Sunday, July 24, 2016

Celebrate Saint Josephs Day Sicilian Style



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St Joseph
aka
San Giuseppe




The March 19 is the Feast of St. Joseph , the day when, in Italy , we also celebrate all the dads and is the festival that opens the door to the Spring . The festivities in honor of the Patriarch St. Joseph are widespread in many cities and towns of the Sicilia . the figure of St. Joseph , foster father of Jesus and husband of Maria , is deeply felt and venerated, also demonstrated by the many Sicilians who bear his name. in the memories of most Sicilians is the memory of the picture, the statue or printing of St. Joseph in her arms the Child Jesus , in plain sight in the homes of our grandparents . the Holy Patriarch is loved even today, as a symbol of ' honesty , of' humility , of ' love and family , and sacred values absolutely be protected. in Trapani , in many municipalities belonging to the Diocese ofMazara del Vallo , as Campobello di Mazara , Castelvetrano , Santa Ninfa , Salemi , are set up altars to honor the patriarch St. Joseph . in almost all the countries of the Diocese is celebrated rite of the " Dinner of the Saints ": the Saints knock on the door asking for hospitality; twice they are not accepted. The third opens wide the door and the Saints enter the house, where you will eat dinner. A Salemi you start with dinner on March 19th when we celebrate the religious rite of the " Dinners San Giuseppe ", last a week, with exhibitions and exhibitions food and wine ; are set up altars decorated with lemons , twigs d ' laurel , orangesand the typical " bread " manufactured by local women into veritable works of art. The " bread" in the shape of the symbols of Pentecost , like the fish , the three nails, scale, or make reference to nature; devotees who organize dinner must prepare a meal with 101 dishes , made from vegetables , grains , fish , fruit and sweets of every variety. After dinner there is the rite of the blessing of the " bread " which are then distributed to the children, who represent the Holy Family and the many visitors who came to attend the " Eaten there for Saints ." In Sicily , each holiday has a flat or a traditional sweet and the list would be so vast to enumerate them all to risk of forgetting is always someone. At the Feast of St. Joseph , on the



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Sfinci San Giuseppe

St Josephs Day Pastry


tables there was a menu special kind: according tradition imbandire you had a board with various kinds of foods, especially with the bread (symbol of fertility and prosperity) to give refreshment to pilgrims and fugitives; this custom recalls the escape of Mary, Joseph and Jesus to Egypt to escape Herod's order to kill all the firstborn males. We start from the first course, as the famous pasta with sardines and wild fennel , or the virdi soup of San Giuseppi (legumes and vegetables with leftover pasta of various types) from Palermo, or even the " ministredda of"Augusta (whose ingredients must be nineteen). the " maccu ", known throughout the region but especially in the Syracuse area, composed of dried beans , lentils , spinach , onions ,dried chestnuts , oil and ... more; He was present in every home and you had to send a sign of hope, family, friends, neighbors and even the poor of the neighborhood. And then the beccaficu sardines , broccoli and " sparaceddi " and many other dishes, not meat, because we are in the period of Lent . Finally the cake, with the preparation of Sfinci of St. Joseph . It is afried sweet typical of Sicily , widespread especially in western areas of the island, originally produced in Palermo , is part of the cultural and traditional heritage of the region.

SFINCI

The origins of sfincia are very old, seem to date back to the Persians, and there are traces both in the Bible and in the Qur'an , although under different names. As for the ' origin of the name , there are several schools of thought: according to some, the name derives from the Latin " spongia " (sponge), while others derive from the Arabic " isfanǧ " (sponge), a name that was given to the special soft pancakes, irregularly shaped, and, precisely spongy, that Arabs ate covered honey or sugar . the transformation of the Arab sweet fried sfincia we know is due to the Poor Clares of theMonastery of the Stigmata of St. Francis (the monastery was demolished in 1875, stood on the site where today we admire the Teatro Massimo ), who dedicated the sweet to the Holy of the Meek , St. Joseph . later, the skill of confectioners Palermo turned the humble sweet delicacy in enriched withricotta cheese and candied fruit that, in recent times, you can enjoy all year round.



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Saint Joseph's Day Pasta

RECIPE in GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK

RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN GRANDMOTHER



by Daniel Bellino Z




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GREAT SICILIAN HOME-COOKED RECIPES


FROM SCILIAN GRANDMOTHER GIUSEPPINA SALEMI BELLINO



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Saturday, June 25, 2016

Italian Bakeris in New York

 
ITALIAN NEW YORK BAKERIES Past & Present
ITALIAN BREAD & PASTRIES
Cappuccino Espresso Cookies Cakes & More
"Mangia Bene" !!!
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.

