The History of New York PIZZA

LOMBARDI'S

The ROOT of ALL GREAT PIZZA In AMERICA

GENARO LOMARDI With PIZZAIOLO ANTHONY PERO (Totonno's)

1905: Gennaro Lombardi’s opens America's "First Ever Pizzeria" at  53 1/2 Spring St. in Lower Manhattam, New York, NY .. Some famed Pizzaioli  (Pizza Makers) work there over the years;Anthony Pero founder of Totonno's Coney Island, John Sasso of John's Pizza Bleecker Street, and Pasquale Lancieri aka "Patsy" who opens "Patsy's Pizzeria in Eats Harlem. A Pizza cost a Nickel at Lombardi's in 1905 ..

1924: Anthony “Totonno” Pero opens Totonno’s in Coney Island. Establishes unusual ritual that some Pizzerias carry on to this day. When the dough runs out, the Pizzeria close for the day.

1929: John Sasso opens John’s Pizzeria on Bleecker Street.

1933: Pasquale “Patsy” Lancieri opens Patsy’s in East Harlem.

1956: Average cost of a slice of New York pizza: 15 cents. Price keeps pace with cost of subway fare, seen as a kind of an economic indicator.

1959: Ralph Cuomo opens Ray’s Pizza on Prince Street.

1964: Di Fara Pizza opens in Midwood, Brooklyn.

1977: Saturday Night Fever: John Travolta double-slices it at Lenny’s in Bay Ridge.

1990: Three Ray’s owners, none of them named Ray, band together, form a coalition to trademark the name, and eliminate impostors, or make them pay a fee.

1994: Seventy-nine people are arrested for operating an international drug ring out of a midtown Famous Original Ray’s.

2004: Anthony Mangieri opens Una Pizza Napoletana. Some cal him "The Pizza Nazi" 

2004: Zagat awards Di Fara 28 rating for food along with Le Bernardin and Jean Georges; Di Fara also receives lowest rating ever for décor: 5.

TOTONNO'S OPENED IN 1924 

By FORMER LOMBARDI'S PIZZAIOLO

ANTHONY PERRO

photo by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

JOHN'S PIZZERIA

OPENED 1929

By FORMER LOMBARDI'S PIZZAIOLO JOHN SASSO

photo Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

PATSY'S OPENED 1933

by FORMER LOMBARDI'S PIZZAIOLO

PASQUALE LACIERI

PATSY'S

BACK In The DAY

PATSY'S PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA SPAGHETTI HOUSE

Circa 1933

East Harlem, New York

The Maestro of PIZZA

Mr. Dominic DeMarco

DiFara Pizza

Brooklyn, NEW YORK

Many consider DiFara Pizza made by the Maestro of Pizza Mr. Dom DeMarco to be New York's # 1 very best Pizza of all. That my friends means it's the best pizza in America and I wouldn't disagree.

Sunday Sauce 

by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

MANGIA ITALIANO

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

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SOPHIA e la PIZZA

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      .

The SUPER BOWL of WINE

Bottega del Vino

aka Bottega Vini

VERONA, ITALY

One of the oldest and historical Osteria in Verona. Bottega del vinowas founded in 1890 and nowadays is one of the most renowned restaurant in town, especially for the huge wine selection it offers. More than 1500 labels and 40.000 bottles with rarities and exceptionally valuable vintages. A chance to taste and discover not only almost all the local Veronese, but also other Italian and world wines.

Antica Bottega delVino is an illustrious survivor of the hundred osterias that once dotted Verona, meeting places for guilds and corporations. This was where the local dialect poets hung out together with Berto Barbarani, the bard of Verona, joined by journalists from the L'Arena and Gazzettino newspapers. Painters such as Dall’Oca Bianca and Umberto Boccioni came here to down quinti and goti.Antica Bottega del Vino is the only restaurant in Verona to be officially recognised as a “historic establishment” and boasts one of the 10 best restaurant wine cellars in Italy.

