This is One of The Most Wonderful Pasticerria Caffe in all of Italy
LOVE IT !
Have a Cappuccino and Sfogliatelle
.
Cousin TONY and I Enjoying Aperitivo Time
at CASA SORRENTO
SORENTO , ITALY
.
My CAMPARI SPRITZA
At Our House on VIA CAPO in SORRENTO
ITALY
.
Cousins MIMO & MARTA (Front)
ME , COUSIN TONY and ALAN
SORRENTO
ITALY
View from our Apartment on Via Capo
SORRENTO
May 2018
.
Cugina Marta
Sorrento
.
RAVIOLI con TARTUFO
Made by MARTA & MIMO
For our Dinner in SORRENTO
.
PAESTUM
Ancient Greek Ruins
ITALY
.
Cousin Marta , Mimo, Tony and Me
SORRENTO
ITALY
CETARA
The AMALFI COAST
;
A Fisherman in Cetara
Mending His Nets
.
Cutting The PORCHETTA
For My PANINO
At Er BUCHETTO
ROMA
.
Another APEROL SPRITZ
At a Caffe at MARINA GRANDE
SORRENTO
.
The COOK
at O’PULEDRONE
A Family Seafood Ristorante
Where they CATCH THEIR OWN FISH
THIS PLACE was AWESOME
.
Michael The Fisherman
of O’PULEDRONE
KISSES a BABY
“For GOOD LUCK”
SORRENTO
.
O’Puledrone
MARINA GRANDE
SORRENTO
.
Spaghetti Vongole
O’PULEDRONE
MARINA GRANDE
FRITO MISTO
PULEDRONE
MENU
O’PULEDRONE
Marina Grande
SORRENTO
.
Atop The SPANISH STEPS
PIAZZA De SPAGNA
ROME
ITALY
.
A Church in SORRENTO
“DON’T ASK ME THE NAME”
.
ROME
???
May 2018
.
.
Drinking FRASCATI
in FRASCATI
ITALY
.
The Bar at Bar Fauno
SORRENTO
ITALY
PIAZZA TASSO
.
Insalata di Polpo
OCTOPUS SALAD
BAR FAUNO
SORRENTO
.
Per Palummo
CASA AMBRA
ISCHIA
We had this wine, along with a Bottle of the same house’s Biancolella
and Casa Ambra Aglianico with our dinner we made at Cassa Sorrento, the beautifuk apartment with a lovely garden we rented on Via Capo, Sorrento, Italy.
The dinner was with my Cousin Antony Bellino, and cousins Marta and Mimo from Salerno and our friend Alan from Lodi. Marta and Mimo served their Mozzarella di Bufala (from their Mozzarella Fattoria in Salerno), they also made tasty Ricotta Ravioli with Black Truffles shaved on top. We also ate Salami and Pecorino, and I made Lamb Chops with roast potatoes for the main. For dessert, Mimo and Marta made fresh Strawberries with Limoncello and walnuts. It was an amazing dinner, and one I’ll always cherish.
My Hat an ARANCINI (wrapped To Go) and My Sicilian Vacation Journal
at a Caffe by The Bus & Train Station Catania
This was when I got off Bus from SIRACUSA and was waiting for Bus to Palermo
a BUS LAYOVER in SICILY
Me at The CATHEDRAL in CEFALU
Trattora La Tavernetta , Lercara Friddi
Had Lunch Here
The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK
SECRET RECIPE
The VUCCIRIA
by Renato Gattuso
ANTICA FOCACCERIA S. FRANCESCO
Palermo , SICILY
Oratorio di Santa Cita
by Giacomo Serpotta
PALERMO
“SLEEPING”
Chapel Santa Cita
Look for My New Book
COMING SOON
Trattoria Trapani
PALERMO
GRILLED CALAMARI
TRATTORIA TRAPANI
GRIGILIA MISTA di MARE
CALAMARI & SWORDFISH
TRATTORIA TRAPANI
Spaghetti con Cozze
Spaghetti Vongole
Grandma Bellino’s Italian Cookbook
Recipes From My Sicilian Grandmother
Giuseppina Salemi Bellino
.
CAPRI
View From The TOp of Monte Solaro, Capri, Italy
with Faroglionni Rocks below …
copyright 2015 Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
SORRENTO
A Classic View
VIEW of MARINA GRANDE CAPRI
From ANACAPRI
Photo Copyright Daniel BellinoZwicke
MARINA PICOLO CAPRI
with FARAGLIONI ROCKS in Distance
PIAZZA UMBERTO
CAPRI
Approaching Piazza Umberto
ITALY
ITALIAN BREAKFAST
A Typical Italian Breakfast
CAPPUCCINO e un CORNETTO
.