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Rocco's Pastry Shop, Bleecker Street
GRENWICH VILLAGE





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Cannolo




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Venerio



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PARISI BAKERS
    
PARISI BAKERY, Little Italy, New York
Bread Bakers 
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Ferrara




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COURT STREET PASTRY SHOP
Carroll gardesn Brooklyn

"THAT'S ITALIAN"  !!!!!




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MONTELEONE'S BAKERY & CAFE
Brooklyn  ... NEW YORK
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CAPUTO BAKERS CARROL GARDENS, BROOKLYN

Caputos Bake Shop, Carrol Gardens, BROOKLYN
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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Goodfellas Prison Sunday Gravy

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Excerpt From SUNDAY SAUCE  by Daniel Bellino

  Big Paulie: “Don’t put too many onions in the Sauce Vinny!” Vinny: “I didn’t Paul. I put 3 small onions, that’s all. Johnny Dio: “3 Onions? How many cans of tomatoes did you use?” Vinny:  “Two.” Johnny Dio: “That’s too many onions!” .    After the scene in The Godfather with Clemenza showing Michael how to make “Sauce,” and the construction of the Timballo in Big Night, the prison dinner scene in Goodfellas is one of the most famous of all. Johhny Dio is cooking up Steaks, as Big Paulie slices garlic razor thin and lectures Vinny on how many onions go in the “Sauce.”    Myself, I like to use a good amount of onions just like Vinny, who is played by Goodfellas director Martin Scorsese’s father Charlie. When it comes to “Gravy” aka Sunday Sauce, a.k.a., or simply “Sauce,” there are almost as many different recipes and versions as there are cooks who make them. You can make yours according to your own taste and family tradition and put more or less onions and garlic, with Pork Ribs like mine, or not, with Sausage, Meatballs, and Braciole (the most popular), or just with Sausage & Meatballs like Clemenza’s Godfather Mob War Sauce. Just make it good. Use one of the recipes in this book, as a starting point and alter it to your own taste if you like. “Basta e Mangia Bene!”   .     21336-sundaysauce-small-new-cvr   .

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Big Dogs of Italian WIne New York

   
ITALIAN WINE CULTURE NEW YORK

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Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi 

with Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke and Marchese Leonardo Frescobaldi
in
NEW YORK


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SASSICAIA Winemaker SEBASTIANO ROSA

with Friends Daniel Bellino-Zwicke 

and GIOVANNI FOLNARI of NOZZOLE

in
NEW YORK


Marchese Piero Antinori with Writer Daniel Bellino-Zwicke in NEW YORK


Marchese Piero Antinor 

with New York Writer Daniel Bellino-Zwicke



Ferdinando Frescobaldi and Daniel Bellino Zwicke in NEW YORK



MARCHESE FERDINANDO FRESCOBALDI 

Meets With Friend DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE at BRUNELLO EVENT 

in 
NEW YORK




Daniel Bellino-Zwicke & Calvalieri Luigi Cappellini at DeGrezia Restorante NEW YORK

 
LUIGI CAPPELLINI  (L) the Proprietor of CASTELO VERRAZZANO in GREVE in CHIANTI

Meets with Friend and Wine Director of DeGrezia Restorante DANIEL BELLINO ZWIKCE 








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Count Francesco Muroni Cinzano (R) Propietor of Col D'ORCIA


Meets with DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE






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Gianpaoulo Motta and Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke


at Bottega del Vino, Verona Italy




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Antonio Rallo of Donnafugata

with Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke


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Big Dogs of Italian WIne New York

   
ITALIAN WINE CULTURE NEW YORK

Screen Shot 2013-10-26 at 3.52.07 PM
   
Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi with Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke and Marchese Leonardo Frescobaldi
in
NEW YORK


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Screen Shot 2014-06-13 at 1.33.15 PM

SASSICAIA Winemaker SEBASTIANO ROSA
with Friends Daniel Bellino-Zwicke and GIOVANNI FOLNARI of NOZZOLE
in
NEW YORK


Marchese Piero Antinori with Writer Daniel Bellino-Zwicke in NEW YORK


Marchese Piero Antinor with New York Writer Daniel Bellino-Zwicke



Ferdinando Frescobaldi and Daniel Bellino Zwicke in NEW YORK



MARCHESE FERDINANDO FRESCOBALDI Meets With Friend DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE at BRUNELLO EVENT 
in 
NEW YORK