Inside The Bottega del Vini

VERONA

The Board at BOTTEGA del VINO

I first went onto the Bottega Vini on a trip I made to Italy in 1995 .. I fell in love with the place immediately. What Italian Wine lover wouldn't, for the Bottega del Vini iw without quetion Italy's single most famous WIne Bar of all. Some have coined it a Shrine to Wine, and I attend to agree. Over the years I've coined a number of terms myself that no one else had ever thought of until I myself, terms like Meatball Parm Mondays and others including one I thought up for the famed Bottega d' Vini of Verona, Italy ... The term I invented pertains to the Bottega Vini for just 5 days of the year. These 5 days are during the great Italian Wine Expostion held every April in Verona which is known as Vinitaly, which happens to be the largets wine exposition in the world incuding the great one they have in Bordeaux. 

Vinitaly for an Italian Wine Freak like me is one of the highlights of the year. I usually go to Veron and the fair the last three days of the event, to see and taste wine at Vinitaly with my many friends who have vineyards all over Italy. Friends like Nadi Zenato (Zenato Amarone), Sebastiano Rosa (winemaker of Sassicaia & Barua), famed wine-maker and owner of Podere Scalette in Greve Mr. Vittorio Fiore, Marchese Ferdinando Frescobaldi, Luigi Cappellini of Castello Verrazzano (Chianti), the Columbini's of Fattori Barbi (Brunello) Raffaela Bologna of Giacomo Bologna (Barbera), The King of Barbaresco my buddy Italo Stupino of Castel Neive and others.

I see all my friends who have vineyards all over Italy, we tatse their wines ; Brunello, Barolo, Chianti and ??? We chi-chat and I make plans with some to visit their vineyards for 5 days after Vinitaly has closed. I wake up, have breakfast, head to the fiar grounds and taste wine for about 6 hours before heading back to my hotel to freshen up, take a shower and a nap for a couple hours before going out for dinner at one of my favorite osteria or trattoria in Verona. We have a splendid meal each night with antipasti, pasta, Amarone, Valpolicella and what-not. After dinner it's off to Bottega Vini which is packed to the gills with Italians, Japanese, New Yorkers and others in the Italian Wine and or restuarant business along with some hardcore Italian Wine Geeks. The place is packed and for a New York Italian Wine Guy (formely Wine DIrector of; Barbetta, Bar Cichetti, and Bar Stuzzuchini) it's pure heaven. After the Italians the second highest number of peoples ahppens to be New York Italian Wine Guys such as myself. These New Yorkers are made up of people who sell wine on either the wholesale level (Wine Distributors and Importers) or the retail level (mostly at Italian Restaurants in NY or wine stores) ... Yes it's great to be in this shrine to Italian Wine in the beautiful little Italian city of Verona during the greatest Italian Wine Event of all, Vinitaly. We're here at this historical wine bar with our Italian friends who make wine along with our friends and fellow New York Italian Wine Peeps and it's pure Bliss, and thus when describing it one day to a friend who wanted to know a little bit about it, I gave him a description and then just told him that being inside the Bottega Vini during Vinitaly was like the Super Bowl and for Italian Wine Guys it was quite literally The Super Bowl of Wine.

Priming a Grand Burgundy Glass

at Bottega Vini

VERONA

This is the preferred Wine Glass to Drink Amarone

in Verona and its surrounding wine towns

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Severino Barzan

longtime owner of Bottega Vini

has sold this famed Osteria to a consortium of Amarone producers

The Amarone Families

as They are Called

Who Now Own The Bottega Vini

ALLEGRINI

MASI

SPERI

MUSELLA

TEDESCHI

TOMMASI

VENTURINI

ZENATO

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Giampaolo Motta (owner La Massa ... Greve)

and Author Daniel Bellin Zwicke at Bottega Vini

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TOMMASI AMARONE

One of The Top Producers

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Author / Italian Wine-Guy DANIEL BELLINO

with NADIA ZENATO

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Joe Macari of Macari Vineyards Mattituk, 

