Exploring VENICE by Bellino

On September 21, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

EXPLORING VENICE

VENETIAN TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

How to Experience Venice Like a Local: Food, Hidden Wine Bars, and Timeless Romance

Venice is one of the most magical cities on earth, but if you only stick to the crowded paths between St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge, you’re only getting half the story. To truly fall in love with La Serenissima, you need to step off the beaten track, wander along quiet canals, sample authentic Venetian cicchetti, and experience the soul of the city.

Whether you are planning your first trip to Italy or dreaming of returning, here is your insider guide to experiencing Venice like a true local.

1. Skip the Tourist Traps: The Art of Venetian Cicchetti & Bàcari

One of Venice’s best-kept secrets isn’t a museum or a cathedral—it’s its vibrant food and wine bar culture.

In Venice, traditional wine bars are called bàcari. Instead of sit-down multi-course dinners every night, locals meet at these cozy neighborhood spots for an ombra (a small glass of local wine) and cicchetti—Venetian-style tapas served on small plates or atop crusty bread.

Must-Try Venetian Specialties:

Baccalà Mantecato: Creamed salted cod whipped with olive oil, served over warm polenta.
Sarde in Saor: Sweet and sour sardines marinated with onions, pine nuts, and raisins.
Polpette: Tender Venetian meatballs made with beef, pork, or tuna.
Casanova’s Venetian Maccheroni Pie: A rich, celebratory baked pasta pie layered with pork, porcini mushrooms, and béchamel—a dish worthy of Venice’s most famous lover.

2. Get Intentionally Lost in the Quiet Sestieri

Venice is divided into six historic neighborhoods (sestieri). While San Marco draws the biggest crowds, the true charm of Venice reveals itself when you get lost in the residential quarters.

Cannaregio: The historic Jewish Ghetto neighborhood, known for quiet canals, charming bakeries, and authentic wine bars.
Dorsoduro: The artistic heart of Venice, filled with artisan workshops, student cafes, and stunning art collections.
Castello: A peaceful district where laundry still hangs across narrow alleyways (calli) and locals gather in sunlit squares (campi).

Pro Tip: Put away your phone GPS for an hour. Walking without a set destination is the single best way to discover Venice’s hidden archways, secret courtyards, and ancient footbridges.

3. Experience Venice After Dark

When the day-trippers leave and the sun sets over the lagoon, Venice undergoes a breathtaking transformation. The mist rolls over the canals, church bells echo across quiet waters, and the city’s rich history comes alive in the lamplight.

Take a moonlight stroll along the Fondamenta della Misericordia or sit by the Grand Canal with a glass of Prosecco to take in the unmatched romance of the Floating City.

Discover the Ultimate Guide to La Serenissima

Want the ultimate insider roadmap to Venice’s best trattorias, historic cafes, romantic spots, and secret culinary haunts?

Look no further than Exploring Venice by Daniel Bellino Zwicke.

Daniel-Bellino-Zwicke .com

Written by renowned Italian-American author and culinary authority Daniel Bellino Zwicke, Exploring Venice is far more than a standard travel guide. It is a heartfelt love letter to the city, packed magic. The magic of a city whose palaces have been preserved, and exist for enjoyment by people of the World. There’s no place on Earth quite like Venice. It is unique unto itself, so enjoy.

Curated Dining & Travel Recommendations : The absolute Best Trattorias, Osteria, and Bacari to eat and drink like a local.

Authentic Venetian Recipes: Bring the flavors of Venice directly into your home kitchen with classic, time-tested recipes.
Neighborhood Walks & Cultural Insights: Insider secrets, historical anecdotes, and practical travel tips to help you navigate Venice with ease.

Whether you’re packing your bags or traveling from the comfort of your armchair, Exploring Venice is your mandatory companion for experiencing the romance, flavor, and soul of Venice.

GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY !!! – On Amazon.com

BACK in VENICE

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

At VENICE’S Most FAMOUS WINE BAR (Bacaro)

CANtiNA Do MORI

“VINO & CICHETTI”

PALAZZO DUCALE

VENICE

Italian Food and Travels – Take Italy Home with Recipes by Daniel Bellino

On September 20, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS

ROME VENICE – PIZZA PASTA & ?

Including : BOURDAIN in ITALY

And 40 of ITALY’S MOST LOVED RECIPES

AMAZON.com

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS :

A Journey Through Italy, One Plate at a Time

Italian Food & Travels: Rome, Venice, Pizza, Pasta & ? by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Italy is one of those rare places where you can travel with your eyes, your feet — or your appetite.

A plate of pasta can tell you something about a city. A glass of wine can introduce you to a region. A bowl of soup can reveal the traditions of a family. A simple meal in a neighborhood trattoria can sometimes tell you more about Italy than a day spent checking famous tourist attractions off a list.

That idea is at the heart of Italian Food & Travels: Rome, Venice, Pizza, Pasta & ?, the Italian food and travel book by Daniel Bellino Zwicke.

Part travel guide, part cookbook, part culinary memoir, the book takes readers on a journey through Italy through the things that make the country so irresistible: food, wine, history, people, cities, traditions and the pleasure of sitting down at the table.

Italy Is a Country of Food

When people outside Italy talk about “Italian food,” they often imagine a handful of famous dishes: pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, tiramisu and perhaps a plate of chicken parmigiana.

But Italy doesn’t really have one single cuisine.

It has an extraordinary collection of regional food traditions.

The cuisine of Venice is not the cuisine of Naples. Roman cooking is different from Tuscan cooking. Sicilian food carries influences from centuries of Mediterranean history, while the food of northern Italy reflects a very different landscape, climate and culinary tradition.

Italy’s official tourism organization describes Italian cuisine as a vast mosaic of regional traditions, with different landscapes, cultures, ingredients and culinary practices contributing to the food of each area.

That’s what makes traveling through Italy such an exciting experience for anyone who loves food.

You aren’t simply eating “Italian food.”

You’re eating Roman food in Rome. Venetian food in Venice. Neapolitan food in Naples. Sicilian food in Sicily. Tuscan food in Tuscany.

And that’s a very different adventure.

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Italian Food & Travels was written by New York-based food, wine and travel writer Daniel Bellino Zwicke, whose career has been deeply connected with Italian food, wine and restaurants.

Zwicke has spent decades working in the New York restaurant and wine world and has traveled extensively throughout Italy. His professional background includes culinary training, restaurant management and wine direction, including his work at Bar Cichetti, a Venetian-style wine bar in Greenwich Village.

That background gives Italian Food & Travels a perspective that goes beyond the typical tourist guide.

The book is about experiencing Italy through food.

It takes readers through places including:

Rome
Venice
Verona
Florence
Naples
Capri
Positano
The Amalfi Coast
Sicily
Puglia
Tuscany
and other Italian destinations

The result is a culinary journey through some of the most beloved regions and cities in Italy.

The COLOSSEUM

ROME

A Travel Guide for People Who Love to Eat

There are plenty of books about traveling through Italy.

There are also plenty of Italian cookbooks.

Italian Food & Travels brings those two worlds together.

Imagine planning a trip to Italy and being able to read about the places you’re visiting while also discovering the food associated with them.

That’s the concept.

Rather than treating food as something separate from travel, Zwicke treats food as one of the best ways to understand a destination.

And that’s an important distinction.

If you visit Naples, you don’t simply want to see Naples.

You want to understand Neapolitan food.

If you visit Venice, you don’t just want to photograph the canals.

You want to understand the Venetian tradition of bacari, cicchetti, seafood, pasta and wine.

If you travel along the Amalfi Coast, the experience becomes even richer when you understand the ingredients and dishes that come from Campania.

Food turns travel into something personal.

Rome: Pasta, History and La Dolce Vita

Rome is one of the world’s great food cities.

It’s also one of the best places to understand how Italian cooking can be incredibly simple while still being deeply satisfying.

