The Feast of 7 Fish - Italian Christmas

 

The FEAST of The 7 FISH

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS

Daniel Bellino

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The FEAST of The 7 FISH "ITALIAN CHRISTMAS 

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke is the author of The FEASR of The 7 FISH, 

a popular cookbook celebrating the Italian-American Christmas Eve

tradition. The book features recipes, stories, and instructions for

preparing the multi-course Seafood Meal, known as "La Vigilia"

About Daniel Bellino-Zwicke: 

He is a long-time Italian food and wine professional from New York.

• He has worked as a chef, wine director, and managing partner at various restaurants, including 
  Bar Cichetti
  , which he founded.
• Bellino-Zwicke has authored several best-selling Italian cookbooks, including Sunday Sauce, Ragu Bolognese Cookbook, and Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook.
• He often writes about Italian-American cuisine and culture, incorporating personal stories and travel experiences. 
• About the book, The Feast of The 7 Fish: 

The book serves as both a cookbook and a cultural guide to the traditional meal.

• It provides historical context for the Southern Italian and Italian-American Christmas Eve feast.
• The recipes include traditional dishes such as Baked Clams Oreganta, Seafood Salad, Linguine with Clam Sauce, and Mussels Marinara.
• The book aims to preserve and share the family tradition, which has often been passed down orally through generations. 
• The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes:  

Origin: It is an Italian-American tradition that evolved from the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on the eve of holy days. While fish-centric meals are common in Southern Italy, the specific "seven fishes" tradition is largely an American development.

• Symbolism: The number seven can symbolize various things, including the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, the seven hills of Rome, or the seven days of creation.
• The meal: It is a multi-course dinner featuring a variety of seafood, which can include baccalà (salt cod), calamari, clams, mussels, and eel. The specific dishes often vary by region and family tradition. 

.

Secret Italian Recipes by Bellino Daniel

 

SEGRETO ITALIANO

SECRET ITALIAN RECIPES

And FAVORITE DISHES

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SEGRETO ITALIANO ; Secret Italian Recipes & Favorite Dishes is a cookbook written by author and food historian Daniel Bellino Zwicke

The book was originally published in 2014 and includes a collection of Italian, Sicilian, and Italian-American recipes alongside stories about Italian food and culture. 

Book overview - SEGRETO ITALIANO by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Segreto Italiano is written in the engaging style typical of Daniel Bellino Zwicke, mixing storytelling with authentic recipes. 

Recipes and stories: The book contains a mix of classic, rare, and "secret" recipes alongside personal anecdotes and family stories that connect the dishes to their cultural heritage.

• Unique dishes: Recipes include those passed down from Zwicke's family, such as his Sicilian grandmother, as well as dishes from famous "red-sauce joints" in New York.
• Blends regional and American-Italian cooking: The book distinguishes between strictly Italian, Sicilian, and Italian-American cuisines, recognizing the unique character of the American-Italian dishes. 
• 
  
• About the Author
• Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a New York-based writer, food and wine professional, and restaurant historian. 
• Career: He has over 25 years of experience in the industry, including creating and managing Bar Cichetti, which he describes as "America's First Venetian Wine Bar".

• Expertise: He is considered an authority on Italian wine and has traveled extensively to experience different world cuisines.
• Other works: Some of his other books include Sunday Sauce, The Feast of the 7 Fish, and Grandma Bellino's Italian Cookbook.

The Sinatra Sauce Cookbook

 

SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK

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SINATRA SAUCE

MUSIC MEATBALLS & MERRIEMENT

Daniel Bellino Zwicke is the 

author of the cookbook Sinatra Sauce: Music Meatballs & Merriment, which features Italian-American recipes inspired by Frank Sinatra's favorite foods. The book is about Sinatra's love for Italian food and the meals from his childhood in Hoboken, New Jersey. It is not just a cookbook, but also includes stories about Sinatra's life and dining experiences. 

