Sunday, January 30, 2022

STEAK and Creamed Spinach Steakhouse Recipe




Percectly Cooked Steak

Medium Rare 



A BIT ABOUT STEAK


Beef purists may prefer to take in the unadulterated, rich flavour of a quality steak by adding nothing more than a sprinkling of salt and a generous twist of pepper. 

Searing a steak until it gets a caramelised brown crust will give it lots of flavour. For this to happen, the pan and the fat need to be hot enough. The conventional way is to sear it on one side, then cook it for the same amount on the other side. This gives good results but the second side is never as nicely caramelised as the first. To build up an even crust on both sides, cook the steak for the total time stated in the recipe, but turn the steak every minute.


HOW to COOK YOUR STEAK

Get your Butcher to cut you a nice Sirloin or Rib Steak a inch & a half thick. If you can afford it, it is best to buy Prime Beef Steaks, you will taste the difference, and Prime Meat is the best (though not cheap). If you can't afford to buy Prime Beef, you can get Choice Beef, and it will taste good if proerly seasoned and cook, but it just won't taste as good as Primed Beef. 


COOKING YOUR STEAK

  1. Season your Steak liberally with Salt  and fresh ground Black Pepper.
  2. Heat a heavy-based frying pan until very hot but not smoking.
  3. Drizzle some oil into the pan and leave for a moment.
  4. Add the steak to the pan.
  5. Sear evenly on each side for our recommended time, turning every minute for the best caramelised crust.
  6. After you have turned the Steak over to its second side, after it has cooked for 1 minute on the second side, add a nob of butter to the pan.
  7. When the butter melts, baste the steak with the butter for the last minute of cooking by, using a spoon, pour the melted butter over the top of the Steak.
  8. Leave to rest on a board or warm plate for about 5 mins.
  9. Serve the steak whole or carved into slices with the resting juices poured over.

NOTE : MEDIUM RARE STEAK . This (MR) will be the benchmark for you to cook your steak. If you are cooking a 1 & 1/2" Steak at medium-high heat, you will need to cook your Steak between 2 1/2 and 3 minutes per side for a nice Medium Rare Steak.

RARE  ... Cook about a minute less per side than the above Medium Rare Steak

MEDIUM ... Cook about 1 minute more per side than the medium rare Steak. About 3 1/2 to 4 minutes per side.

Well Done ... Cook about 4 1/2 minutes per side for a Well Done Steak.


Additional flavors :  You can add a couple drops of Worscheter Sauce to the pan juice. Add the Worcestershire Sauce to the pan juice, mix together. Once you have placed the Steak (or Steaks) on to the plates, evenly drizzle the pan juices over the steaks.

Serve with potatoes, Creamed Spinach, or whatever you like.







Two Nicely Cooked SIRLOIN STEAKS






A COUPLE NICE RIB EYE STEAKS

Notice the Garlic and Rosemary in Pan

If you Like, you Can Cook your STEAKS

with or Without GARLIC & ROSEMARY in the PAN

BON APPETITE !





 



STEAKHOUSE CREAMED SPINACH



Creamed Spinach, along with Shrimp Cocktail, and Potaotes is a favorite Steakhouse staple.

Creamed Spinach is a simple side dish that is also the perfect way to use up any dying spinach. The creaminess will make you forget you're eating spinach and turn anyone into a fan of leafy greens. It seems like a lot of spinach, but it will boil down into almost nothing so don't skimp on it. 



STEAKHOUSE CREAMED SPINACH - Recipe

Ingredients :

  • 2 pounds Spinach, washed

  • 3/4 cup Heavy Cream

  • 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted Butter

  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt (Sea Salt or Kosher)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground Black Pepper

  • 3 quarts Boiling Salted Water (to cook Spinach in)


  • Place Spinach in boiling water. The water will stop boiling when you put the spinach in.

  • Once the water comes back to the boil, cook for 30 seconds, then turn heat off. Drain the cooked spinach into a colander. 

  • Fill the pot you cooked the spinach in with cold water. Add the spinach and let sit for 2 minutes. 

  • Drain the spinach again in the colander. Let sit.

  • Put the Cream in a small sauce pan and turn the heat on to mediu. Add a pinch of salt, and cook the cream over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the cream starts to thicken. Turn heat off.

  • Remove the spinach from colander, and squeeze the spincah to get as much possible water out of the spinach.

  • Spinach on a cutting board, and roughly chop the spinach with a chefs knife.
  • Dump any remaining water that was in the pot you cooked the spinach in. Make sure the pot is dry. Place butter in the pot and heat on low heat until the butter melts.
  • Add the spinach to the pot with the Salt and Black Pepper. Heat for one minute on medium heat.
  • Add the cream to the pot with the spinach and cook on medium heat for two minutes. Lower heat to low and cook another 3 minutes on low heat.
  • Turn off heat and serve the Creamed Spinach with a Steak, Chicken, Fish or whatever you like.
  • Enjoy!