Roman cuisine is famous for dishes such as:

Cacio e Pepe.

Carbonara.

Amatriciana.

Gricia.

But Roman food is much more than a list of famous pasta dishes.

It is about neighborhood trattorias, markets, bakeries, espresso bars, pizza, artichokes, porchetta and long lunches.

A traveler who understands the food of Rome experiences the city differently.

Every meal becomes part of the journey.

VENICE

VENICE – The Magic of Italian Food on the Water

Venice is unlike any other city in Italy.

Built around canals and islands, Venice developed a distinctive food culture shaped by its history as a major maritime trading power.

Venetian cuisine has an extraordinary relationship with the sea.

Fish and seafood, polenta, rice, vegetables and small plates all play important roles.

And then there is the Venetian bacaro.

A bacaro is a traditional Venetian wine bar where locals can stop for a glass of wine and small bites known as cicchetti.

For Daniel Bellino Zwicke, Venice has particular significance. His professional career included creating Bar Cichetti in New York City, a Venetian-style wine bar inspired by the bacari of Venice.

This connection between Venice and New York is part of what makes Zwicke’s approach to Italian food and travel particularly personal.

Naples: Pizza, Pasta and the Soul of Southern Italy

Few cities are as closely identified with a single food as Naples is with pizza.

But Naples is about much more than pizza.

It is a city of street food, seafood, pasta, pastries, coffee, tomatoes, mozzarella and intensely flavored southern Italian cooking.

From pizza Napoletana to pasta dishes and seafood, the food of Naples reflects the character of the city itself: direct, generous, lively and deeply rooted in tradition.

And Naples is also the gateway to some of Italy’s most famous destinations.

From here, travelers can explore:

Capri.

Sorrento.

Positano.

The Amalfi Coast.

Each has its own food traditions and personality.

POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

The AMALFI COAST : Lemon, Seafood and La Dolce Vita

The Amalfi Coast has become one of the world’s most recognizable travel destinations.

The dramatic coastline, colorful villages and Mediterranean views make it unforgettable.

But the food is equally memorable.

Think:

Fresh seafood
Handmade pasta
Local lemons
Tomatoes
Olive oil
Mozzarella
Seafood pasta
Lemon desserts
Limoncello

The Amalfi Coast is a perfect example of why food and travel belong together.

The landscape influences the ingredients.

The ingredients influence the recipes.

The recipes become part of the culture.

And eventually, the food becomes part of what travelers remember most.

Sicily: Where Italian Food Meets the Mediterranean

Sicily is one of the most fascinating food destinations in Europe.

Its cuisine reflects the island’s complicated history and its position at the center of the Mediterranean.

Greek, Arab, Norman, Spanish and other influences have all contributed to Sicily’s extraordinary culinary identity.

Some of the foods travelers associate with Sicily include:

Arancini

Caponata

Pasta alla Norma

Sarde

Cannoli

Granita

And countless regional specialties.

Sicily demonstrates something essential about Italian cuisine:

Italian food is not static.

It is the product of geography, history, agriculture, migration and generations of cooks adapting traditions to the ingredients available to them.

ALBEROBELLO

PUGLIA

Puglia: The Italy of Olive Oil, Pasta and the Mediterranean

Puglia, in Italy’s southeast, has become increasingly popular with travelers looking for authentic regional food and a slower style of travel.

The region is known for its olive oil, vegetables, wheat, seafood and handmade pasta.

One of its most recognizable dishes is orecchiette, the small ear-shaped pasta traditionally associated with Puglia.

Recent culinary travel coverage has highlighted the region’s cheeses, olive oils, seafood, markets and traditional food producers, illustrating how food tourism in Puglia continues to attract travelers looking for regional experiences.

Puglia is another reminder that some of Italy’s most memorable food experiences don’t necessarily come from the most famous tourist attractions.

Sometimes they’re found at the table.

ORECCHIETTE

PUGLIE

40 of ITALY’S Most LOVED RECIPES by BELLINO

PASTA BOLOGNESE

“SECRET RECIPE by BELLINO”

Recipe

One of the attractions of Italian Food & Travels is that readers don’t have to simply dream about Italian food.

They can cook it.

The book includes a collection of Italian recipes connected to the culinary journey, allowing readers to bring some of the flavors of Italy into their own kitchens. Published descriptions of the book highlight dishes and recipes including Ragù Bolognese, Porchetta, Wild Boar Ragù, Pesto Genovese, Caponata, Lasagna, Spaghetti alle Vongole, Pasta Nerano, Ragu Napoletana and Amalfi-style lemon cake, among others.

That makes the book particularly appealing to two kinds of readers:

People who want to travel to Italy.

And people who want to taste Italy at home.

Ideally, of course, you are both.

What Does Italian Food Really Mean?

Perhaps the most interesting question isn’t “What is Italian food?”

It’s:

What does Italian food mean?

For many people, Italian food means family.

It means Sunday dinner.

It means Nonna.

It means pasta being made in the kitchen.

It means tomatoes simmering on the stove.

It means a bottle of wine opened with friends.

It means bread on the table.

It means staying at the table longer than you intended.

The cultural importance of food and sharing is deeply embedded in Italian and Mediterranean traditions. UNESCO’s description of the Mediterranean diet emphasizes not only ingredients and cooking, but also hospitality, social exchange, traditions and the communal act of eating together.

That’s why Italian food has such universal appeal.

It’s not simply about eating.

It’s about living.

Anthony Bourdain

Eatin CACIO PEPE

“TONY’S FAVORITE PASTA”

ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S ITALY

One of the special features associated with Italian Food & Travels is its section devoted to Anthony Bourdain’s Italy.

Bourdain understood something that every serious food traveler eventually discovers:

The best way to understand a place is often to eat your way through it.

His Italian travels took him across different regions, cities and culinary traditions.

The Bourdain section of Zwicke’s book follows that spirit, exploring Italian destinations and foods associated with Bourdain’s travels and culinary adventures.

For readers who discovered Italy through Bourdain’s television programs, this provides another reason to pick up the book.

It offers a chance to revisit Italy through the food, places and experiences that made Bourdain’s travel stories so memorable.

Why Food Is the Best Way to Travel Through Italy

You can read about Italy in a history book.

You can study Italy on a map.

You can watch documentaries about Italy.

But food gives you another kind of knowledge.

You learn about a place by tasting it.

You discover that northern Italian cooking can feel very different from southern Italian cooking.

You discover that pasta isn’t one thing.

You discover that every region has its own specialties.

You discover that the best meal isn’t always the most expensive meal.

And you discover that sometimes the most memorable restaurant is the little trattoria you almost walked past.

That’s the Italy that Italian Food & Travels tries to capture.

The Best Italian Travel Book for Food Lovers?

For readers searching for an Italian travel guide, Italian cookbook, Italian food travel book, or book about traveling through Italy, Italian Food & Travels offers an unusual combination.

It isn’t simply a guidebook.

It isn’t simply a cookbook.

And it isn’t simply a memoir.

It brings these elements together.

The book combines travel stories, destinations, food traditions, recipes and observations gathered from Daniel Bellino Zwicke’s decades of experience with Italian food, wine and travel.

That makes it a natural companion for anyone who loves:

Italian food
Italian recipes
Italy travel
Italian wine
Pasta
Pizza
Rome
Venice
Florence
Naples
Sicily
Tuscany
Puglia
The Amalfi Coast
Capri
Positano
Italian culture
Food history
Culinary travel

TAKE ITALY HOME With YOU Take

The wonderful thing about a great travel book is that it doesn’t have to end when the trip ends.

You can close the book, walk into your kitchen and make pasta.

You can open a bottle of Italian wine.

You can prepare a traditional dish.

You can invite friends over.

And suddenly, for a few hours, you’re back in Italy.