New York with Giovanni Folnari of Nozzole

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke and Anthony Bellino

Vinitaly 2003, Verona, Italy

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..   TRIP ADVISOR Review of BOTTEGA del VINO by Daniel Bellino



Most wouldn't know, but for those "In The Know" The Bottega del Vino in Verona is Italy's Greatest Wine Bar .. Yes it's a restorante as well, but this place is historical and in the 5 days every year in the begining of April when the World's largets Wine Expostion Vinitaly is held in Verona the Bottega del Vino becomes what I alone have coined "The Super Bowl of Wine" for there is nothing like it in the entire World of Wine . I've been in the Italian Restaurant Business in New York for more than 30 years and with being a a Wine Director of some of New York's top Italian Restaurants for the past of those years I have gone to VinItaly in Verona 5 times ... During Vinitaly you go to the Fair Grounds where the WIne Exposition is held, you go there in the morning, taste a lot of great Italian Wine as you see your Italian friends that own Vineyards all over Italy. You leave the fair in the late afternoon, go back into the center of town to take a nap and shower at your hotel. After that you go to have dinner in one of Verona's many wonderful restorante / osteria .. After dinner you go to the famed Bottega del Vino and The Super Bowl of Wine, which is packed to the gills with Italian Wine Producers, Sommeliers, Wine Directors and Italian Restaurant People from around the world and with a large faction from New York. yes the place is filled with Italian Wine lovers celebrating the Italian grape to the Wee Hours of The Morning (5 AM) and there is nothing like it, that's why I've coined it the Super Bowl of Wine .. If you're an Italian Wine Lover the Bottega del Vino is an absolute must! Basta!

Secret Italian Recipes - SEGRETO ITALIANO

     

AMAZON Review of SEGRETO ITALIANO

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZON REVIEW

If You Love Italian; Italian-American or Sicilian Cuisine You Must Buy This Book! Review by un Siciliana-Americana Signora

By swedeon October 16, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase  


.. AVAILABLE in Paperback on AMAZON.com

If you're just beginning to learn Italian cooking - or you're advanced.....you'll find at least ONE recipe in this book you'll have to try. But more likely, you'll find several. What I love about this selection of recipes is that they include strictly Italian; Sicilian; and Italian-American dishes. The author recognizes Italian-American as a cuisine unto its own. Falling into all three categories myself, I have a large collection of Italian and Sicilian cook books, but none specifically for Italian-American. I think this is about as close as I'll get. Dishes from my childhood (along with some charming anecdotes from the author) are in here and my mouth waters just thinking about which one I'll make first. The recipes are rather simple just like *real* Italian food. I remember the time I asked Zia Elena for her spaghetti sauce and meatball recipes. To me, she was the Queen of authentic and delicious Sicilian / Neapolitan cookery (she married one of those northern Italians, so learned to cook for him. I had to ask her on the sly as no one would admit to her superior culinary skills in front of their own mothers!) Her list of ingredients was short and of course, delicious. Most Italian recipes are like that ---- not complicated, but delicious. I give this book two paws up! For the price, it's such a deal, it should be in any cook book collection which focuses on the three types of Italian food. And lest the reader say, "But I thought Sicilians *were* Italians..." You can read up on this on the internet and see that Sicily had hosted numerous types of colonies for hundreds of years by everyone from Greeks, Arabs, Byzantines, even Scandinavians!. It only became part of Italy in 1860. Then in 1946 it became an autonomous region. Why does this matter? Sicilian cooking has many influences and so differs, although at times in subtle ways and sometimes in a complete composition expression to the more northern Italian food and customs. Due to Sicily's proximity to Greece, a dear Greek man once told me (as I choked on the sweetness of the baklava he had just given me), that Sicilians were "just Greeks" who wanted to be Italians. May be a grain of truth in that.! If you love this outrageously ethnic food, then I highly recommend this. It's the kind of book I wish Zia Elena would have written and left to me!

