Friday, December 29, 2023

First Venetian Wine Bar in America

 

AMERICA'S 1st Ever VENTIAN WINE BAR




BAR CICHETTI

America's 1st Ever VENETIAN WINE BAR (Bacaro)

Created by Daniel Bellino Zwicke & Tom Taraci

Greenwich Village, New York NY



DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE Opens America's 1st ever Venetian Wine Bar (Bacaro) ... Bar Cichetti, W. Houston Street, NY NY

There was a guy named Daniel who took a trip in 1995 to Explore, seek-out, and Study the BACARI (Venetian Wine Bars) of the Magical City of
VENICE, Italy. He had read an article in the New York Times about these treasures of the enchanting city of Venice, "

Daniel was quite intrigued by this little article. It was only 1 page long, but it was magical, and it sparked Daniel's interest enough that he decided he would go to Venice, taking a exploratory trip by which he in 10 days time he would go to as many Bacari as he possibly could fit in. He'd eat lunch, in-between lunch and dinner, and dinner  and all through each and every night for more than a week. He ate a lot of CICHETTI, drank local wine, chit-chatted, immersing himself in the World of Venetian Bacari. He saw  many different wine bars, all throughout Venice, and only got more excited at the prospect of opening one in New York City.

He ate Bacala Mantecato, Sarde en Soar, Bigoli, Fegato alla Veneziana, Riso Bisi, Mortadella, Speck, and all sorts of other Cichetti, Antipasti, Pasta, Fish, Shell Fish, Meat, Poultry, this that and every other thing he could get his hands on. All the local specialties (Cichetti) of the Venetian Wine Bars of Venice.

Before he went, he did as much Pre-Trip Research as was possible in the "Times Previous to the internet"

When he was in Venice, he asked as many questions as he could, striking up conversations with anyone who would listen, "many did." !!!!

Daniel took lots of pictures, ate, drank Wine, and gather recipes. He was smitten with Venice, its Wine Bars (Bacari, BACARO the singular) and the local custom of the Giro d' Ombra.

Daniel "Fell in Love," with the Wine Bars (Bacari) of Venice and felt he just had to open one in NEW YORK. He vowed. Knowone had ever done it. He would be the "FIRST"


Daniel gathered all his info, his RECIPES, pictures, book, everything. He worked on all his recipes, cooking constantly for Friends and Family, he made a Business Plan. He found a partner who "Loved the Idea" as well. They shook hands and vowed to open "BAR CICHETTI" which would be the 1st Venetioan Wine Bar (Bacaro) ever to exist in The United States. 

Daniel and Tom created a beautiful 
Bacaro / Trattoria, with special Imported Venetian Fabric for the banquettes, wainscotting, a beautiful Wood Bar, and fabulous Venetian Glass Chandeliers and scones.

Besides coming up the Idea and Concept of Bar Cichetti, Daniel was the Wine Director and Executive Chef. Daniel's food was quite good. His Caponata was the best in town, his Paparadelle with Duck Ragu was justly famous, and as the Journal of Italian Food and Wine stated, his Bolognese Sauce was considered to be one of the "Best in the Country" Daniel garnered many accolades for the Wine List he created, but especially for his true and tasty Regional Italian Cuisine, gaining positive reviews from : New York Magazine, Crains, Time-Out New York, Wine & Spirits Magazine, and even a 5 Page Color Spread in a Newspaper in Sao Paolo, Brazil.







Daniel Bellino & His Kitchen Crew

BAR CICHETTI

NEW YORK

1998





Daniel Bellino - Cameron Diaz

Bar Cichetti

New York City

1999






SUNDAY SAUCE

DANIEL BELLINO Z








FLIGHTS & HOTELS WORLDWIDE








REM with MICHAEL STIPE

Hanging out with Chef Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Michael Writes a Song and Gives an Impromptu Performance

At BAR CICHETTI

Greenwich Village 1999

NEW YORK NY









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