That is the real promise of Italian Food & Travels.

It isn’t merely about getting from Rome to Venice or Naples to Sicily.

It’s about discovering Italy through its food, its people, its traditions and its stories.

Italy is waiting.

The table is set.

All that’s missing is you.

Discover Italian Food & Travels by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Italian Food & Travels: Rome, Venice, Pizza, Pasta & ? is a travel guide and cookbook for anyone who loves Italy, Italian food and the adventure of discovering a country one meal at a time.

Learn about the destinations.

Discover the recipes.

Follow the stories.

And start planning your next Italian adventure.

Mangia!

Read. Travel. Cook. Discover Italy.

BELLINO in ITALY

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

At The TEATRO GRECO

SIRACUSA, SICILY

New Venice Travel Guide Cookbook by Daniel Bellino Zwicke – Venetian Food Recipes

On June 1, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

EXPLORING VENICE

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

The LATEST From DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

AMAZON.com

EXPLORING VENICE

Exploring Venice. Daniel Bellino has done it again. He just released has latest book – Exploring Venice – Travel Guide – Cookbook. Speaking of travel guide cookbooks, it seems as though Bellino owns this genre, having written three wonderful books that fall under this genre, which we even think that Bellino-Zwicke may have even invented.

His latest offering is all about one of the World’s most loved and cherished destinations – Venice, Italy. Venice, a city like no other in the world. Venice is totally unique, and the people of the World love it, and love going there. So Mr. Bellino Z has written a quite wonderful book that will help to guide these people – on where to go in Venice – restaurants, wine bars, museums, and other local sights, it’s all there.

Bellino’s “Exploring Venice,” like all of his Italian Travel Books, gives you the authors very own unique perspective, as only Daniel Bellino can. You see, unlike many who write travel books, Bellino has some 40 years experience under his belt, when it comes to visiting and knowing Venice, the place, the people, the lifestyle, and of course the food, of which, no Venetian Travel Guide has ever had such a large battery of great Venetian food recipes such as this. And not many can match when it comes to Bellino & Venice, wine bars, and Venetian food, as Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a master of it all. He created the 1st ever Venetian Bacaro in America in 1998. What is a bacaro you ask? A bacaro is the Venetian dialect name for a wine bar. The word bacaro translates to “House of Bacchus”. – with Bacchus being The Roman Guide of Wine, the name for a wine bar in Venice “Bacaro” is quite appropriate. Daniel Bellino fell in love with the bacari of Venice and wanted to open one of his own, and so he did.

Having wanted to open a Venetian Wine Bar (bacaro) in New York, Bellino needed to know about them, and as much as he could. Everything. And so in the Spring (Primavera) of 1995, after reading an article on the bacari of Venice, Bellino decided he had to go and check them out. He book a flight to Vencie, and stayed for 11 days, going to every wine bar (bacaro) in town. He ate, drank wine, chatted with the owners and clients alike, took pictures, and absorbed it all, find out all about the food (cichetti), the local wines, and how the food and wine was produced, presented, and consumed in these bacari of the enchanting city of Venice.

Daniel Bellino went back to New York, and along with business partner Tom T, opened Bar Cichetti – “America’s 1st Ever Venetian Bacaro” (wine bar). Danie was the Chef, Wine Director, and managing partner of Bar Cichetti which the food-press and Italian wine professionals in New York and Italy absolutely loved. We could go on and on about Bar Cichetti, but sorry, though a great subject, we actually got off the main subject at hand – the book by Bellino, EXPPLORING VENICE.

So, like any other travel guide, there’s a list of the best restaurants to go to, and bacari. A list of museums, best sights to see, some history, and the hotels of Venice. Then there’s a few stories, containing the authors own wonderful experiences and insights into the enchanting city of Venice. The author touches on the most famous Venetians of all : “Casanova,” Vivaldi, & one Giuseppe Cipriani, the creator of World Renowned Venetian Treasure “Harry’s Bar.” Not every guide book of Venice touches on these subjects, but Bellino does. And his insights are quite valuable. The author tells you of several of Casanova’s favorite haunts that remain open and active to this very day. And you can go to Caffè Florian and the wine bars of Venice , eat and drink, and enjoy these establishments just as Giacamo Casanova did, almost 300 years gone by. Now that’s quite something, wouldn’t you say?

Now the recipes, some of which are quite unique. Oh, we almost forgot to inform you, the author cooked professionally in New York City for some 14 years, before getting heavily involved in Italian Wine, as the wine director of some New York’s most renowned Italian restaurants, and became one of the foremost authorities in America, on Italian wine. So Bellino’s experienced is quite significant.

Yes, back tot he recipes in the book. The author / chef has included some 40 recipes on the most important dishes of Venetian Cusine, including, Risi Bisi, Baccala Montecato (whipped Salt Cod), Bigoli con Anatra (Venetian pasta with Duck Ragu), Calves Liver Veneziana, and more. Daniel has also touched on Cichetti and throwing your very own “Cichetti Party,” when you get back home. And he tells you how to do it. The author, in writing his Italian travel guide -cookbooks, has said that his does this in order to inspire people to cook the foods that they love from their travels. Daniel states that it’s a great way to relive cherished memories of certain trips, by cooking some dishes that you loved while on vacation. He has done this with other travel -cookbooks he has written, such as – Poistano The Amalfi Coast – Travel Guide – Cookbook & ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL.

We almost forget to inform you. Daniel Bellino cooked professionally in some New York’s most renowned Italian & French restaurants of 15 years, after which he became heavily involved in Italian Wine. He opened Bar Cichetti, and for this, every Italian Wine Estate Owner wanted to meet him, and have him sell and promote their wines. And so Daniel became one of America’s foremost authorise of Italian Wine. For his passion and great knowledge of Italian wine, Daniel Bellino Z is one of the most highly respected Italian Wine Guys of America – known and respected by most of Italy’s top Italian Wine producers (Italian Estate Owners), such as : Giovanni Manettiof Fontodi, Conti Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinaia (Chianti in Greve), The Marches Piero Antinori (Antinori Wines of Florence, Tuscany), Francesca Planeta (Paneta Wines, Sicily), Cavelierie Luigi Cappellini of Castello Verrazzano, and many more. Too many to name.

And so, we highly recommend any of the fine books of Italy, by one of America’s foremost authorises on the subjects – the subjects of Italian Food, Italian Wine, Italy, & Travels in Italy – chef ‘ author Daniel Bellino Zwicke. He knows it all.

WE ALSO RECOMMEND

“ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS”

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS

ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ???

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

Positano Ultimate Travel Guide 2026 – The Amalfi Coast

On May 22, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

Positano

WELCOME to BEAUTIFUL POSITANO

And The ULTIMATE GUIDE to EVERYTHING POSITANO

EAT – DRINK – SLEEP – EXPLORE – SWIM – PLAY – GET AROUND

Positano Amalfi Coast Hotels

The MAIN Beach at Positano

Pulling Into POSITANO

This is a Great Car … But it’s Best to Leave the Car at Home

GETTING to POSITANO

The BEST WAY

ROME to POSITANO PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION

HOTELS

There are several ways to get to Positano, either by Bus, Car, or Boat, and some ways are much better than other ones.

If you are Flying into the Airport in Naples, you can get Affordable Ground Transportation , directly from the Airport to Sorrento, where you can take a spectacular Bus Ride, or Ferry Boat directly from Sorrento right to the center of Positano.

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE

CAPRI – NAPLES – SORRENTO

The AMALFI COAST ITALY

AMAZON.com

The AMALFI COAST

AMALFI COAST – HOTELS

The ROLLING STONES !!!

POSITANO – ROLLING STONES

TEE SHIRT

This is an “EXCLUSIVE” SHIRT

YOU CAN NOT GET IT ANYWHERE ELSE !!!

If YOU LOVE IT ? “CLICK HERE” !!!