Thanks, Daniel

LOOK For DANIEL'S New Forthcoming Book

"MANGIA ITALIANO"

WILL Be AVAILABLE on AMAZON.com


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Spam & Egg Sandwich alla Lebowski

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SPAM

Spam? Yes Spam! Here we go again, one of The Dudes all-time favorites from childhood. His Mom always had some in the cupboard where she would pull some out and serve it up with Scrambled or Fried Eggs if she was all out of fresh Polish Kielbasa, which the Lebowski’s liked best, but they always had a good old can of Spam on hand just in case they needed it. Little Jeffrey really loved the taste and still does till this very day. And like his Mom, The Dude always has a can or two on hand right next to the Tuna in the cupboard. It’s there if he has to make something good and tasty in a pinch. The Dude also always has eggs in the frig, so if he doesn’t have anything else, The Dude always has of course the Tuna, a can or two of Spam, and Eggs, so he can always have a plate of tasty Fried Eggs & Spam. Yumm!!! It’s a good thing to do, so make sure you do as the Dude and always have a can on hand too, along with; butter, canned Tuna, Eggs, and Spam, Ramen, Mustard, and Mayo and you’ll never go hungry. Oh, yes, and you just know that along with Potato Chips and canned Tuna, The Dude subsisted on Spam as one of his main staple-foods during his illustrious college days of yore. The Dude’s Mom was always very kind and considerate during the Dudes college years, sending many Care Packages to her son Jeffrey. The care packages always filled with cans of Tuna, Spam, packages ofSpaghetti, Jars of Tomato Sauce, Twinkies, and Ring Dings. What a nice Mom that Mrs. Lebowski was, and still is to this day. Yes “SPAM?” Spam is somewhat of a social food phenomenon of the U.S., especially in the great state of Hawaii where it is it is as Hawaiian as Apple Pie is American. Spam is a pork based Ham-Type product that was developed during World War II to help to feed both Soldiers and civilians during the Second World War. Spam the brand is not all that economical compared to other meats or meat product. However, used in the proper manner with other ingredient and compared to going out to eat a Breakfast or Lunch out, the use of Spam or other similar product can prove to be quite inexpensive and a great saver of Money, something the Dude always keeps in mind when shopping and cooking his meals. The price per pound of Spam does make it a bit expensive compared to buying a larger piece of real ham or a fresh piece of pork. The latest price we’ve seen was $3.59 for a 12 oz. can. There are other products that are almost the same as Spam and cost far less, and The Dude usually buys a brand from Holland that you can get in most markets in Chinatown in LA or New York for $1.59 for the same 12 oz. can. A savings of $2.00, that’s quite good. One of the best meals to make from Spam and one of the Dudes personal favorites, is to slice and fry two pieces of Spam and serve with either dry-seasoned Ramen Noodles and or two Fried or Scrambled Eggs. Nuff said.

       

SPAM RECIPES INSIDE

  SPAM DISHES


  So as the Dude has already pointed out, simply frying up some Spam and a couple eggs is one of his favorite of all his Spam-Dishes. Fried Eggs or Scramble depending on The Dudes mood, these are all good for The Dude in whatever mood. Also pretty much the same thing but on a roll is a Spam and Egg Sandwich. You get yourself a nice Hard Roll (or Bread), fry up a couple slices of Spam and fry or scramble 1 or 2 eggs, plop them on your roll or between two slices of bread and “Voila” you’ve got yourself a tasty Duder Spam & Egg Sandwich. And yes if you want to Guild the Lilly as they say, yes you can throw on a slice of cheese.  

   

DUDE'S SPAM & EGG SANDWICH

This one on an English Muffin

Supposedly there are tons of ways to cook and utilize Spam. There are books written on the subject. Booklets anyways. Dude knows this, but he likes to keep it simple and the few Spam preparations he makes are so tasty and satisfying, the Dude doesn’t see any reason to mess with a whole bunch of others. So the Dude eats the Spam in two different ways, either as is in the just mentioned sandwich, simply 2 slices of Fried Spam with 2 eggs, or he throws Ramen into the mix, in which he’ll have on a plate, a portion of Ramen seasoned with salt, pepper, and Sesame Oil, 1 Fried Egg, and a slice or two of fried Spam. That’s it, nice, simply, and easy, and of course, tasty as can be. Walter likes em too, as the Spam in the can reminds Walter of his days in “Nam,” (Vietnam) and the K-Rations the soldiers were given to eat in the field.  