Old CAPRI TAXI
Just a Few are Left
.
LIMONCELLO LADIES
ANACAPRI
CAPRI
GELATO
in
NAPOLI
My Favorite Lemonade Stand in Italy
Behind the famed Quississana Hotel
&
Across From CAESAR AUGUSTUS GARDENS, CAPRI
Also right by a Wonderful Little Hotel I Used to Stay At,
La TOSCA, a lovely little Hotel with the most Spectacular Views
of Capri and The Faralognni Rocks (most Iconic Symbol of Capri)
The Hotel is lovely and very affordle. I stayed ther in 1988, but stayed
in Anacapri this time at The Hotel Carmencita
Me at My Favorite Restorante in Positano
Da VINCENZO
With My ANtipasto of Polpo al Griglia e Carciofi Fritte
and a Nice Glass of Greco di Tufo local wine …
SPAGHETTI VONGOLE
al Solotaria Restorante, Anacapri
RAVELLO
Villa Ruffoli
MINORI
The AMALFI COAST
View From The Terrazza at VILLA MARIA in Minori
LEMON GROVES at Villa Maria,
Minori
Italy
WORLD’S BEST BREAKFAST
World’s BestBreakfast? I Kid You Not!
This was my typical Breakfast (Colazione)
at Villa Maria each of My Three Wonderful Days There
Vincenzo the owner Makes all types of different Jams
from the fruit he grows on his farmer way up in the hill of
the beautiful little town on The Amalfi Coast .. Villa Maria is
a wonderful little farm/ agroturismo Inn in the town of Minori,
a cute little town if you want to be on the Amalfi Coast but away from
the madening crowds that overrun the gorgeous little town of Positano.
Vincenzo’s main crop of his farm are Lemons with Olive Tree Groves,
Grapevines, and all sorts of fruits and vegetables, along with Chickens (for
meat & Eggs) and Pigs to make his awesome Homemade Salami. Vincenzo
makes his own wine, Prosciutto, Pancetta, Coppa, and his tasty
homemade Fruit Jams which you spread on toast & Cornetto ‘s in the
morning for breakfast.
When dinner time comes, Maria (Vincenzo’s wife) makes an awesome
Four-Course Dinner with; Antipast to start, followed by some awesome pasta or another,
a main-course of fish, meat, or chicken, and ending with either Fruit or a Dessert that Maria makes (I love the Lemon Cake), and some of Vincenzo’s Homemade Lemoncello.
And of course during the meal you’ll get a bottle of either Vincenzo’s own Vino Bianco or
Vino Rosso or both.
Villa Maria is one of the most special places you could ever want to stay at in your life.
It’s a once in a lifetime experience that not many people get a chance to do, and I reccommend going there most highly, “You will have the time of your life.”
PACCHERI al FRUTTA di MARE
Mixed Seafood Pasta
“The Best Frutta di Mare Ever” !!! Maria made me this awesome plate of pasta soon after my
arrival. Vincenzo picked me up down in Minaori at the wonderful Caffe Riso (Best Caffe & Pastry in Town) and drove me u to his place (Villa Maria). When we got there
Vincenzo gave me a Lemonade made with his own Lemons.
Best Lemonade of my life needless-to-say!
After I had my Lemonade and chit-chattted with Vincenzo Maria & Nadia, I went to my room to take a show and freshen up after my trip from Napoli on the Circumvesuviano Train from
Naples to Sorrento, then a bus from Sorrento to Amalfi, and then another bus from Amalfi to Minori, and finally a ride in Vincenzo’s little Fiat Panda Station Wagon from Minori by The Sea, up to Minori in the Mountains below Ravello at Villa Maria.
So after I showered and put on some fresh clothes and went back out to the terrace (terrazzo) Vincenzo asked me if I wanted a little pasta?Hell Yeah!!! Then Vincenzo asked if I wanted some wine. Again, Heck Yeah! I had his Vino Bianco, and when he brought me the plate of pasta(Paccheri with Clams & Mussels) that Maria made me, I was in 7th Heaven!
La PASTA
con Vino Bianco Vincenzo
MARIA & VINCENZO
Agroturismo Villa Maria
Minori
ME & VINCENZO
.
