CORNER BISTRO NEW YORK BURGERS

CORNER BISTRO

 

 

Happy to see Corner Bistro’s Burger can still make it to # 1 Best of New York list these days. I’ve been eating Cheeseburgers there since 1984. Yes 26 Years of Bistro Burgers. Back then, the Burger at the Corner Bistro was for Year-After-Year thee perennial favorite, # 1, Top, Best Burger in New York, rated by the Top and most Powerful food Authorities of the day, New York Magazine, The NY Times, Cue Magazine, The Post, The Village Voice, GQ, Bob Lape on 7’s Eyewitness News, The Daily News, so on and so forth. Nine out of ten people, newspapers, and news agency’s, The Bistro Burger was always “Tops,” # 1. It no longer is. And it was tops for some 30 years. Quite a run. Sadly the quality of the Burger has gone down a bit, and there are numerous chemistry better, tastier Burgers in town. Shake Shack get my Vote for the Top, New York’s best Burger, with Bills Bar and Burger and Peter Luger not far behind. But the Shake Shack Burger has all the proper elements that come together and make for perfect chemistry of, dear I say, “The Perfect Burger.” Well if not the perfect Burger, New York’s Best, or at least amongst the Best, everyone has their opinion. Some not as qualified as others. As I’ve been eating the East Coast’s Best Burgers since childhood, and being a former Chef Culinary Professional, I have greater qualifications than most.

The Shake Shack Burgers elements that make it so good, are: Top Quality Beef, Just the right size and thickness, not too thin nor too thick, which unfortunately many think makes a burger is better, the thicker it is. Not so. A 6 oz., 3/4″ Burger is Best and it has to be cooked on a Flat-Top Grill cooking in its own fat to qualify amongst the best. Cooking on a grated grill, just won’t do. You’ll often get terribly overcooked hard spots, losing all important beef fat for the burger to cook in. You’ll need a good hamburger bun, toasted preferred, not too fancy, and a major No-No is the use of an English Muffin. Though i Love them for breakfast, English Muffins are a terrible choice, pairing to a Burger. the Burger has to be properly cooked
And one of thee most important rules to a great Burger, it can’t cost more than $6.50, and about $4.50 is even better. The Shake Shake burger meets all these requirements, even exceeding them.
Back to the Bistro Burger. For nostalgias sake and Price to value ratio, combined with the great old New York Bar ambiance, The Bistro Burger always makes it on my Top 10 List. As the Post states, to be able to get a great burger for just $6.50 with Beers at $2.75 in one of New York’s few remaining Bohemian Bars, and in Greenwich Village? A combination that just can’t be beat.
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke
BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
SUNDAY SAUCE

 

FAMOUS OLD NEW YORK BARS

    Grand Daddy of All Old New York Bars

1.   McSorley’s Old Ale House .. East 7th Street, East Village, New York

2.   Old Town Bar … East 18th Street, Union Square, New York

3.   Pete’s Tavern  … Irving Place, Gramercy Park, NY, NY

4.   White Horse Tavern .. Hudson Street, Greenwich Village

5.    PJ Clarke’s … 3rd Avenue at 55th Street, Midtown, NY NY

6.    Ear Inn  …. Spring Street, Soho 

7.    Fanelli’s Cafe  … Prince Street, Soho

8.    Peter McManus … 7th Avenue at 18th Street, Chelsea

9.    Minetta Tavern .. Macdougal Street, Greenwich Village

PJ CLARKE’S
 
 
 
photo Daniel Bellino Zwicke
 
 
 
 
 
WAVERLY INN
 
 
photo Daniel Bellino Zwicke
 
 
 
 
 
WHITE HORSE TAVERN
 
 
 
 
PETE’S TAVERN
 
Gramercy Park
 
NEW YORK,  NY
 
Since 1864
 
photo Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
 
 
 
 
OLD TOWN BAR
 
FLATIRON NEW YORK
 
 
Inside The OLD TOWN BAR
 
18th STREET
 
between BROADWAY & PARK AVENUE
 
 
 
 
A Beautiful Watercolor Painting of FANELLI’S
 
 
 
FANELLI’S
 
Prince Street, Soho,  New York, NY
 
Since 1847 ???
 