 

SPAM & RAMEN alla DUDERINO

Dude invented this tasty little dish one day when he was hungry for mid-afternoon lunch. He made it with some favorites that he always has on hand; Eggs, Spam, Peas, and Ramen Noodles of course. It’s right quick (12 minutes) to make and tasty as can be, and you know The Dude just wouldn’t have it any other way. INGREDIENTS : 1 package Ramen Noodles 1 Extra Large Egg 2 slices Spam ¼ cup frozen Peas 3 tablespoons Olive Oil, Salt & Black Pepper ¼ teaspoon Maggi’s Sauce, 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil Hot Sauce, optional Cook Spam in olive in a frying pan, 2 minutes on each side until nicely browned over medium heat. Remove Spam from pan and set aside. Beat an egg in a small bowl with a pinch of salt & pepper and cook in the pan the spam cooked in until eggs are cooked through. Cook Ramen in boiling water according directions on pack-age. Cut Spam into small squares and add to pan. Add peas to pan and cook 1 minute. Turn heat off. Drain Ramen from water and add to pan. Add Maggi’s Sauce and Sesame Oil to pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste, mix all ingredients and serve.  

   

DUDE'S   "RAMEN & SPAM"

One of The MANY VARIATIONS on The THEME

ABIDE in IT !!!

Recipe in GOT ANY KAHLUA ? aka The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

More Great Recipes in Daniel Zwicke's 

BADASS COOKBOOK

SECRET RECIPES Include :

SECRET KFC KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN Recipe

SHAKE SHACK BURGER

and More ....

AVAILABLE in PAPERBACK & KINDLE on AMAZON.com

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Naples Best Pizza

1.  1. Da Michele  on Via Sersale, 13 – Tel +390815539204. 

Let’s start with what some people may consider the inconveniences- the restaurant is rustic to say the least (almost spartan and very much “no frills”), no reservations are accepted, you always have to wait in line (we had 40 people before us!!) and they serve only 2 kinds of pizza. Nothing but the pizza margherita and pizza marinara here, using only fiordilatte cow´s milk and sweet , tantalizing San Marzano tomatoes. So why do we recommend this place? Because this is the best pizza in Naples in our opinion!!! Since 1870 the Condurros have been making pizzas for their hungry patrons, from  tourists, to local Napoletani to VIPs (they are particularly  proud they had the famous soccer player Maradona as an approving diner!)

2.  Il Pizzaiolo del Presidente  on Via Tribunali, 120/121Tel. +39081210903

Right in the heart of Spaccanapoli, the historic center of Naples, Signore Ernesto Cacialli welcomed us here with a huge smile. Pizzaiolo since the time he was 7 (!!!), Ernesto invited former US president Bill Clinton – who was in Naples for G8 – to taste his creations (back in 1994) and since then his pizzeria  (the “president´s” pizzeria) was re-named in his honor. Buono!

 

 

3.  Brandi  on Salita S.Anna di Palazzo, 1- 2 (angolo via Chiaia)Tel +39081416928, website here.

Close to the elegant Chiaia neighbourhood and to Piazza Plebiscito, this is where the mythical “pizza margherita” was invented. Although pizzas have apparently been around in one form or another since Ancient Roman times, Raffaele Esposito is credited with creating the Margherita. He worked at this very pizzeria (established in 1780) and in 1889 he was asked to bake 3 different kinds of pizza for the royal visit of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy. The Queen’s favorite was a pizza that had the colors of the Italian flag: basil leaves for green, mozzarella for white, and tomatoes for red. Named Pizza Margherita in her honor, this is how this pizza is still universally known . Brandi is one of the more elegant and atmopsheric pizzerias and offer many traditional Napoletano side dishes as well. While Italians tend to drink beer with pizza, they offer some nice Falanghina white wines and Aglianico based reds here as well.