SUNDAY SAUCE
When Italian-Americans Cook
.
Me at BUONCONVENTO
SORRENTO
ITALY
“My LUNCH”
Spaghetti con Cozze
SPAGHETTI with MUSSELS
in
SORRENTO
.
POSITANO
The AMLFI COAST
ITALY
POSITANO
Classic Veiw of Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Salumaria De Martino, Capri
Pinnino Buono
Sopresetta e Provola Affumicatto
RAVELLO
View From Villa Cimbrone ‘s Terrace of Infinity
Ravello on The Amalfi Coast Italy
.
.
SALUMERIA CAPRI
GREAT ARANCINI MELANZANE PANINI
VINI and ???
MELANZANE PARMIGIANO
ARANCINI
AGLIANICO di BENEVENTO
My Beach Lunch
For a Day at The FARAGLIONI
CAPRI
.
The QUISISSANA
CAPRI
.
The CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY
CAPRI
.
LEMONADE STAND
Via TAGARA
CAPRI
Path to Da LUIGI
and FARAGLIONI
CAPRI
Da LUIGI
AT THE FARAGLIONI
Where I Like to SWIM
.
WHERE I SWIM at MARINA PICCOLO
With a View to The FARAGLIONI ROCKSCAPRI
At The TOP of MONTE SOLARA
ANACAPRICAPRI
.
CAPRI TAXI
One of The Few Old Ones Left
.
HOTEL CARMENCITA
ANACAPrICAPRI
.
.
CAPRI
View at GARDENS
of CAESER AUGUSTUS
All Photos Copyright 2015 Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
.
.
The DOGES PALACE / SAINT MARKS BASILICA
In WINTER
VENICE , ITALY
.
.
SAINT MARKS BASILICA
PIAZZA SAN MARCO
VENICE
2003
Grand Canal
VENICE
1995
The DOGE’S PALACE
PIAZETTA at PIAZZA SAN MARCO
VENICE
.
.
PEGGY GUGENHEIM MUSEUM
The GRAND CANAL
DELLA SAULTE
VENICE
Taken from a MOTOSCAFI
.
.
.
CAFFE FLORIAN
PIAZZA SAN MARCO
VENICE
CAMPARI & OJ
FRANK MYSELF and COUSIN TONY
.
.
Me and Cousin Joe
PROSECCO at a BACARO
VENICE
Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
.
Harry’s Bar
.
The WORLD’S COOLEST RESTAURANT
.
ARIGO CIPRIANI
Son of GIUSEPPE
aka HARRY
,
ERNEST HEMINGWAY at HARRY’S BAR
with Owner / Founder GIUSEPPE CIPRIANI
HARRY’S BAR was one of HEMINGWAY’S Favorites
“Me Too” !
.
Old Poster
HARRY’S BAR
VENICE
.
The BRIDGE of SIGHS
VENICE
.
MANGIA ITALIANO
MEMORIES of VENICE & ITALIAN FOOD
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
.
HOTEL FIRENZE
My FIRST VENETIAN HOTEL
June 1985
.
.
My HOTEL ROOM
HOTEL FIRENZE
VENICE
.
.
.
.
MAP of VENICE
HOTEL FIRENZE
.
I got lost in VENICE at Night. It was my first night there and my first trip ever to Europe. I was a young man of 23 and relatively new in my travel experience, how to get around and what to do. Yes I got lost and the Magical Maze, The Labyrinth that is Venice, with its winding streets, many bridges and narrow alleyways.
I learned a very important travel lesson that night. One of the first things you should ever do as you are in a new city and check into your hotel. While you’re at the desk, make sure to take a couple Business Cards of the hotel. Put one in your wallet or purse immediately, and put another in one of your pockets. If you ever get lost, you can give it to a Taxi Driver (Not in Venice though) and tell him to go here.
Yes, I got lost in Venice. I didn’t feel it at the time, but it’s a quite Wonderful thing to do, getting Lost in Venice.
.
Hotel Guerrato
VENICE
1995
.
HOTEL GUERRATO
.
.
The BREAKFAST ROOM
HOTEL GUERRATO
.
My Room
Hotel Guerrato
VENICE
I found this wonderful little Hotel in 1995, on my special trip to Explore the BACARI (Venetian Wine Bars) of VENICE. I had read a tiny little article about them in the New York Times that peeked my interest and inspired me to open one in New York. I book a trip for 8 days in Venice to explore, feel, experience and find out everything I could about the Wine Bars of Venice (Bacari). And I did just that. With the knowledge of that trip and my many years experience in the restauranat business in New York, I made a business plan, found a partner to join me, and I created the First Ever Bacaro in The United States, called BAR CICHETTI in New York’s Greenwich Village. Basta !