POSITANO

Wish You Were There ???

Positano Getting There

Recipes

NAPOLI DAY TOURS to POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

FIND a HOTEL

ITALY

View of Positano

Hotels CAPRI – POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

And WORLDWIDE

EXPEDIA.com

.”ONLY YOUR”

How to Get There

Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. arrive

by FERRARI in “ONLY YOU”

WHERE to Stay

This is Where Billy Zane, Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. Stayed

Le SIRENUSE Hotel

“ONLY YOU”

WHERE to EAT

in POSITANO

Best Beaches

In POSITANO

ITALY

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ???

NAPLES CAPRI SORRENTO The AMALFI COAST

ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

EXPEDIA.com

HOTELS – POSITANO

https://expedia.com/affiliate/wK1AA7Y

Lo SMERALDO

AMALFI

WHERE to EAT on The AMALFI COAST

MAPS of POSITANO

GET GREAT RATES on AIRLINE FLIGHTS

The AMALFI COAST

SUNDAY SAUCE

Cooking Like

The You’re in Positano

The AMALFI COAST

Daniel Bellino “Z”

Clark Gable with Sophia Loren

Movie’s Set on Capri

Naples and The AMALFI COAST

ITALY

WHAT to DO on The AMALFI COAST

TOP THINGS to DO in POSITANO

And The AMALFI COAST

CLICK HERE for INFO

The Path of The Gods

POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

Cheapest Budget Hotels

In POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

ITALY

VIEW From Le SIRENUSE

Thee PLACE to STAY in POSITANO

BOOK IT !

CASA ALBERTINA … Positano

Look at This View ??? !!!!

How’d You like to Have Your Breakfast Here ?

One of Our ALL-TIME FAVORITE

POSITANO

Casa Albertina

LUXURY For LESS

Info & Reservations

Beautifully Appointed Rooms

Casa Albertina is a wonderful 1st Class little family run Hotel that is perfectly situated so you get a nice view of the town from just a little way up, yet a short easy teen minute walk to the Beach and Center of Positano.

I first discovered Casa Albertina way back in 1986 and had 3 glorious days staying there. The son Lorenzo gave me a special rate, seeing I was a young man (22) and probably didn’t have much cash. This hotel is beautifully appointed and the entire staff provides the most friendly service. Casa Albertina is an Absolute Gem.

Note : The first time I stayed at CASA ALBERTINA was the Summer of 1986. The owners sone Lorenzo gave me a special rate of $79 a night, and I had an absolutely wonderful time. The next year when I came back, the price had gone up to $119 a night. When I checked the prices in May of 2018, the rate was $279 a night, and actually a reasonable rate for the quality of this hotel, which is not super deluxe, but does make it in to the luxury category of hotels.

CASA ALBERTINA … Via Tavolozza 3 … POSITANO , ITALY … Reserve a Room

Me at Casa Albertina

Breakfast with Nicoletta

Summer 1986

BUCA di BACCO …. Positano

View From a Room

HOTEL BUCA di BACCO

HOTEL BUCA di BACCO … Via Rama Teglia 4 … Positano, Italy … tel. 39 081 1892 2289 CLICK to Book a Room INFO & RESERVATIONS

….

Le SIRENUSE

INFO & RESERVATIONS

The POOL

Le SIRENUSE

A Room at Le Sirenuse

BOOK IT !

“ROOMS GO FAST”

ARE YOU COMING From ROME ?

ROME to The AMALFI COAST

PRIVATE LUXURY TRANSPORT

“I LOVE POSITANO”

TEE SHIRT

View From Terrace Bar at Le SIRENUSE

Le SIRENUSE HOTEL … Via C. Colombo 30 , Positano, Italy .. tel. 39 0862 060556

Book a Room at Le SIRENUSE HOTEL – INFO & RESERVATIONS

il SAN PIETRO

View from the SAN PIETRO

One of The Worlds Most Renowned Hotels

“STAY HERE”

For The DREAM VACATION of a LIFETIME

One of The SAN PIETRO’S FABULOUS Rooms

Your Own Private Balcony

INFO & RESERVATIONS

GROUP & PRIVATE TOURS

SORRENTO CAPRI POSITANO POMPEII The AMALFI COASTS – BUS TOURS

WINE TASTING LUCNHES – PIZZA & ITALIAN FOOD COOKING CLASSES

NAPLES – SORRENTO – The AMALFI COAST & CAPRI

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE !!!

INFO & RESERVATIONS

SUNDAY SAUCE

AMERICA’S FAVORITE

ITALIAN COOKBOOK

CLICK

“FLY WITH EXPEDIA”

HOTELS & FLIGHTS

EXPEDIA.com

HOTEL ART PASITEA

View from the Terrazzo at Hotel Art PasItea

POSITANO

Lounge at HOTEL ART PASITEA

Free Wifi, Free Breakfast, Beautiful Views, affordable Prices …

HOTEL ART PASITEA …. Via Pasitea 207, Positano, Italy

FIND a Room

HOTEL DIMORA FORNILLO

View from the Terrazzo at Hotel Dimora Fornillo

POSITANO

A Room with a VIEW

Hotel Dimora Fornillo

HOTEL DIMORA FORNILLO … Via Fornillo 27 , POSITANO

About 200 Steps up to the Hotel from the Beach and Center of town.

AC Free Wifi …

Free BREAKFAST Reserve a Room

VILLA MARIA ANTONIETTA

View From VILLA MARIA ANTONIETTA

If You’re on a Budget, Villa Maria Antonietta is on of The Best Options in Town …

Posiitano has to be one of the hardest place in the World to find a hotel room, and in the Budget Category, almost but not Impossible. Villa Maria Antonietta is one of your best options if you want to pay less than $150 US Dollars a night. It’s almost impossible finding a room here in the high season (April to Mid October). You have a much better chance getting a room here in the off-season when you can get a room for about $96 a night (US Dollars).

I first stayed here in the Summer of 1985, and was recommended this place by the late Poet RENE RICARD. At the time I paid $40 a night, so considering the way things have skyrocketed here in Positano, that you can get a room for about double the price in 2018, that’s pretty reasonable.

The accommodations are basic, but most important, they are clean, the location is Fantastic, you are in Positano and it’s relatively Cheap.

If you want to stay in in Summer, Book Far in Advance !!!

Just 1,900 Feet from the Main Beach and Marina to catch Boats (Ferries) coming and going to Positano.

VILLA MARIA ANTONIETTA … Via C. Colombo 41 , POSITANO , ITALY

ROME to POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

PRIVATE DOOR to DOOR TRANSPORTATION

NAPLES AIRPORT to The AMALFI COAST

GET INFO – RESERVATIONS

HOTELS & FLIGHTS

EXPEDIA.com

HOTEL CONCA D’ ORO

Hotel Conca D’ Oro

Positano

View From Balcony

HOTEL CONCA D’ ORO

POSITANO

Afforadable with Average Room Rate of $145 a Night US Dollars

150 Steps Up, about a 15 Minute Walk to The Main Beach

HOTEL CONCA D’ ORO …. Via Boscariello 16 , POSITANO , ITALY Info

Find Your HOTELS

TIPS on GETTING a ROOM in POSITANO and The AMALFI COAST

Positano has to be without question one of the hardest places in the World for the Budget minded to get a hotel room. There are not many options, as most hotels, the prices are astronomical priced. Seriously! This being said, it’s not impossible and there are some options available.

We have Compiled a List of Several Affordable (Cheapest Hotel Rooms in POSITANO) Options for the Budget Minded. It wasn’t easy, but we did it.

It goes without sayint that’s it’s markedly more dificult to find a reasonably priced room here during the high season which runs from mid April to mid September, with mid May to the first weel of Septemeber being super busy.

This all being said, if it’s possible for you to go in October or April, these two months might be your best possible option. If you have plenty of cash and can afford to pay $300 or more a night for a hotel room, then you won’t have as much as a problem.