 
 
MINETTA TAVERVN
 
Macdougal Street & Minetta Lane
 
GREENWICH VILLAGE
 
 
photo Daniel Bellino Zwicke
 
 
 
 
 
PETER McMANUS
 
 
CHELSEA
 
New York, NY
 
 
La TAVOLA is NEW YORK ITALIAN
 
 
 
 
 
SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES
 
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
 
 
The COLLECTED RECIPES of The DUDE
 
by Daniel Zwicke
 
 



Once Upon a Tart Will Reopen

The TART Is ReOpening !!!  “Oh HAPPY DAY”

I recievied this eMail form Jerome Audureau, stating, “Good news after 2 months closed           ONCE UPON a TART …  will be re opening November 7th .



Jerome Audureau

jerome@onceuponatart.com

 

ONCE UPON a TART sadly closed this past Summer (2014). For those of us who truly loved this quaint little bakery / cafe, the closing was quite a blow, akin to losing a very close friend .. The TART as the regulars like myself call it, had operated in its wonderful Old New York Storefront for some 23 years. The storefront of the tart is more or less the same as it was some 100 years ago when it operated as a bakery in this Italian immagrant dominated neighborhood of the Sout Village (Greenwich Village). Yes, technically this part of Sullivan Street (block between W. Houston & Prince Street) is considered Soho .. Well if you’re an old-timer and especially of Italian descent and grew up in the neighborhood, this “Is Not Soho,” but The Village … Basta!
Anyway, Once Upon a Tart is a much loved little Cafe .. For many, like me, it is a second home we we go to get our daily coffee, muffins, and tarts to start our day just right. Yes we get our coffee, muffins, soups, and sandwiches at The Tart, but it not just that. At The Tart we get so much more .. Everyday I get up and out of my Greenwich Village apartment and my first stop of the day is to my beloved Tart .. I go for my daily morning coffee, which like any great coffee lover, I do love dearly. I go for my coffee and my bonus of seeing the lovely Cleo, Anna. Samina or anyone of the wonderful counter-girls who work at the Tart .. These women are lovely and it is for me one of the simple pleasures of life just to go and get my coffee and be greeted so warmly each and every morning by someone as lovely as Cleo, Kanai, or one of the other girls who work at The Tart. When I say that Kanai Cleo Jerome and all the girls who work there are “like Family,” this is not just Cliche but something tangible and oh so true and my favorite thing about my Tart …
The atomosphere is homey, welcoming, serene, and oh so lovely. Yes, as I’ve said, the Tart is a second home to many of us. It’s a meeting place and a sactuary. It’s sanctuary to us regulars as well as so many thousands upon thousands of tourists who’ve either stumbled upon this lovely little gem or read about it and seeked it out for one of their famous Chocolate Pear Tarts, Madelines, or other tasty treat. They stop in for a little refuge, coffee, tea, a place to sit and get a tasty little treat. It’s a place so special and a welcome repreive.
Once Upon a Tart to reopen? Please Lord let this be true, we miss it and want it back, and of this, there is not much more to say. Basta!
Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
CLEO
The Lovliest Lady You Could
Ever Wish to Great You With Her Sweet Smile
and Your Daily Morning Coffee
“We MISS YOU & EVERYONE”
New York Writers Daniel Bellino-Zwicke 
Jerome The TARTS Owner
Chris Nominee & John Kenney
from left to right
My Dads Pickup Truck
SUNDAY SAUCE
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
La TAVOLA is NEW YORK ITALIAN
POPEYE
“Just Because”
GOT ANY KAHLUA?
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
COFFEEE
BEER
ART
Ballatine Ale Can
All Photos Property of Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

 

Famous Italian Bakeries of New York

VESUVIO

 

VESUVIO BREAD BAKERS

PRINCE STREET … Soho / GREENWICH VILLAGE New York

Note: Vesuvio’s Bakery has closed, however the Beautiful Piece of Italian New York History remains in its Landmark Status Storefront ..