.
SAN GIACOMO
The OLDEST CHURCH in VENICE
Built 1071
At The RIALTO
If You stay at GUERRATO
This is just 200 Feet Away
.
The RIALTO MARKET
Over 700 Years Old
If you stay at Albergo Guerrato, you are Literally Several Feet from The RIALTO
You walk out the Door of the hotel, make a right, walk 30 Feet and you are Inside The RIALTO MARKET. It doesn’t get much Better than that.
This restaurant was a Favorite of GIACOMO CASANOVA
.
.
Where CASANOVA Often DINED
and SEDUCED
In the fish market area, in Campo delle Beccarie, there is instead Poste Vecie restaurant open since 1500, where Casanova used to hide away with friends and especially girl friends to enjoy luxurious banquets. The whole area of St. Mark’s Square and especially the old premises, starting from Caffè Florian, have been hunting grounds of the great seducer.
.
.
DO MORI
The erotic tour of Venice cannot exclude the Rialto area and in particular the Sotoportego dei Do Mori where in the tavern of the same name Casanova liked giving the first appointment to his ladies. Who showed up strictly masked.
I had read a little article in The New York Times about Venice, that mention the Bacari (Wine Bars) of Venice, and that’s all it took. Just a little mention (one Paragraph) of these particular type of wine bars of Venice sparked my interest, and I just had to go to Venice and find out as much as I could about them, for I instantly felt that I wanted to open one in New York (which I did).
I got lost in VENICE at Night. It was my first night there and my first trip ever to Europe. I was a young man of 23 and relatively new in my travel experience, how to get around and what to do. Yes I got lost and the Magical Maze, The Labyrinth that is Venice, with its winding streets, many bridges and narrow alleyways.
I learned a very important travel lesson that night. One of the first things you should ever do as you are in a new city and check into your hotel. While you’re at the desk, make sure to take a couple Business Cards of the hotel. Put one in your wallet or purse immediately, and put another in one of your pockets. If you ever get lost, you can give it to a Taxi Driver (Not in Venice though) and tell him to go here.
Yes, I got lost in Venice. I didn’t feel it at the time, but it’s a quite Wonderful thing to do, getting Lost in Venice.
.
Hotel Guerrato
VENICE
1995
.
HOTEL GUERRATO
.
The BREAKFAST ROOM
HOTEL GUERRATO
.
My Room
Hotel Guerrato
VENICE
I found this wonderful little Hotel in 1995, on my special trip to Explore the BACARI (Venetian Wine Bars) of VENICE. I had read a tiny little article about them in the New York Times that peeked my interest and inspired me to open one in New York. I book a trip for 8 days in Venice to explore, feel, experience and find out everything I could about the Wine Bars of Venice (Bacari). And I did just that. With the knowledge of that trip and my many years experience in the restaurant business in New York, I made a business plan, found a partner to join me, and I created the First Ever Bacaro in The United States, called BAR CICHETTI in New York’s Greenwich Village. Basta !
.
SAN GIACOMO
The OLDEST CHURCH in VENICE
Built 1071
At The RIALTO
If You stay at GUERRATO
This is just 200 Feet Away
.
The RIALTO MARKET
Over 700 Years Old
If you stay at Albergo Guerrato, you are Literally Several Feet from The RIALTO
You walk out the Door of the hotel, make a right, walk 30 Feet and you are Inside The RIALTO MARKET. It doesn’t get much Better than that.
FRUIT MARKET
The RIALTO MARKET
VENICE
BAR CICHETTI
America’s FIRST Ever VENETIAN WINE BAR
aka BACRO
Created by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
and Tom Taraci
.
A Motoscafo Passes Through
PONTE ACCADAMIA
VENICE
View from Accadamia Bridge
TURNER
TURNER
.
HOTEL TIVOLI
DORSODORO
VENICE
1995
.
The BREAKFAST ROOM
TIVOLI
VENICE
.
My Room
The HOTEL TIVOLIVENICE
.
HOTEL IRIS
VENICE
Stayed Here in 1996
.
View from My Room
HOTEL IRIS
VENICE
.
PALAZZO DARIO
VENICEITALY
.
Near HOTEL IRIS
DORSODORO
VENICE
.