The other alternative to see Positano if you want to go during the High Season, is to stay in another town like, Paiano right next door to Positano, or Minori, Sorrento or other town near by, and take a bus or Boat to visit Positano, have a nice lunch and do some sightseeing.

Good Luck!

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK & TRAVEL

AMAZON.com

POSITANO – ROLLING STONES

“EXCLUSIVE POSITANO TEE”

At BUCA di BACCO

INFO & RESERVATIONS

Positano , Italy

Yes a Wonderful Ristorante Amazing View Great Food Excellet Service … This Hotel and Restaurant is a mainstay of the hugely popular town of Positano on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Everything about the place is First Class, the hotel of course , the restaurant and a friendly professional staff of waiter, BBs, host, Chef, cooks, and all who work at this establishment. I’ve eaten here numerous times since 1985, and it’s always been a great experience including my latest trip this past May with my cousin Tony. We went for lunch, this was my cousin Tony’s first time, and he loved as I always have. I think I created a Monster when my cousin Tony said let’s get a bottle of Champagne and a suggested we might get a good quality Italian Sparkling Wine. A few days before we were at Lo Smeraldino Ristorante right on the water in Amalfi. I ordered the Ferrari “Perle” Brut 2007. It was wonderful and Tony was hooked, he loved it, and wanted to get it at almost every restaurant we went to for the rest of the trip. Now back to Buco di Bacco. Tony scanned the Wine List at Buco, he found the Ferrari “Perle” and ordered another bottle (Vintage 2010). We started drinking it and as with the 5 or so bottles of this wine we had on the trip, it was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed. Now when it came to ordering, for Antipasto we got an order of Melanzane Parmigiano (Eggplant Parm) and some grilled vegetables. Now, though we both love eating Seafood when down on the Amalfi Coast, when we saw Meatballs (Polpette) on the menu, we both ordered some. I ordered a plate of Spaghetti Meatballs while Tony ordered just Meatballs minus any pasta.

The BAR at BUCO Di BACCO

RESERVATIONS

The service as usual was excellent, it was a absolutely gorgeous day in Positano and we were both a couple of Happy Campers outside on the lower Terrazzo of Buca Di Bacco. We both commented on how relaxing and peaceful it felt sitting there on the deck and we both sat back and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and good fortune to having lunch there at such a nice restaurant in the beautiful town of Positano n the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Yes, we knew we were lucky and we were most certainly grateful to be sharing such a memorable meal together, two Italian-American cousins in Italy in Positano, The Amalfi Coast. Basta !

The WINE LIST

BUCA Di BACCO

Since 1916

POSITANO

PESCE MISTI di Mare

BUCO di BACCO

POSITANO … I won’t give you the address, as you can’t miss it. The Hotel and Ristorante BUCA di BACCO is front and center, right at the main beach in the center of town in Positano. If by some insane reason you have a problem finding it, just ask, it’s right down near the water. telephone : 39 081 837 0723

PS … If you can Afford It? The Hotel is Wonderful.

Da VINCENZO

A Great View of POSITANO from a outdoor table at Da VINCENZO

That’s the terrazzo of Caffe Positano where all the people are sitting outside, which if you started going to Positano long ago, you may know that spot as the old BAR DeMARTINO, one of my favorite places ever in Positano, but sadly no longer there. Anyway, this is a spectacular spot to get an Aperitivo, have lunch or dinner, and just enjoy the moment and the beauty before you, and just how “Lucky” you are to be in this Gorgeous Place, known as Positano.

Enjoy!

Italian Cookbook Author (Me)

Daniel Bellino Zwicke, Enjoying Lunch

at Da VINCENZO

Been Going there Since 1985

Positano

Yes, I started going to Da Vincenzo way back in 1985. Ever Since my first trip to the lovely little Seaside Town on The Amalfi Coast, that was yet to be discover by the masses all around the World. Yes, there were people who had heard about this gorgeous place, but not nearly as many as do now. Yes, Positano for the most part was still relatively un-known back then. That’s before Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. made the movie ONLY YOU that brought the town to the attention of so many more Millions of people then had ever even heard of the palce before. Anyway Cei la Vie.

Now back to Rene Ricard and myself and how I discovered and went to Da Vincenzo way back in the Summer of 1985 (Bar DeMartino also). It was just a few days befor my long awaited first trip to Italy, Spain, and the South of France when as I waas walking down 2nd Avenue one night I ran into my friend Alma who was with the Poet RENE RICARD. We were all chatting on the street when I emntioned my trip. When I said I was going to Rome, Venice, and positano, Rene got quite excited and told me the best places to go to in Rome, Venice and Positano. So besides all the info Rene gave me on Rome and Venice, he told me all about Positano and where to stay and where to eat which included going to Da Vincenzo where Rene told me I’d get the Best Plate of SPAGHETTI VONGOLE that Id’ ever have in my entire life.

La CAMBUSA

La CAMBUSA

View From a Table at La CAMBUSA

La CAMBUSA … Piazza A. Vespucci / Spiaggi Grande POSITANO … tel # 39 089 812051

Linguine Frutta di Mare , La CAMBUSA

La CAMBUSA

PIAZZA A. VESPUCCI

POSITANO

La CAMBUSA

Out of most of the places we went in Positano this was easily best. They are so friendly and the food was perfect while overlooking the beach. Our first night they were about to close and stayed open for us to get a light bite and a great bottle of wine and we told them we would be back and they didn’t not disappoint. The seafood pasta was amazing and once again the staff was accommodating. I couldn’t recommend this place more. Enjoy Positano and really get to know the people because it’s a great place.

Le PERGOLA

La CAMBUSA

La CAMBUSA and The Piazza Amerigo Vespucci

POSITANO

HOTEL ROYAL

Via PASITEA 344, – POSITANO

INFO & RESERVATIONS

LATTERIA

“Alimentari” … Via Pasitea , POSITANO

LATTERRIA

“Some of The BEST FOOD in All of POSITANO”

FRITTATA FORMAGGI ARANCINI PANINI MELANZANE SALUMI e FRUTTA

The Selection at “LATTERIA” is AMAZING

And You Can Take it out and Eat on Their Lovely Little Terrazzo

“I Did”

The Terrazzo at “LATTERIA ALIMENTARI”

We just lucked out and stumbled into this place for sandwiches while we waited for check in time at our hotel. We took them down to the beach and ate them on benches. Several people came up and asked where we got them! They were delicious and SO reasonably priced. Fantastic!

The GIRLS at Latteria Positano

Eat out on The Terrace or Take Out to Your Hotel Room or Apartment

or for Your BEACH LUNCH

They’ve got everything you need : Water, Wine, Sandwiches, Fruit, Rice Balls, Cheese, Salami, Eggplant Parmigiano, Frittata, Olives, Sweets, everything.

Daily Specials at LATTERIA POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

POSITANO CAPRI NAPLES SORRENTO

AMAZON.com

DELIKATESSAN

Delikatessan

Yes another deli (Salumeria). Believe it or not, Salumerias / Rosticerias have some of the best food in almost every city in Italy, and so is the case in Positano with Latteria Deli and here at Delikatessen. We decided to grab some food to take back some food to enjoy on our balcony. The food was of great quality and very reasonably priced. We bought some Pasta, Panini, and Eggplant, Arancini (Rice Balls) . Everything was super tasty. They make greay Sandwiches (Panini) that a great to take along with some Fruit and Arancini for an awesome Beach Lunch. If you are staying in Positano for a while and don’t want to eat out all the time then this is a great option. They have a great wine selection if you like to do as we do and keep a bottle or two back at our room , as well as fruit and bottled water which you always need.

