Saturday, October 11, 2025

Sinatra Sauce by Bellino - Recipes

 



SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK





SINATRA SAUCE

MUSIC MEATBALLS & MERRIEMENT


Daniel Bellino Zwicke is the 
author of the cookbook Sinatra Sauce: Music Meatballs & Merriment, which features Italian-American recipes inspired by Frank Sinatra's favorite foods. The book is about Sinatra's love for Italian food and the meals from his childhood in Hoboken, New Jersey. It is not just a cookbook, but also includes stories about Sinatra's life and dining experiences. 
About the Book
  • SINATRA SAUCE -  The book explores the Italian dishes that Frank Sinatra enjoyed throughout his life, including those made by his mother, Dolly, and father, Martino, who was also a good cook.
  • Recipes: It features recipes for classic Italian-American dishes that were a part of Sinatra's life, such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Lasagna, and Spaghetti and Meatballs.
  • Stories: Interspersed with the recipes are anecdotes and stories about Sinatra dining at famous restaurants like 
    Patsy's
     in Manhattan and 
    Jilly's
     in New York
    .
  • AvailabilitySinatra Sauce is available for purchase on Amazon. 

  • About the author
  • Daniel Bellino Zwicke: The author is a lifelong Sinatra fan and a prolific writer on Italian cuisine.
  • Other works: Zwicke is also known for other cookbooks, including Sunday SauceLa Tavola, and Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook. He also has a background as a wine and restaurant professional in New York City. 


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

PATSY'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
New York
Favorite dishes: Sinatra's go-to dishes at 
Patsy's
 included clams posillipo, spaghetti and meatballs, and veal milanese
. He was known for having very specific preferences. The kitchen crew would prepare his favorite veal milanese, served crispy and lightly garlicked with an arugula salad, precisely to his liking.
  • Regular patron: He was such a regular that he had his own special table, and 
    Patsy's
    would even serve him on holidays like Thanksgiving
    .
  • Celebrity gatherings: After performing in New York, Sinatra would bring his friends, including members of the Rat Pack like Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, to 
    Patsy's
    . There, they would dine and socialize upstairs in a private room
    .
  • Legacy: The restaurant still honors Sinatra's memory by serving his favorite veal milanese on his birthday, December 12th, even though it is no longer on the regular menu. 

  • JILLY'S SALOON - (Jilly's
    )
  • The nightclub: Located on West 52nd Street, 
    Jilly's
     was owned by Jilly Rizzo, a close friend of Sinatra
    . It was a popular hangout spot for Sinatra and the Rat Pack during the 1960s.
  • Relaxed atmosphere: While Patsy's offered a dining experience, 
    Jilly's
     was more of a casual hangout where Sinatra could relax with his friends
    .
  • Social hub: It was a place for drinks, music, and mingling with other celebrities and friends. While not specifically a culinary destination, it was a central part of Sinatra's nightlife and social scene in New York. 
  • The stories in Sinatra SauceDaniel Bellino Zwicke's book Sinatra Sauce draws on these stories and settings to give readers a taste of the Italian-American food and dining experiences that were central to Frank Sinatra's life. It sets the recipes within the context of the restaurants and home kitchens that shaped Sinatra's palate. 

OTHER FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

P.J. CLARKE'S 
  • What he ordered: When visiting this historic saloon, Sinatra was known to sit at his preferred table and order a burger and a Bloody Mary.
  • Historical context: Dating back to 1884, this establishment holds deep New York history, and a waitress who knew Sinatra worked there for over 44 years.
  • "21" CLUB
    • The setting: The 
      '21' Club
      , known for its speakeasy-era history, was another of Sinatra's destinations
      .
    • His visit: He typically dined at a large table in the main room. 
    • PATSY'S PIZZERIA - Eat Harlem NYC
    • The East Harlem Original: The legendary pizzeria in East Harlem was a favorite of Sinatra and other celebrities like Dean Martin and Joe DiMaggio.
    • Loyalty from afar: Sinatra's dedication was such that he had 45 pizzas flown to him in Las Vegas for a concert
    GINO'S -  Lexington Avenue

    Gino's was another favorite of Frank's as well as numerous other Celebs, including : Marilyn Monroe, Ed Sullivan, and others. Gino's was beloved by its loyal clientele who loved the solid Old School Italian dishes, and its old world charm, and naturally the famed Salamandre ZEBRA Wallpaper. It was also famous for its "Pasta Segreta" - Pasta with Secret Sauce.