About the Book

• SINATRA SAUCE -  The book explores the Italian dishes that Frank Sinatra enjoyed throughout his life, including those made by his mother, Dolly, and father, Martino, who was also a good cook.
• Recipes: It features recipes for classic Italian-American dishes that were a part of Sinatra's life, such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Lasagna, and Spaghetti and Meatballs.
• Stories: Interspersed with the recipes are anecdotes and stories about Sinatra dining at famous restaurants like 
  Patsy's
   in Manhattan and 
  Jilly's
   in New York.
• Availability: Sinatra Sauce is available for purchase on Amazon. 
• 
  
• About the author
• Daniel Bellino Zwicke: The author is a lifelong Sinatra fan and a prolific writer on Italian cuisine.

• Other works: Zwicke is also known for other cookbooks, including Sunday Sauce, La Tavola, and Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook. He also has a background as a wine and restaurant professional in New York City. 

Frank Sinatra had a special relationship with several New York restaurants, especially Patsy's on West 56th Street, and was a regular patron of Jilly's, a nightclub owned by his friend

. 

PATSY'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

New York

Favorite dishes: Sinatra's go-to dishes at 

Patsy's

 included clams posillipo, spaghetti and meatballs, and veal milanese. He was known for having very specific preferences. The kitchen crew would prepare his favorite veal milanese, served crispy and lightly garlicked with an arugula salad, precisely to his liking.

• Regular patron: He was such a regular that he had his own special table, and 
  Patsy's
  would even serve him on holidays like Thanksgiving.
• Celebrity gatherings: After performing in New York, Sinatra would bring his friends, including members of the Rat Pack like Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, to 
  Patsy's
  . There, they would dine and socialize upstairs in a private room.
• Legacy: The restaurant still honors Sinatra's memory by serving his favorite veal milanese on his birthday, December 12th, even though it is no longer on the regular menu. 
• 
  
• JILLY'S SALOON - (Jilly's
  )
• The nightclub: Located on West 52nd Street, 
  Jilly's
   was owned by Jilly Rizzo, a close friend of Sinatra. It was a popular hangout spot for Sinatra and the Rat Pack during the 1960s.

• Relaxed atmosphere: While Patsy's offered a dining experience, 
  Jilly's
   was more of a casual hangout where Sinatra could relax with his friends.
• Social hub: It was a place for drinks, music, and mingling with other celebrities and friends. While not specifically a culinary destination, it was a central part of Sinatra's nightlife and social scene in New York. 
• The stories in Sinatra SauceDaniel Bellino Zwicke's book Sinatra Sauce draws on these stories and settings to give readers a taste of the Italian-American food and dining experiences that were central to Frank Sinatra's life. It sets the recipes within the context of the restaurants and home kitchens that shaped Sinatra's palate. 

OTHER FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

P.J. CLARKE'S 

• What he ordered: When visiting this historic saloon, Sinatra was known to sit at his preferred table and order a burger and a Bloody Mary.
• Historical context: Dating back to 1884, this establishment holds deep New York history, and a waitress who knew Sinatra worked there for over 44 years.
• "21" CLUB
  • The setting: The 
    '21' Club
    , known for its speakeasy-era history, was another of Sinatra's destinations.
  • His visit: He typically dined at a large table in the main room. 
  • PATSY'S PIZZERIA - Eat Harlem NYC
  • The East Harlem Original: The legendary pizzeria in East Harlem was a favorite of Sinatra and other celebrities like Dean Martin and Joe DiMaggio.
  • Loyalty from afar: Sinatra's dedication was such that he had 45 pizzas flown to him in Las Vegas for a concert
  GINO'S -  Lexington Avenue
  
  
  Gino's was another favorite of Frank's as well as numerous other Celebs, including : Marilyn Monroe, Ed Sullivan, and others. Gino's was beloved by its loyal clientele who loved the solid Old School Italian dishes, and its old world charm, and naturally the famed Salamandre ZEBRA Wallpaper. It was also famous for its "Pasta Segreta" - Pasta with Secret Sauce.
  
  
  Like at Patsy's, Sinatra would eat Clams Posillipo and Veal Milanese, and loved just a simple plate of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce.
  
  
  Basta !

GINO'S of CAPRI

Inside GINO'S 

Sinatra's simple Pasta Sauce recipe -

While Bellino's book contains many recipes inspired by Sinatra, the singer's own straightforward tomato sauce recipe has been shared in other publications and on food websites. It is a simple marinara sauce, meant to coat the pasta lightly.