In The KITCHEN at DELIKATESSEN

POSITANO

Look at This Awesome Panino

Eggplant, Salami, Mozzarella, Peppers

One of the Girls at DELICATESSEN

POSITANO

DEICATESSEN …. Via Mulini 5 , POSITANO

The BEACHES

View from Beach Club La SCOGLERE

at Music on The Rocks

POSITANO

“My own personal Favorite Beach in Positano”

ITALY

Arienzo Beach

POSITANO

Spiaggi Grande

The Main Beach of Positano

Fornillo Beach is a Great Spot with Several Nice Bars and Restaurants

POSITANO

3D BEACH MAP

of POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

The Boat to Da ALDOLFO

POSITANO

at LAURITO BEACH

ITALY

Map of Positano and its Beaches

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE

AMAZON.com

GOING to SICILY

FILMS – POSITANO – CAPRI – RAVELLO – AMALFI COAST

PIZZA

The BEACHES of POSITANO

CAPRI ISCHIA NAPOLI

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

FLY With EXPEDIA !

THINGS to DO ALL OVER ITALY !!!

GET YOUR GUIDE !

The AMALFI COAST

The AMALFI COAST – MAP

AMALFI COAST HOTELS

Scogliera Beach Club Positano by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

On May 19, 2026May 19, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

POSITANO

View from SCOGLIERA BEACH CLUB

SCOGLIERA BEACH CLUB

POSITANO

SCOGLIERA BEACH CLUB

I first spent a couple wonderful days at La Scogliera Beach Club way back in the Summer of 1985. I was a young man of just 23 back then, and getting a Chaise Lounge and hanging out at La Scogliera was like a dream come true. Like I had seen in movies as a kid, Agent 007 James Bond and the like swimming exclusive Mediterranean Beach, lounging at exclusive beach clubs with beautiful European Women, and living “The Good Life,” and here, so was I. Yes it was a dream come true. Most young men my age would have opted for one of the free beaches, but not I. I would pay more to be among the beautiful people. Especially the gorgeous bikini clad girls. Or just half a bikini? Just the bottoms as the sun bathed going topless, I must say I enjoyed it all so very much. I had my chaise lounge, Campari & OJ, lovely music playing, the Sun, the Sand, the Beach, Beautiful Women, “yes, I was in 7th Heaven,” to say the least, I felt like a King back then. Being in Positano, gorgeous girls, great Italian Food, Cocktails, gelato, properly pulled Espresso, the World’s Best Pizza, the Casa Albertina, “what more could I want?” Not much I tell you. I was oh so happy those days in Positano, on the Amalfi Coast, Italy, for I was living my dream. My dream I saw on all those James Bond movies, growing up as a young boy in 1960s and 70s America.

We went to the Rivoli Theater in Rutherford, New Jersey. Yes I watched Bond, Sean Connery and Roger Moore, and I wanted to be just like them. Well, not a Secret Agent, but I wanted to travel the World, going to exotic locals with beautiful women, Deluxe Hotels, cars, Champagne & Caviar, as they say. Yes, movies like Summertime (Venice), William Holden in Hong Kong in The World of Suzy Wong, Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, “that’s what I wanted,” and here I was at the exclusive beach club La Scogliera in Positano, on the Jet-Set Amalfi Coast. My dreams had come true. I savored it all, took it all in, and was appreciative at being there, in this one of the World’s most beautiful spots of all.

I spent my day, just hanging out, either lounging on my chaise lounge, sipping my Campari, soaking in the Amalfi Coast Sun. I swam a lot. Yes, I’m not usually a beach person, except when I’m in places like; Capri, Positano, the Costa Brava, or French Riviera. Then I become one. A beach person, and so when I’m on Capri or Positano, I hang at the beach and spend quite a lot of time swimming the Mediterranean (Tyrrhenian Sea). I go in the water, and I’m swimming at least 15 to 20 minutes at a time, even up to 30 minutes before getting out of the water. Oh yes, I love swimming the waters of Capri (Da Luigi Beach Club) and Positano. I swim out and just float there at times, looking at the town that just seems to sprout and shoot up out of the sea, straight up to dizzying heights above. This scene is quite dramatic and awe inspiring, both on Capri and Positano, and I love it. Yes I love floating on my back and looking out at the beautiful scene before me, the seagulls are singing, and I can faintly hear the music at the club, and chitter-chatter of people on the beach. It all blends together for the most lovely sound. That special sound of the seashore, do you know what I mean?

Yes, back in 1985, as a young man, I paid more ($8) to be and the beach, and felt it was worth every penny to be there. These days, a chaise lounge can run you anywhere from 20 to 40 Euro for the day, depending upon the time you are there, the price varies. Now I would not pay 4o Euro a day, that’s a bit much. I would however pay 25 Euro to have a private chaise at La Scogliera Beach Club, Positano. That’s the price (25 Euro) I pay for a chaise lounge and towel at Da Luigi Beach Club on by the Faraglioni Rocks in Capri. Expensive? Yes, but worth every penny to treat yourself to a special treat, “don’t you think?”

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

SCOGLIERA

POSITANO

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

CAPRI NAPLES SORRENTO RAVELLO

VOTED # 1 BEST AMALFI COAST GUIDE

AMAZON.com

SCOGLIERA BEACH CLUB

POSITANO

ROLLING STONES

POSITANO

TEE SHIRT

This is an EXCLUSIVE SHIRT

YOU CAN NOT GET ANYWHERE ELSE

“ONLY HERE”

SCOGLIERA

POSITANO

Scogliera Beach Club

The AMALFI COAST

2026 Top Italian Food and Travel Books – Italian Cookbooks and Travel Guides – Italy

On April 19, 2026April 19, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

TOP ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL BOOKS 2026

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS

ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ?

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

BEST SELLER ITALIAN FOOD

& TRAVEL BOOKS 2026

AMAZON.com

TOP ITALIAN TRAVEL & FOOD BOOKS 2026

Regional Guides: Puglia Travel Guide 2026-2027 and Lombardy Travel & Tour Guide 2026 cover specific areas with local food, wine, and hidden gem recommendations.

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS – ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ?

A wonderful journey through”Bella Italia” with Best Selling Travel & Cookbook author Daniel Bellino Zwicke. A wonderfully unique Travel Guide / Cookbook of the Italian peninsula – Travel Tips & Info with 100 tasty recipes that are easy to prepare. When it comes to Italy & Italian Food, it’s hard to beat Daniel Bellino. – Amazon.com

Comprehensive Guides: ITALY Travel Guide 2026 and Italy Unscripted 2026 offer insider advice on culture, food, and itineraries.
Culinary Travel: Rick Steves Italy for Food Lovers and Italy on a Plate: Travels, Memories, Menus combine travel experiences with authentic recipes.
Memoirs: Grandma Backpacks Venice: Italian Comedy Memoir Adventure Story.

Amazon.com +3

Top Sellers & Popular Titles

General Travel: Lonely Planet Italy and Rick Steves Italy remain top choices for comprehensive travel planning.
Culinary Focused: Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy.
Specialized: Amalfi Coast Travel Guide 2026 and Italy Travel Guide for Seniors.

Amazon.com +3

Italian Kitchen Finds on Amazon (2026)

As of March 2026, popular Italian-made kitchen items available on Amazon include:

Stainless steel cookware for pasta-making.
Specialty kitchen tools for preparing authentic dishes.

Food & Wine

Key Search Categories

Italian Travel Guides (General, Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Sicily)
Italian Cooking, Food & Wine
New Releases in Italian Travel

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE COOKBOOK

CAPRI SORRENTO & NAPLES

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Dario Cecchini – Italys King of Beef – Steak – Panzano Italy

On March 15, 2026March 15, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

“To BEEF or Not to BEEF” ?

