I’ll miss those wonderful girls who give me my coffee with a sweet smile each and everyday. I’m almost about to cry. Thank You to The Tart, to Jerome, and all the lovely ladies who have worked there over the years. A not so sweet but sad goodbye. Farewell.
Semena, Myself, and Cleo
One of my cafe Friends CHRIS N …
Jerome (The Owner) & I
SOME TARTS
by Daniel Bellin-Zwicke
New York 5 Best Burgers
SCHNIPPER’S Is # 1
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 origianl 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
Albums Minus Deceased Members
The BEATLES
ABBEY ROAD
With PAUL McCARTNEY & RING STARR
Minus JOHN LENNON & GEORGE HARRISON
Now Deceased
THE DOOES MORRISON HOTEL
MINUS JIM MORRISON
but Not RAY MANZAREK Who Sadly Passed Away
ROBBY KRIEGER & JOHN DENSMORE
Still ALive as of Simmer 2014
PETE TOWNSEND & ROGER DALTRY
of
THE WHO
ODDS & SODS Album Cover
KEITH MOON & JOHN ENTWISTLE Deceased
ELVIS PRESLY Album Cover
ELVIS
Deceased 1977
THE BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
GOT ANY KAHLUA ?
SUNDAY SAUCE “Italian Gravy”
SUNDAY SAUCE – When Italian Americans Cook .. NEW COVER
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Recipe Dudes White Russians
LEarn How To Make The DUDES BIG LEBOWSKI WHITE RUSSIANS ! Dudes personal White Russian Recipe in THE BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK “GOT ANY KAHLUA” The COLLECTED RECIPES of THE DUDE
ABIDE !!!!
SUNDAY SAUCE WHEN ITALIAN-AMERICANS COOK
SUNDAY SAUCE
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
Available on AMAZON.com
“Come here kid, lem-me show you something.You never know when you’re gonna have to cook for 20 guys some day.” Pete Clemenza says to Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. it’s one of the most famed movie scenes in history and of great importance to Italian-Americans. Clemenza is making “Gravy” aka Sunday Sauce, the Supreme Dish of Italian-America, and the dish that brings Italian Families together each and every Sunday. Learn How to Make Clemenza’s Sunday Sauce, Meatballs, Pasta Fazool, Moma DiMaggio’s Gravy, Goodfellas Sauce, and all of the great favorites of The Italian American Table. Cook Sinatra’s Spaghetti & Meatballs, Italian Wedding Soup and more, and delight in the many stories and factual information written by Italian Food & Wine Writer Daniel Bellino Zwicke. This book is filled with Joy & Love, and you will get many years of both, reading, cooking and eating the dishes of SUNDAY SAUCE “when Italian-Americans Eat”
BEST RECIPE EVER
Best Recipe Ever?
Not really, but I had to get your attention ..
It is a Dam Good Recipe though. And to some,
yes “The Best Recipe Ever.” Best part, it’s
QUICK,
Easy, Inexpensive (Cheap), and Tasty as can be …
GREAT For BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER or
ANYTIME In-BETWEEN …
Eggs With Sesame Chili & Baby Bok Choy For 2
Ingredients:
4 – 6 Extra Large Eggs, Sriracha Sauce or Any other of your Favorite Hot Sauce, 6 – 8 pieces Baby Bok Choy, 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons Sesame Oil, Salt & Pepper, Maggi’s Sauce
1) Boil 2 quarts of water in a pot with 1 tablesppon water.
2) Cut the Bok Choy in-half lengthwise and wash.
3) Cook cleaned Bok Choy in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Starin and drain Bok Choy. Place 2 equal portions of cooked Bok Choy on 2 plates. Sprinkle Bok Choy with Salt and equal portions of Sesame Oil .
3) Beat eggs in a bowl with Salt & Black Ground Pepper.
4) When the Bok Choy is cooking, heat up a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add vegetable oli. When oil is hot, add eggs and scramble to cooked through.
5) Place Eggs on plates with Baby Bok Choy. Sprinkle eggs with a bit more salt. Season Bok Choy & Eggs to taste with Sriracha or other Hot Sauce .. Enjoy !
VARIATIONS: You can make this dish with either Scrambled Eggs as described or Fried Eggs .. You can make the dish with Baby Bok Choy as described or with Mustard Greens. The greens are tasy and Easy-As-Pie, as you merely blanche the Greens in boiling Salted Water for 2- 3 minutes, drain and dress with; Salt, Sesame (which has a lot of flavor) and Siracha which is Garlic & Chili Peppers, or you can use another Hot Sauce that you like best.
RECIPES In The DUDE “BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK” Available in Paperback & Kindle Editons on AMAZON.com
@ http://www.amazon.com/Got-Any-Kahlua-Collected-Recipes/dp/1478252650
FRIED EGGS RAMEN & BOK CHOY
Make above recipe, cook 1-2 packs of Ramen. Drain Ramen, sprinkle with Sesame Oli, Salt, Maggi’s and Hot Sauce if you wish. Serve Ramen, Eggs, and Baby Bok Choy. Makes a great meal that is ready in less than 15 minutes.