HOW to COOK The PERFECT ITALIAN STEAK

RECIPE  in SUNDAY SAUCE

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke





SUNDAY SAUCE

PASTA - SOUPS - SAUCE

CHICKEN - STEAKS and ???






"Don't overcook it" !




"You overcook it, it defeats its own purpose"


ROBERT DeNIRO

As JAKE LaMOTTA


























Thursday, January 27, 2022

NY Italian Food Wine Guy Restaurant Career


.  


Me-Stuzzachini


RESTAURANT GUY

BEST SELLING AUTHOR

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

When Daniel was The Wine Director of BAR STUZZICHINI NY  NY
These are all wines from some of my very good Winemaking Italian Friends, including:CAMPACIO from Roberto Gundeler, "Ronco di Mele" Sauvignon Blanc from Gianni Venica, "MILLE UNA NOTTE" From Antonio Rallo (Marsala) BARBI BRUNELLO, and CERASAULO di VITTORIO from my friend, the beautiful Frances Planet, Menfi, Sicily ...  


THIS IS MY RESTAURANT and WRITING CAREER

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke


 
Me-LUIGI-CAPPELLINI copy

Me and My Good Friend CAVELIERI LUIGI CAPPELLINI
the owner of CASTELLO VERRAZZANO , Greve in Chianti
Picture taken during my tenure as Wine Director of DeGrezia Restorante New York


LUIGI Makes thee Absolute BEST CHIANTI you'll ever taste!



Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.20.44 PM.png

 
WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR MY in The RESTAURANT BUSINESS

The CAMBRIDGE INN , Parmaus , NJ


I was a Busboy here for almost 4 years when I was in High School 1972 - 1976
" I Was a Great Busboy" So Good, the waitresses would all fight over me to be there busboy for the night, as if I did, they'd have less work to do. I did it all. I was Bad Ass !!! I still am!" Working at The CAMBRIDGE INN , I got the restaurant bug, and I learned a Hell of a lot. About the Restaurant Business and Life. I learned how to become the Best Dam Busboy anybody could possibly be, and I was. I watched everybody, especially the cooks, and I dreamed of becoming one day, and to be a Chef too. And I did. .


Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.22.11 PM.png


The CONTINENTAL in The Early 60s

would Later become The CAMBRIDGE INN




.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.10.20 PM

LUTECE

and The Renowned CHEF / OWNER ANDRE SOLTNER
Was my first Kitchen Job . Pre Cook Summer 1979



 
.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.01.47 PM.png


After working at LUTECE my friend Loic, Chef at Le Relais hooked me up with his friend 

Chef Michele Fitousi at The PALACE RESTAURANT on East 59th Street.   .





Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.43.37 PM.png


The Famous JOHN'S of 12th STREET

LUCKY LUCIANO 'S Favorite Restaurant

My First Waiters Job


I worked at JOHN'S almost 7 years (Part Time) in the 1980s while I also worked full-time as a cook and later Sous Chef as I was learning to becoming a CHEF after attending        New York Technical College (Restaurant Program) in Brooklyn ..





 
.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.44.54 PM.png


I worked at The ODEON Under the Great Chef Patrick Clarke in the early 80s





.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 8.13.23 PM.png


JAY McINEREY "s BRIGHt LIGHTS BIG CITY
ODEON on Cover

It's Funny but my Life at the Time Mirrored that of the main character (played by Michael J Fox in the Movie) ... We'll get to that later.



.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.44.30 PM.png


The ODEON

The restaurant now, is quite horrible and has been for the past 20 years, but it once was one of the Coolest Restaurants on the Planet. The restaurant was doing well when it first opened, but when the creator of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Loren Michaels started bringing the Cast of SNL down to the ODEON after the SNL Show rapped every Saturday late into the evening, the Odeon became a Hot overnight success. 




.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 8.54.07 PM.png


The First ITALIAN RESTAURANT I COOKED AT

CAIO BELLA

This is the only picture I could find from the place back in 1987




.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 8.36.57 PM


. I got to know the great Sculptor Arturo Di Modica (Wall Street Bull fame)when I was cooking at Caio Bella . Arturo ate at Caio Bella almost every night.He parked his Red Ferrari right outside the restaurant. One of the greatest compliments I've ever had in my career was from Arturo who told , "I love the way you cook."   .



Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 8.40.32 PM.png


Arturo's Famous WALL STREET BULL






.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 8.52.43 PM.png


My Ex-Boss , Owner of CAIO BELLA

Enrico Proietti

Pictured here with a Small Fortune Worth of WHITE TRUFFLES





Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 8.28.45 PM.png


Me Back in The DAY

During The Time I was Working at CAIO BELLA

Hanging Out with Nicoletta at Casa Albertina POSITANO , ITALY




 
.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.19.03 PM.png


LONG BEFORE ANTHONY BOURDAIN

I Helped Opened LES HALLES RESTAURANT in 1990






  .
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.19.56 PM.png


Then it was a year and a Half Stint at the famed CAFE des ARTISTES


.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.30.17 PM.png


A Howard Chandler Christy Mural at CAFE des ARTISTES

I dreamed up my own restaurant while at Cafe des Artistes. I put together a business plan for my concept BAR CICHETTI which I created America's FIRST EVER Venetian Wine Bar (BACARO) Restaurant .






 
.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.49.08 PM.png


Finally My own Restaurant

BAR CICHETTI

America's First Venetian Bacaro


.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.50.09 PM.png


Me in my Chef Whites with CAMERON DIAZ


BAR CICHETTI





Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.49.31 PM.png



Picture on Left is Me & My KITCHEN CREW at BAR CICHETTI , Middle: Me and Super Model FRANKI RAYDER , far right My Buddy Raoul, Me , and MATT DILLON   .






Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.47.26 PM.png


After my Partner Tom and I parted our ways at BAR CICHETTI, I took a month rest, and one day accepted SILVANO MARCHETTO 'S offer for me to go work as Maitre'd Manager at his famed restaurant in GREENWICH VILLAGE Da SILAVANO which was at the time, thee # 1 HOTTEST CELEBRITY SPOT Restarant in New York City.





Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.48.30 PM.png


The Affable Character owner of Da Silvano ,

SILVANO MARCHETTO




 
.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.51.08 PM.png


BARBETTA



.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.50.58 PM


The WINE LIBRARY at BARBETTA



.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.50.41 PM


Hillary & Bill Clinton with Laura Maioglio ( Owner of Barbetta )
and her husband NOBEL PRIZE WINNER Dr. Gunter Blobel




.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 7.49.45 PM


With Friends SEBASTIANO ROSA (Sassiacaia) 
and Proprietor of NOZZOLE in GREVE, GIOVANNI FOLNARI at TRE BICCHIERI





 
.
Screen Shot 2017-10-25 at 12.05.38 AM.png





Mario Batali

Screen Shot 2017-10-25 at 12.03.53 AM


I worked for MARIO BATALI JOE 
and LIDIA BASTIANCH at DEL POSTO




.


Restaurateur Celebrity Cookbook Author LIDEA BASTIANICH







.
   
.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.58.45 PM.png


BAR STUZZICHINI


.
Screen Shot 2017-10-24 at 11.58.34 PM.png


Chef Paul DiBari (far Left) at BAR STUZZICHINI





My Days at BAR STUZZICCINI

WINE DIRECTOR

Some of My Best Italian Friends Wines

(L to R)  Terrabianca "CAMPACCIO"

VENICA "RONCO de MELE" Sauvignon 

Donnafugata "MELLE Una NOTTE"

Fattoria Barbi BRUNELLO

Roberto Gundeler, Gianni Venice, M. Colombini, Francesca Planeta

PLANETA  Cerasaulo di Vittorio











MONTE'S TRATTORIA

GREENWICH VILLAGE, New York

SINCE 1918






 .

MY WRITING CARRER



8dce8-screen2bshot2b2016-10-302bat2b2-25-182bpm
 


SUNDAY SAUCE 
BY ME
DANIEL BELLINO "Z"
THE RESTAURANT GUY

In PAPERBACK & KINDLE

# BEST SELLING ITALIAN COOKBOOK AMAZON KINDLE
For 3 YEARS
MORE THAN ANY OTHER ITALIAN COOKBOOK


.
.
b253c-screen2bshot2b2016-09-282bat2b2-13-032bpm


The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK

SECRET RECIPE

BOLOGNESE SAUCE


THE JOURNAL of ITALIAN FOOD WINE and TRAVEL

"Daniel Makes the Best Ragu Bolognese in America"

That's Why He's Called DANNY BOLOGNESE



 
Screen Shot 2016-09-03 at 3.22.55 PM


GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK 

RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA







   
b9925-screen2bshot2b2016-08-222bat2b11-04-432bam


MANGIA ITALIANO !

COMING SOON







MAKING a POT of SUNDAY SAUCE

at MACARI VINEYARDS


.

    .    

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Famous ITALIAN AMERICANS / SICILIAN

 

SICILIAN AMERICANS





AL PACINO

From The BRONX NEW YORK  ..  ALis a Famous SICILIAN-AMERICAN



.