DARIO CECCHINI

ITALY’S Most CELEBRATED BUTCHER

MACELLERIA CECCHINI

PANZANO, ITALY

DARIO CECCHINI

MACELLERIA CECCHINI

DARIO Says “HELLO NEW YORK”

A PIECE of BEEF

BISTECA FIORENTINA alla DARIO

BEEF FEAST MENU

OFFICINA DELLA BISTECA – DARIO CECCHINI

1) CHIANTI CRUDO – STEAK TARTARE

2) CARPACCIO di CRUDO

3) – BISTECA PANZANO

4) BISTECA FIROENTINA

with FAGIOLI (Tuscan Beans)

ROAST POTATOES

LARDO & BREAD

WINE – “SANGIOVESE”

5). DESSERT – COFFEE & GRAPPA

“OLIVE OIL CAKE”

MEET DARIO

MEET DARIO CECCHINI

ANTICA MACELLERIA CECCHINI

DARIO’S TUSCAN BEEF FEAST

by author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

PANZANO, ITALY

2026

GENARO MEETS DARIO

GENARO CANTALDO Goes to PANZANO

BISTECA FIORENTINA with DARIO CECCHINI

Getting READY

To COOK SOME STEAK

BISTECA at DARIO’S

BISTECA FIORENTINA

And Other CUTS of BEEF

On The GRILL

BEST SELLING ITALIAN COOKBOOK Author

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

Making The SCENE at DARIO’S

STEAK TARTARE

alla DARIO

“So GOOD”

“BEST STEAK TARTARE I’VE EVER HAD”

BEEF CARPACIO alla DARIO

And DARIO’S AWESOME “STEAK TARTARE”

You start the BEEF FEAST with DARIO’S STEAK TARTARE

Probably the BEST YOU WILL EVER HAVE

“So GOOD”

Then they send out DARIO’S BEEF CARPACCIO

TUSCAN BEANS

Do You Know They Call TUSCAN PEOPLE “FAGIOLINI”

BEAN EATERS

They REALLY LOVE Their BEANS

The ROAST POTATOES are AMAZING !!!!

CHIANTI

AMERICA’S FAVORITE

ITALIAN COOKBOOK

SUNDAY SAUCE

by DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

“STEAK ITALIAN STYLE”

SUNDAY SAUCE – MEATBALLS – PASTA

LASAGNA & MORE …

AMAZON.com

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

ITALY TRIP 2026

Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke is a noted admirer and visitor of

Dario Cecchini, the world-renowned Italian butcher based in Panzano in Chianti, Tuscany. Bellino, an author of Italian-American culinary books, has documented his visits to Cecchini’s famous restaurant, Officina della Bistecca, praising him as a “Master of Meat” and a “True Gentleman”.

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke: Author of books including “Mama + Me” and “Sunday Sauce,” who often features Italian culinary experiences and has highlighted his visits to Cecchini.
Dario Cecchini: Known as the “world’s most famous butcher,” Cecchini is an 8th-generation butcher from Panzano who gained international fame for his dedication to traditional butchery, respecting the animal, and using every part of it.
The Experience: Bellino has described dining at Cecchini’s Officina della Bistecca(The Workshop of the Steak) as a cherished experience, highlighting it as a pinnacle of Tuscan meat preparation.
Connection: Bellino has documented his admiration for Cecchini’s work and philosophy on his social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.

Casanova ‘s Favorite Cafes and Wine Bars in Venice Hotels

On January 25, 2026 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

GIACAMO CASANOVA

VENICE, ITALY

Do MORI

VENICE

Inside Cantina do Mori

One of CASANOVA’S Favorite Bars

Cantina Do Mori is Venice’s oldest bacaro (tavern), founded in 1462 and located near the Rialto Bridge. Its name, meaning “two Moors,” may refer to two early servers, and the tavern is rumored to be where Casanova took his first dates.

Cantina Do Mori continues to serve a variety of small sandwiches, known as cicchetti or “Francobolli” (stamps), and is a historic spot to experience Venetian culture.

The Bar at Do MORI

VENICE

Giacamo Casanova

At Do MORI

Typical Cichetti at Do Mori

Panini, Baccale Mantecate, Mussetto and ???

SPAGHETTI con GAMBERONI

Do MORI

RECIPE

Caffe Florian

Piazza San Marco

VENICE

Since 1720

Caffe Florian’s was a favorite of Giacomo Casanova where he began many a Seduction over the years. Caffe Florian opened its door in 1720 and has been serving the citizens of Venice and the World ever since.

Caffe Florian has seen the likes of : Napoleon Boanaparte, Winston Churchill, Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis, Jackie Kennedy, George Clooney, Jude Law, Gwyneth Palthrow, Matt Damon, Ernest Hemingway, Kings, Queens, Princes & Princesses, US Presidents, Heads of State, writers, artist, Film Makers, Movie Stars, tourists, and the people of the World in its almost 300 years of operation, serving, Espresso, Cappuccino (Coffee), Wine, Tea, Prosecco, Campari Aperol, Sndwiches, and Sweet Treats. Have you been there? Casanova has, and if you haven’t been, no trip to Venice is complete without at least one or more visits to this historical spot.

Do SPADE

“Drink where CASANOVA Drank”

Calle Spade, San Polo, Venice

One of the most ancient Venetian Osterie, the Cantina Do Spade is only a few steps away from the Rialto Bridge. This Bacaro offers a variety of cicheti: small typically Venetian snacks like fried squid rings, Meatballs, Mozzarella in Carrozza, Baccala Mantecato etc. Here our friendly staff and atmosphere will make you feel at home, but with the opportunity to taste fine and fresh food.

Inside Do SPADE

VENICE

Have an Ombra

Drink Wine where CASANOVA used to Drink

FIND a HOTEL in VENICE

FLIGHTS & HOTELS WORLDWIDE

EXPEDIA.com

.VENETIAN SEAFOOD RECIPES

In The FEAST of The 7 FISH

AMAZON.com

CICHETTI & WINE

At CANTINA DO MORI

VENICE – ITALY

Sophia Loren

Seafood Recipes

For ITALIAN CHRISTMAS “The FEAST of The 7 FISHES”

LENT and ALL YEAR ROUND

Amazon.com

Giacomo Casanova

(1724 – 1798)

Giacomo Casanova was born in Venice on 2 April 1725, the eldest son of a Spaniard Gaetan-Joseph-Jacques Casanova and his Italian wife Zanetti Farusi, both actors. His father died when he was around nine or ten and his mother continued traveling with her acting troupe, leaving her six young children as always with their maternal grandmother Marzia Farusi; Casanova and his siblings don’t seem to have had much of a relationship with their mother then or later in life. Casanova describes himself as having being ‘a vegetable’ until the age of eight, by which we should infer nothing much interesting or eventful happened in his early growing years. However he did begin his education and showed himself to be an unusually bright young fellow. Not bright enough to have developed a complete understanding of himself as yet though. His first choice of a career, funnily enough, was Priesthood – even in an era when nobody was particularly chaste or saintly, he would have been a real disaster in that role. Fortunately for him, his roving eye ruined this prospect before it even began and, never the one to be cast down by anything for very long, he shrugged, studied Law instead, and let himself loose on the secular world next.

For the rest of his life, Casanova was to remain, what can only be described as, a Jack of all Trades – and Master enough of himself to get out of all the sticky situations that these Trades invariably got him into. He developed into a real tolerant, open-minded individual – he usually refrained from pointing fingers at other people’s morals and never hesitated in giving them plenty of reasons to be sniping about his in turn – if they sniped too much and too loud, he was always forward in inviting them to duel – and he was rarely the one to be carried off the field with many wounds to lick. He made time for practically all the fools he came across – to fleece them for all they were worth – and for most of the women and girls that crossed his path. He nearly married on several occasions, but last minute escapes prevailed every time. On one occasion he almost married his own illegitimate daughter – he had several illegitimate children that he either never heard of or came to hear of, like on this occasion, a mite later in life. Certainly though, he never worried his head too much about them. But then he wasn’t prone to worrying too much about anything. This perhaps was the main ingredient of his carefree existence. If one thing doesn’t work, well, never mind, let’s move on to something else, let’s see what’s around the next bend. And if it was necessary to bend a bit to get around the bend, hey, no problemo whatsoevero, in this life of ours some adjustment is always necessary.