 

Screen Shot 2014-10-19 at 7.51.32 PM

 

 

Screen Shot 2014-10-19 at 7.52.16 PM

 CANNOLIS

 

Venerio

 VENERIO PASTICCERIA

EAST VILLAGE New YORk

SINCE 1984

 

Screen Shot 2014-10-19 at 7.58.11 PM

 

 

PARISI BAKERS

 

PARISI BAKERY, Little Italy, New York

Bread Bakers 

Ferrara

mrnewyorkny

 

b7921-sundaysauce-small-new-cvr

  SUNDAY SAUCE

 

 Caputo

CAPUTO BAKERS CARROL GARDENS, BROOKLYNCaputos Bake Shop, Carrol Gardens, BROOKLYN

Mario Fortunato

Mario Fortunato, FORTUNATO BROTHERS BAKERY

BROOKLY NEW YORK

Sfogiatelle

SFOGIATELLE

Fortunato Bros. Bakery

HOT COFFEE

Hot Coffee

 

HOT COFFEE

…………………..

 

Hot Coffee

I Love thee So

 

Do You Love Me?

It matters not

My love for thee, is the unrequited

Whether

You love me or not

Still thee do I Love



You’re warm You’re Hot

I love it hot

 

You taste

Oh so Good

 

I need you

whether or not you need me

Still, you’re always there

for me

Each and every morning of my life

you’re there

and I have thee

whether or not you want me

 

Your’e Hot

then warm

then cold



but you’re always there

I have you

two or three times a day

I have you

sometimes more

 

You comfort me and you’re always there

you’re coffee

sometimes Sweet

sometimes not

you can be bitter at times

but I love when you’re Hot!

Hot, just for me

Thank You


Thanks for the comfort

the taste

the consistancy



You’re Coffee



I Love it when you’re HOT



Coffee





Poem by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke



 

I Love Coffee


COFFEE
GREEK COFFEE CUP ART

Made From LITTLE PIECES
of
NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY
Metro Cards

Friggin Amazing !!!!





SECRET RECIPES Inside !!!

Red Beans & Rice at MANDINAS NEW ORLEANS

Mandina’s
 
3800 Canal Street, Mid-City New Orleans
 
 
Mandina’s is Awesome and Just about as good as it gets when it comes to wonderful, real restaurants that are un-contrived, but just cool in its oldness. I read about Mandina’s in a great little book about the best of New Orleans. The place sounded wonderful so I just had to go. Just getting there was great as I took a long Trolley-Ride on The Canal Street Trolley to get there. Took about a half hour. When I walked in the door, I knew I made a good choice. The place was jumping with regulars, and both the dining-room and bar were packed, “A Good Sign.” I bellied up to the bar and got myself a perfectly made “Bourbon Old Fashion” my drink of choice whenever I’m in The Big Easy, except when at Napoleon House where I opt for the House Drink, a nice “Pimms Cup.”
   I waited about 15 minuted for my table and it was well worth it. I got a Gumbo to start, followed by Veal Milanese with Red Beans & Rice since it was Monday and Red Beans & Rice day in New Orleans. A cool sweet old black man was my server, he was great. I had a wonderful time there at Mandina’s just taking in all the activity. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and they were and it was great to feel and watch.
 Oh, by the way, there wasn’t a tourist in sight, other than me, but not really as I don’t consider myself a tourist but a visitor. Mandina’s is far from the French Quarter, it is filled with locals, and this is all the more reason for a tourist to go there, “No other tourists, just locals in a great place that is packed with people who love it, and all having a grand time. Go there, and you’ll have a grand time too, I guarantee!
 
 
 
 
My Yelp Review of Mandina’s from 2011 … Everything Still Applies
 
 
Hop on a Canal Street Streetcar to Get There
 
It’s a Nice 20 Minute Ride for a Wonderful Time at Mandina’s
 
 
 
 
RED BEANS & RICE
 
a  POBOY  (Poor Boy)
 
&
FRIES
 
The DINING ROOM at MANDINA’S JUMPS
 
 
 
 
 

SECRET RECIPES

SUNDAY SAUCE ITALIAN GRAVY

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In New York Regular Coffee is King

COFFEE





Coffee and Cafes. Two things very near and dear to me. Million so others as well. In New York, we have the Best, “For getta bout it Seattle” !!! I remember 25 years ago and more when there were no Starbucks and just very few cafes in the hole city. More or less the only cafes were in Greenwich Village, Little Italy, and the East Village. There were hole neighborhoods, completely cafeless and if you wanted to go to one you had to go to the Village or Little Italy, nothing on the hole Upper East Side.