SUNDAY SAUCE
When Italians Cook
.
CAFFE FLORIAN
.
.
GIACOMO CASANOVA
.
CASANOVA Seduces
.
Trattoria Poste Vecie
Since 1500
This restaurant was a Favorite of GIACOMO CASANOVA
.
.
Where CASANOVA Often DINED
and SEDUCED
In the fish market area, in Campo delle Beccarie, there is instead Poste Vecie restaurant open since 1500, where Casanova used to hide away with friends and especially girl friends to enjoy luxurious banquets. The whole area of St. Mark’s Square and especially the old premises, starting from Caffè Florian, have been hunting grounds of the great seducer.
DO MORI
The erotic tour of Venice cannot exclude the Rialto area and in particular the Sotoportego dei Do Mori where in the tavern of the same name Casanova liked giving the first appointment to his ladies. Who showed up strictly masked.
.
.
Antonio Vivaldi
.
.
See a VIVALDI CONCERT at The PIETA
Where VIVALDI was The MAESTRO
.
The PIETA
On The RIVA DEGLI SCHIAVONA
VENICE , ITALY
.
.
The RIVA DEGLI SCHIAVONI
by CANALETTO
.
.
BACARI
The WINE BARS of VENICE
VEDOVA
.
.
INSIDE The BAR at VEDOVA
BACARO
.
GONDOLA’S with Della SALUTE in Background
The MOLO
VENICE
.
.
The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK
SECRET RECIPE
.
.
.
Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
BACK on CAPRI
NAPLES and The AMALFI COAST
My ESPRESSO
BAR DUE GULFI
CAPRI
Stopped in here for an Espresso, so I could use the bathroom and change into my swim trunks to go swimming at Marina Picolo. If you want to go swimming at Marina Picolo, the best way to get there is to take a little town bus to Due Gulfi (Two Gulfs). Get off the bus, and ask one of the locals where the pathway is to Marina Picolo. It’s a great little walk (10 minutes), with nice sights to see as you stroll down to the beach. You have options of paying for a chaise-lounge at a private beach club, or better yet, there is a free beach that’s awesome. I never pay when swimming at Marina Picolo and always opt for the free beach, which is wonderful.
I reserve saving my money for when I go swimming at Da Luigi Beach Club at the Faraglioni Rocks. It’s gorgeous!
.
Catch of The Day
I was lucky to catch these two Fishermen bringing in their fresh Catch of The Day, as locals were at the dock to buy the freshest fish humanly possible, directly from these two fine gentlemen, who had a scale on board to weight the fish. This was quite awesome to witness, and was one of the highlights of my trip.
These fishermen had quite a good variety of several different kinds of local fish, and their were about 6 local men there to buy fish from them. It was quite an animated scene as thee fishermen quoted prices of the various fish, and the buyers argued with them over the price, and the two sides bickered back and forth before a final sale was mad.. It was all in good fun, and I totally enjoyed the show.
Espresso, Da Luigi Beacch Club at The Faraglioni Rocks (Daniel’s Favorite Beach)
Shuttle Boat at Da Luigi to Marina Picolo, Marina Picolo, Chapel at Marina Picolo
At Marina Picolo looking to the famed FARAGLIONO ROCKS of CAPRI
Virgin Mary
ISCHIA
Gaetano making me a Perfect ESPRESSO
HOTEL PLAZA
SALERNO
The Hotel Plaza in Salerno s a wonderful hotel. The location is great, being across the from the Train Station and just 3 blocks from the marine terminal where you can catch Ferry Boats to Capri, Sorrento, Ischia, Positano, Amalfi, Cetara, and all points on the Amalfi Coast. You can catch trains to Naples and be there in just 30 minutes.
Gaetano whose family owns and runs the hotel is an absolute Gem. Love that guy. He is so very kind and hospitable and wil make you feel like family, and if you get to know him, you will might be lucky to have him make you a perfect Espresso personally on his prized Espresso machine that he loves dearly. I was so lucky for this, but most of all, I was so fortunate to have a few lovely conversation with Gaetano, he is as I have said a gem, and I will cherish and always remember spending a little time with him and having those nice conversations. “Thank you Gaetano, you made my stay at your family’s hotel in Salerno so very special.
GAETANO Makes Me ESPRESSO
WATCH The VIDEO !
EATING WATERMELON in NAPLES , ITALY
NAPOLI
These Guys Invited Me into Their Little Party at their FRUIT STAND in NAPOLI
POSITANO 