Casanova’s talent for adjustment saw him traveling widely – Florence, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, Germany, England, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Turkey – and coming into contact with a wide spectrum of society, from peasant-folk to city thugs to ordinary middle-class people to the very rich and affluent to the aristocrats and royalty. He had close social contacts with the King of France, with Catherine The Great of Russia, with George III of England, with Frederick The Great of Prussia, with Joseph II of Austria, with Benedict XII in Rome, with the French thinkers Voltaire, Rousseau, d’Alembert, Crebillon, and many other eminent personalities of the day. He also found himself a prisoner of the Inquisition in Venice’s notorious Piombi prison for 15 months – for expressing his personal opinions on religion and morality a little too publicly – he would probably have languished there forever except for his irrepressible spirit – after one failed bid to escape, he tried again and his hair-raising second attempt was a success. Unlike one of our modern heroes, Casanova doesn’t appear to have suffered from much post traumatic stress as a result of this ordeal. He dusted himself off and coolly went back to the business of living. He always took care to live particularly well, with good food, clothes, and lodging. He made a great deal of money from his various schemes and lost it all rather quickly. The concept of saving was just beyond him.

Some twenty years later, needing money, he was back in Venice, opportunistically seeking employment with the very people that had once arrested him. It seems they were as prepared to be forgiving and he worked for them as a Secret Agent from 1774 to 1782. Then he left Venice for the last time and went to Paris. Here he met Count Waldstein who invited him to come live on his property, the Chateau Dux, in Bohemia and work there as a Librarian. Quite a career change, but perhaps a little peace and quiet was just what Casanova was looking for. He accepted and spent the next fourteen years at Dux.

It wasn’t demanding work and gave him ample time for intellectual pursuits of his own – aside from his memoirs, on which he worked diligently, he wrote on Mathematics, Philosophy, Grammar, Poetry, Short Stories, Plays, and so on. He also maintained a voluminous correspondence with friends, acquaintances, and former lovers. Age didn’t in any way diminish his general enthusiasm. Just prior to his death – on 4 June 1798 – he was described by the Prince de Ligny as: “At 73, no longer a god in the garden or a satyr in the forest, he is a wolf at table.”

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Best Selling Italian Travel Guide – Italian Food & Travel is the Number 1 Best Seller Italy Travel Guides Amazon by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

On December 2, 2025December 2, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

The # 1 BEST SELLER – ITALIAN TRAVEL GUIDES

ITALY

AMAZON.com

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL is the # 1 BEST SELLER

ITALY TRAVEL GUDIES – Amazon .com

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Just to Clarify – “ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL’

is Not a BOOK solely on VENICE, but all of ITALY

It is an ITALIAN TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK on ITALY

There are 30 Pages dedicated to just VENICE, which is Quite Large and

Extensive as far as TRAVEL GUIDES of ITALY Go

Amazon Categorised it as VENICE, but it’s ALL of ITALY

From VENICE to PALERMO and Back “You Get It All” All ITALY !!

SPECIAL SECTION “BORUDAIN in ITALY”

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

All ITALY

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

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ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL – Travel Guide – Cookbook

Italian Food & Travels “Rome Venice Pizza Pasta &? Travel and Eat throughout Italy, with Bestselling Italian Cookbook / Travel Writer – Daniel Bellino Zwicke. Take a journey with Daniel on his many journeys in Italy, from Rome, Venice, Verona, Florence, Naples, Capri, Positano, The Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Puglia and more. Daniel Bellino has 40 years experience, spending time in Italy, eating, drinking wonderful Italian Wine, living among the locals, gathering a brigade of stories and tasty Italian recipes from every region of Italy. Daniel has a great perspective of Italian Food knowledge, of Italy, and how to travel in this the most beloved travel destination in all the World, from the Ancient Roman ruins of Rome, to the singular uniqueness of Venice, to Sicily and it’s people, food, Roman & Greeks ruins, and some of the most beautiful churches in all the World. Daniel weaves wonderful stories of Italian adventures, with many tasty recipes to accompany the stories, Travel Info, and knowledge of Italy, its sights, peoples, landscape, and it’s food, the most beloved cuisine in all the World.

Included are Recipes for 40 of Italy’s most beloved dishes, and a few extra surprises. Italy’s most loved Pasta Dishes, Ragu Bolognese, Porchetta, Wild Boar Ragu, Amalfitana Lemon Cake, how to make Limoncello, Ragu Napoletana, Pesto Genovese, Caponata, Lasagna, Spaghetti Vongoles, Pasta Nerano, and much more. You’ll Love these amazing recipes.

Special Section : Anthony Bourdain’s Italy. Follow Tony’s footsteps, and relive his most memorable Italian meals – Rome, Venice, Sicily, Sardinia, Puglia, Venice, Tuscany and more.

TRAVEL INFO

40 of ITALY’S Most Loved RECIPES

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Stories of ITALY – The Food, People, & Places

SPECIAL – BOURDAIN in ITALY

Daniel created and runs the Highly Successful Italian Instagram page @NewYork.Italian – which as of the publication of this book, has more than 500,000 loyal Followers. The page pertains to all things ITALIAN, both in New York – America, and ITALY – Italian Food & Wine, Recipes, music, movies, Italian Travel, Italian-American Culture, and of Italy, Pizza, Pasta, cooking, books, and anything related to Italy and Italian Americans.

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“ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

“

Italian Food & Travel: Travel Guide – Cookbook

” by Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a combined cookbook and travel guide that focuses on specific Italian regions and cities, including Naples, Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. It integrates personal travel anecdotes, practical advice for travelers, and authentic recipes.

Overview of the Book

This resource is designed for individuals planning a trip to Italy, as well as those who wish to experience Italian cuisine and culture at home. Daniel Bellino Zwicke, a best-selling Italian cookbook author who has traveled extensively in Italy since the 1980s, uses his deep knowledge to provide a cultural companion rather than a typical guidebook.

Key features include:

Regional Focus: The book covers culinary and travel information for areas like Rome, Venice, Positano, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.

Recipes: It features recipes for popular dishes from these regions, such as Insalata di Polpo, Arancini, Eggplant Parmigiano, Polpette (meatballs), and Spaghetti Vongole.
Personal Stories: The narrative is enriched with the author’s personal experiences, recommendations for local spots (like bacari in Venice), and insights into the local food culture.
Practical Information: It provides travel tips and information, helping readers navigate specific locations and find authentic experiences.
Where to Find It
The book is available in both paperback and Kindle formats. You can purchase it or view snippets on the following platforms:

Amazon.com

Daniel Bellino Zwicke’s Author Website
Other related works by the author include Mangia Italiano, Segreto Italiano, and POSITANO The AMALFI COAST COOKBOOK & Travel Guide

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

CAPRI, ITALY

Vino Vongole Pizza Pasta & Lemonade – Capri Positano The Amalfi Coast

On November 21, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

CAPRI

View From The TOp of Monte Solaro, Capri, Italy

with Faroglionni Rocks below …

SORRENTO

A Classic View

VIEW of MARINA GRANDE CAPRI

From ANACAPRI

Photo Copyright – Daniel Bellino Zwicke

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

“DISCOVER ITALY”

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

MARINA PICOLO CAPRI

with FARAGLIONI ROCKS in Distance

PIAZZA UMBERTO

ITALIAN BREAKFAST

A Typical Italian Breakfast

CAPPUCCINO e un CORNETTO

LIMONCELLO LADIES

ANACAPRI

CAPRI

GELATO

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 …

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

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, Minor, 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.”