Daniel Bellino-Zwicke & Calvalieri Luigi Cappellini at DeGrezia Restorante NEW YORK

 
LUIGI CAPPELLINI  (L) the Propritor of CASTELO VERRAZZANO in GREVE in CHIANTI
Meets with Friend and Wine Director of DeGrezia Restorante DANIEL BELLINO ZWIKCE 
at DeGrezia in NEW YORK




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Count Francesco Muroni Cinzano (R) Propietor of Col D'ORCIA
Meets with DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE






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Screen Shot 2015-10-10 at 1.21.15 PM

Gianpaoulo Motta & Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
at Bottega del Vino, Verona Italy




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Antonio Rallo of Donnafugata
with Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke


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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Worlds Best Spaghetti Vongole

 
Da MARINO

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INSALATA FRUTTA di MARE




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WORLD'S BEST SPAGHETTI VONGOLE





PIZZA con SOPRESSETA


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THIS PIZZA Was AWESOME !!! As Good as Any in NAPOLI ..
Da Marino is a wonderful Restorante Pizzeria that serves Awesome Neapolitan Food and Great Pizza as well ... It's not as famous as Pizzeria Da Michele where Julia Roberts ate Pizza in  "Eat Pray Love"
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At Da Marino with My PIZZA




I stumbled upon Da Marino one day when I was walking around Napoli looking for a good place to eat  .. I popped my head into Da Marino to see how it looked .. The place looked promising so I decide to give it a go (good move). The hostess / cashier greetedd me and told me to take a seat anywhere I liked .. I picked out a good table against the wall by the Jersey of Diego Marradonna and other players of Team Napoli Futbol Team .. A waiter came and brought me a menu. I looked over the menu of many great Neapolitan Classics and settled on he Insalata Frutta di Mare (Sefood Salad) and Spaghetti Vongole (Spaghetti with Clam Sauce). I also ordered a small carafe of Falhangina (local White Wine).
The waiter brought me me wine and I was a happy camper. I took a sip and it was absolutely marvelous, and would make a great complement to myseafood meal to come. I sat and relaxed, sipping the Falhangina and watched the the large  family Neapolitan family across from me enoying the fine Sunday Meal. The waiters kept bring them platters of food, one after the other, and I must admit I was getting a bit jealous that I wasn't a part of their great feast. They seemedto be having such a wonderful time and I just sat there sipping my wine and enjoying seeing this large Italian family having such a good time.
The waiter brought me my Frutta di Mare, and it looked absoutely spectacular. The salad was filled with Octopus (Pulpo) Calamarri, Mussels (Cozze), Shrimp, and Clams and it looked just perfect. And yes I was write from the looks of it, this Insalta Frutta di Mare was absolute perfection. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I finished the Frutta di Mare, the my waiter brought me a plate of Spaghetti Vongole, the likes I had seen not too many times. This Vongole was like the Frutta di Mare that proceeded it "Absolute Perfection" all the clams perfecty cooked with a little Pepperoncino, Garlic, Olive Oil, parsley, and a few Cherry Tomatoes from the local soils of Mt Vesuvius. Now this was Heaven, I was in a wonderful little restorante in Naploli near The Bay of Naples eating a delicious plate of Spaghetti Vongole while drinking some tasty Falhangina.
Well I finished and made my way tho the bathroom. As I was heading there, I approached the Pizza oven and Pizzaiolo making Pizza. Dam those Pizzas looked good! I came out of the WC and was chatting with the Pizzaiolo.. We had a nice little chat and the Pizza looked so good that I couldn't resist. I wasn't planning on Pizza, and my Antipasto and Pasta were just perfect. But the Pizza looked so good, I just hadd to get one. I ordered a pizza with Sopressata. And yes, it was fantastic, and I was still in 7th Heaven in Da Marino Restroant / Pizzeria (Npales, Italy)
June 2015
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Friday, February 5, 2016

Frank Sinatra Loved Jack Daniels

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THE RAT PACK
 
FRANK SAMMY & DEAN
 
 
Sammy Pours Frank & Dean a JACK DANIELS
 
 
 
 
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FRANK RAISES a GLASS of JACK 
 
FRANK WITH JACK DANIELS 
 
and FRIENDS SHIRLEY McLAIN & DEAN MARTIN
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                             
 
KEITH RICHARDS TOO !
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