• Ingredients: Olive oil, thin-sliced onion, garlic, canned Italian-style tomatoes, salt, pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, and fresh grated parmesan cheese.
• Instructions: The recipe involves sautéing garlic in olive oil, then removing it before adding the onion. Canned tomatoes are briefly blended, then added to the pan and simmered with the herbs and seasonings. Butter is sometimes added to the cooked spaghetti before adding the sauce.

Chef / author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

CHEF DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

CAMERON DIAZ

At "BAR CICHETTI"

NEW YORK

 

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

PLAZA HOTEL - SALERNO ITALY

Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a 

New York-based author, wine and restaurant professional, and former chef. He is known for his cookbooks on Italian-American cuisine and for founding Bar Cichetti, which he describes as "America's first Venetian wine bar". 

Key highlights of his career include:

Restaurant career: With over 25 years in the industry, Zwicke worked as a line cook, sous chef, and executive chef before creating Bar Cichetti in Greenwich Village, New York, in 1998. At Bar Cichetti, he served as chef, wine director, and managing partner.

• Cookbook author: He is the author of several best-selling cookbooks, many of which focus on Italian-American cooking and family traditions. Some of his notable books include:
  • Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook
  • The Feast of the 7 Fish
  • Grandma Bellino's Italian Cookbook
  • Mangia Italiano! Memories of Italian Food
  • Got Any Kahlua?: The Collected Recipes of The Dude, a.k.a. The Big Lebowski Cookbook
• Food and wine writer: As a writer, he specializes in Italian food and wine. His work also includes food essays and stories, often blending his experiences with Italian culture and travel.
• Travel focus: He frequently writes about his travels in Italy, particularly the Amalfi Coast, Positano, Naples, and Capri. He has combined this passion with recipes in his book Positano The Amalfi Coast – Travel Guide / Cookbook.
• Current work: Bellino Zwicke continues to live and write in New York's Greenwich Village, working on new cookbooks and writing projects. 

DANIEL BELLINO & FRIENDS

BAR CICHETTI - NEW YORK

L to R : Daniel Bellino Z, Raul M., Lisa McCauley, Matt Dillon,

Abby, John Lurie & Glenn O'Brien

BAR CICHETTI

"AMERICA'S 1st VENETIAN WINE BAR'

Created by DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE 

& TOM TARACI

GREENWICH VILLAGE - NEW YORK

Established 1998

Positano Amalfi Coast Travel Guide by Bellino

 

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

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POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

Travel Guide - Cookbook

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Daniel Bellino Zwicke has authored a cookbook and travel guide titled "Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook: Travel Guide"

. This book uniquely combines recipes, travel information, and stories about Positano, Capri, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast of Italy. It's designed to be a comprehensive resource for anyone planning a trip to the region or those wishing to experience the cuisine at home. 

The book features recipes for popular dishes from Naples and the Amalfi Coast, such as Insalta di Polpo, Arancini, Eggplant Parmigiano, Polpette (Meatballs), and Spaghetti Vongole, which is considered a local favorite. It aims to provide insights into the region's food culture and inspire readers to recreate the flavors of Positano and the Amalfi Coast in their own kitchens. 

Bellino Zwicke is a Best-Selling Italian cookbook author who has been visiting Positano and the Amalfi Coast since 1985. His personal experiences and deep knowledge of the area are woven into the book's narrative and advice for travelers. This cookbook/travel guide offers a blend of practical information and engaging stories, making it a unique resource for exploring the region's culinary and cultural delights.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

"BACK in POSITANO"

2015

Daniel BELLINO Z

CAPRI

With VINCENZO MANZO

The OWNER of "VILLA MARI AGRITURISMO"

"LEMON FARM"

MINORI, ITALY on The AMALFI COAST

Read about Vincenzo and his Wonderful Lemon Farm Agriturismo

"VILLA MARIA" (Minori), in Daniel's Travel Guide Book

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST - Travel Guide - Cookbook

Available on Amazon.com

More BOOKS by DANIEL BELLINO

AUTHOR PAGE

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DANIEL'S LATEST

"SINATRA SAUCE"

The COOKBOOK

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES

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