   Anyway, Coffee and Cafes are a huge thing these days and part of many a life.
Coffee and cafes, let me tell you about some of the best and my impressions. Hey, I’m a guy who has been frequenting cafes for years, each and every day, just about. I haven’t Jumped on the Band Wagon in the past 5 or ten years. I’ve been riding it for 30.
   Number “One,” in New York,  a good Cup of Joe is King, “Regular” not
Grande Caramel Latte and overpriced crap like that. Not the esoteric overpriced espresso, Cortado, Machiato, Blue Bottle, and Site Specific Coffee, and blends that try to break down and make too make of a good simple thing. You know what I mean. A “Cup of Joe,” is King. Used to be Five Cents at coffee shops all over the city. Well that’s going way back. Hey don’t get me wrong, I love Espresso, Espresso Machiatto, and the great Cortado they serve at Abraco. It’s just that I gotta tell you, a “Regular” is King and let’s hope it always will be.
   Abraco is utterly awesome. Maybe the Best Single tasting coffee in town, is their Cortado. Man it’s tasty. Just out of this world. But I have some problems with Abraco, as I’m not someone to pay a Premium for what I call “Hit and Run Coffee”
What is “Hit and Run Coffee” you ask? Well, let me tell you. Hit and Run Coffee is a coffee that you get at places like Caffeteria, Abraco, Third Rail Coffee, and tiny little Coffee Bars that have little or no chairs and tables and maybe just a small counter space for standing. Listen, I’m not in the habit of paying  $3.50, $4.50 or “More” for a cup of coffee, having to stand at a counter, drinking it in short time and leaving. Ending up $5.00 or more less in my pockets. Well you may think, “What’s $5.00?” Right? What’s Five Dollars? Imagine if you have 5 $5.00 coffees a week for one year. Do you know how much money that adds up to? Relax, I’ll do the Math for you. That’s $1,300 my friends. No small sum? Multiply that by 5 years and you’re talking $6,500, or by Ten Years and we’re talking $13,000. That’s a lot of Friggin Cash my friends. Hey I’m not saying you should not go out and have coffee. I do all the time. Heck, on my days off, I sometimes end up in cafes three times in one day.  I spend about $1,508 a year on coffee, $7,500 in five years or about $15,000 in ten. That’s a lot. But I get a lot. Heck, I used to spend about $2,200 a year on coffee,  $10, 000 or more in 5, or about $20,000 in ten years. But I have cut back. I’ve seen the light. I hardly ever spend $5.00 on a coffee any more. All I need is the $2.00 variety. A good honest “Cup of Joe,” a “Regular.” And I need to get my money’s worth. If I just wanted a good cup can easily make a great one in my house for just “15 Cents a Cup,” but I go and have one at a Café for 15 times that amount. Why? The extra $2.35 I pay for the coffee plus tip, is to be able to “Sit” down and relax in a nice pleasant atmosphere. I’m not gonna pay 27 times ($3.75 Average price coffee at Upscale Coffee Bar) to stand at a counter and not being able to sit down and relax. At home I can  make a tasty cup of Coffee from the Highest Quality Coffee money can buy with the coffee I buy at  “Porto Rico Coffee” on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, just a half block from my house. No, I pay all that extra money to sit in the pleasant environment of a nice coffee. Also to see other people, maybe a friend or the possibility of meeting someone new and interesting. I read, I write, I hang with friends, I relax. I can not do that at a overpriced “Coffee Bar” that doesn’t have any place to sit.
  And speaking of Porto Rico Coffee, it mystifies me that people are so foolish as to pay $11.95 or more for a mass-produced commercial pound of Coffee from Starbucks instead of going to the “Best Coolest Place in Town” to be some of the World’s Finest Coffee at Porto Rico Coffee, people who have been doing this for more than 100 years, not 20. It just doesn’t make sense. By the way, the coffee I buy at Porto Rico is just $5.99 and $6.99 a pound, half the price of a pound of Starbucks Coffee.
   Anyway. It’s all up to you. I’ll  stick with my Regular “Cup of Joe” with a Espresso and Cappucino thrown in here and there, and as a special treat a Cortado from Abraco every now and then. And I’ll get to sit down and relax with my coffee each day, putting an extra $1,000 a year in my pocket, or Airfare and a few nice meals when I go on vaction. How bout you, “Hit and Run”and pay more, or Sit Down and Relax, Pay Less, Save, and put a Thousand Bucks a Year in your pockets, or $10,000 in ten ? 


by “DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE”






The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

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