 

4. Di Matteo 

(Via dei Tribunali, 94 – tel +39081455262)

Founded in 1936 by Salvatore Di Matteo, the pizzeria was then managed by the “scugnizzi pizzaioli” (street urchin pizzaioli kids, usually  poor, going to school only when they had to and spending a lot of time hanging out in the narrow streets of Naples) that used to work for him.  Today, it is run by Raffaele Marigliano, who 50 years ago created an amazing pizza con alici e cicinielli (anchovies and newborn very very little fish, not produced any more). Here you cannot miss the pizza fritta, a deep fried pizza with ricotta cheese, provola cheese, tomato sauce and sugna (lard). Heaven on earth!

 

5. Pizzeria Trianon da Ciro

on Via P. Colletta, 46 Tel: +39.081.5539426 

Established in 1923, this is a BIG  pizzeria, with 3 floors. Here you can find exquisite (made fresh daily) buffalo milk mozzarella as a topping as well as the full range of  pizza toppings you normally expect. They have 29 in their list and their specialty is salsiccia (Italian sausage) and friarielli (a kind of sprouting broccoli that grows only in the countryside around Naples, see photo below). Recommended.

 

 

 

 

6. Sorbillo 

on via Tribunali, 32 tel. +39081.446643

This is another pizza “temple” in the “centro storico” of Naples; run today by daughter Anna Sorbillo, a member of the 21st generation pizza making family. Sorbillo can also deliver to your home or hotel (in historic center of Naples) and you can order on line.

 

 

 

7. Da Ettore 

(Via S. Lucia, 56 – tel +39081 7640498)

Right on the seafront, facing the pretty Castel dell’Ovo marina/fortress on the elegant Santa Lucia boulevard (where politicians, actors and tourists frequent) the pizza here is truly excellent.  But apart from pizza, they also excel in the “frittura all’italiana”, a sinfully delicious mix of deep fried aubergines (eggplant), zucchini, mozzarella, arancini (rice croquettes), cauliflower, potato croquettes, zeppulelle con alghe (salty doughnut-like fried thingie with seaweed).

 

 

 

Some Tasty ARANCINI at Da ETTORE

 

8. Lombardi 

on via Foria, 12 tel +39081456220

Close to the FABULOUS archeological museum of Naples (with its fascinating Erotic room of Pompeii mosaics, and the Farnese collection), Pizzeria Lombardi was founded in the turn of the century by Enrico Lombardi who sold pizza in Brazil before setting up his pizzeria in Naples. Nowadays it is run by his grandsons Nando and Gigi. They offer also a variety of simple, perfectly executed dishes, but pizza is what you come for. Their specialty is pizza with smoked provola cheese. 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba

(Via Port’Alba, 18  – tel +390814421061) This is the oldest pizzeria in Naples and Italy. Founded in 1738 as seller of street food, it became a real pizzeria in 1830. Vincenzo Luciano is the 5th generation to run the business.

 

 

10. La Notizia 

on Via Caravaggio, 53-55 – tel +390817142155

Named after the movie (the owner Enzo Coccia loves “Citizen Kane”), this pizzeria opens for dinners only, allowing time for the yeast to create the perfect dough. A real treat is the pizza bianca – without tomatoes – with scarola salad, aubergines (eggplant) and provola cheese. It is not located in a touristy neighborhood, but it is absolutely worth going to the upper part of the town to reach it. Authentic Napoli.

If you will be Pizza touring in Naples, and want to try even more pizzerias beyond this list, you´ll find a mega list of Pizzerias all over Campania

 

 

 

 

Caravaggio's MADONNA of The ROSARY

 

at Chapel of The Rosary

 

Napoli, Italy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY SAUCE

 

by Daniel Bellino Z