A YOUNG FRANK SINATRA

  
FAMOUS SICLIAN AMERICANS 


FRANK SINATRA
JOE DiMAGGIO
AL PACINO
LOUIS PRIMA
LADY GAGA
MARTIN SCORSESE
FRANK ZAPPA
VINCENT SCHIAVELLI
SONNY BONO
CHRIS CHRISTIE
JON BON JOVI (Bongiovi)
LIZA MINNELLI
MARIO CUOMO
ANDREW CUOMO
NANCY SINATRA
JOE MONTANA
CHARLES ATLAS
 
 
"JOLTIN JOE"
.
 
 
"DiMaggio"
 
Joe D

The Yankee Clipper
and The Greatest Italian-American
Baseball Player of All-Time

Joe DiMaggio

 
SICILIAN

SYLVESTER STALLONE

STEVE TYLER (Tallarico)

CHAZ PALMINTERI
STEVE BUSCEMI
JOHN TURTURRO

FRANK VINCENT
FRANK CAPRA

Richard Castellano (Clemenza)

Charles "LUCKY" Lucciano

BEN GAZZARA
JOE MANTEGNA
SAL MINEO 
MARIO PUZO
Britney Spears "Beleive It or Not"

TONY DANZA

Mike PiazzPatti Lupone

Author Daniel Bellino "Z"

"ROCKY"
.
.

"SLY"

SYLVESTER STALLONE

 aka ROCKY 
  Sylvester grew up in Hell's Kitchen 
on the West Side of New York City , NY



 
2Pacino


AL PACINO

BRONX, NEW YORK


.
2Richard_Castellano.jpg


Richard Castellano NEW JERSEY

as "CLEMENZA" The GODFATHER


e9ca6-screen2bshot2b2016-10-302bat2b2-25-182bpm 

  SUNDAY SAUCE

When Italian-Americans Cook

RECIPE SUNDAY SAUCE alla SINATRA






2MaRTYScresese

MARTIN SCORSESE 

  Family from POLIZZI GENEROSA , SICILY

Marty grew up on Elizabeth Street 

  LITTLE ITALY NEW YORK  



2frank_vincent_raging_bull.jpg


Frank Vincent 

as SALVI in Martin Scorsese's RAGING BULL

Frank Vincent grew up around Newark, New Jersey, 

along with his childhood friend Joe Pesci



2SINATRA


SINATRA 

Franks Sinatra's Father Antonio Martino Severio Sinatra 

  was Born in LERCARA FRIDDI Sicily 

he Immigrated to New York and Hoboken, NJ



2LIZA.jpg


LIZA MINNELLI


Liza Minnelli's father was Famed Director VINCENT MINELLI
who married JUDY GARLAND (Liza's Mother). 

Vincent Minnelli was the Vincent Minelli's Paternal Grandfather 
was VINCENZO MINNELLI  of Palermo, Sicily 
who was a SICILIAN REVOLUTIONARY who was forced to leave SICILY 

in 1848 with his Brother Dominic.  



.
1GrandmaBELLINOcookbook.jpg


GRANDMA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK 

RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNO  

GIUSEPPINA FROM LERCARA FRIDDI SICILY


.
zzzzBellino


The BELLINO'S 

FILLIPO , LUCIA , TONY , GIUSEPPINA SALEMI BELLINO 

Missing From Picture are Brothers Jimmy and Frank and Sisiter Lilly 

LODI , NEW JERSEY 1940



.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzGrandpaBELLINO.jpg


FILLIPO BELLINO 

Of LERCARA FRIDDI , SICILY

Immigrated to NEW YORK 1904

A few Years Later moved to LODI , NEW JERSEY

Where FILLIPO Opened a SHOEMAKER SHOP on MAIN STREET  

FILLIPO was Father to JAMES, LILLY, FRANK, LUCIA, and TONY
 
Grandfather of Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke .



1MeSIRACUSA


Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

at TEATRO GRECO

SIRACUSA , SICILY


Best Selling Italian Cookbook Author and Italian Wine Authority, Daniel grew up in East Rutherford and Carlstadt, New Jersey, before moving to New York City in 1982, making his home in the East Village of New York, before moving to Greenwich Village in 1995. Daniel lives and writes about Italian-American Food & Culture and about Italy and Italian Food and Wine from all regions of Italy, and especially of the south of Sicily, Napoli, and The Amalfi Coast. Best Selling Italian Cookbooks by Daniel on Amazon.com 

  NOT SO FAMOUS SICILIANS

But WONDERFUL PEOPLE NEVER The LESS


Screenshot 2020-01-31 at 1.21.25 PM


Santo Caruso & his wife Nunzia Pignataro Caruso

On Their WEDDING DAY







"Don't Forget the Cannolis"

Said Clemenza's Wife

He DIDN'T

We see Pete Clemenza here, carrying a box of CANNOLI 
for his  wife, Mrs. Clemenza



.