    Like at Patsy's, Sinatra would eat Clams Posillipo and Veal Milanese, and loved just a simple plate of Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce.

    Basta !





GINO'S of CAPRI

Inside GINO'S 






Sinatra's simple Pasta Sauce recipe -

While Bellino's book contains many recipes inspired by Sinatra, the singer's own straightforward tomato sauce recipe has been shared in other publications and on food websites. It is a simple marinara sauce, meant to coat the pasta lightly.
  • Ingredients: Olive oil, thin-sliced onion, garlic, canned Italian-style tomatoes, salt, pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, and fresh grated parmesan cheese.
  • Instructions: The recipe involves sautéing garlic in olive oil, then removing it before adding the onion. Canned tomatoes are briefly blended, then added to the pan and simmered with the herbs and seasonings. Butter is sometimes added to the cooked spaghetti before adding the sauce.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Bellino Eats Polpo - Octopus Sandwich in Bari

 




PANINO col POLPO

BARI








MAX Makes an OCTOPUS SANDWICH

"PANINO col POLPO








PANINO col POLPO

PUGLIA, ITALY







POSITANO The AMALFI COAST 

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

With 100 REGIONAL RECIPES

NAPLES - POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

PIZZA PASTA & SEAFOOD RECIPES

CHEF DANIEL BELLINO









CHEF / AUTHOR DANIEL BELLINO Z

BARIVECCHIA, BARI, ITALY









OCTOPUS SANDWICH

BARI, ITALY





OCTOPUS SANDWICHES !!!



STREET FOOD in BARI

PANINO col POLPO











LUNCH in CISTERNINO

At a BUTCHER SHOP - TTRATTORIA

"La LANTERNA"

Author DANIEL BELLINO with COUSINS DEBBIE

And ANTHONY BELLINO

CISTERNINO APULIA









PANINO de POLPO


Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Positano Amalfi Coast Travel Guide Bellino

 



POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK




POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
Travel Guide - Cookbook

Daniel Bellino Zwicke



Daniel Bellino Zwicke has authored a cookbook and travel guide titled "Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook: Travel Guide"
. This book uniquely combines recipes, travel information, and stories about Positano, Capri, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast of Italy. It's designed to be a comprehensive resource for anyone planning a trip to the region or those wishing to experience the cuisine at home. 
The book features recipes for popular dishes from Naples and the Amalfi Coast, such as Insalta di Polpo, Arancini, Eggplant Parmigiano, Polpette (Meatballs), and Spaghetti Vongole, which is considered a local favorite. It aims to provide insights into the region's food culture and inspire readers to recreate the flavors of Positano and the Amalfi Coast in their own kitchens. 
Bellino Zwicke is a Best-Selling Italian cookbook author who has been visiting Positano and the Amalfi Coast since 1985. His personal experiences and deep knowledge of the area are woven into the book's narrative and advice for travelers. This cookbook/travel guide offers a blend of practical information and engaging stories, making it a unique resource for exploring the region's culinary and cultural delights.





Daniel Bellino Zwicke

"BACK in POSITANO"

2015





Daniel BELLINO Z

CAPRI





With VINCENZO MANZO

The OWNER of "VILLA MARI AGRITURISMO"

"LEMON FARM"

MINORI, ITALY on The AMALFI COAST

Read about Vincenzo and his Wonderful Lemon Farm Agriturismo
"VILLA MARIA" (Minori), in Daniel's Travel Guide Book
POSITANO The AMALFI COAST - Travel Guide - Cookbook
Available on Amazon.com








More BOOKS by DANIEL BELLINO

AUTHOR PAGE








DANIEL'S LATEST


"SINATRA SAUCE"

The COOKBOOK

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES















Thursday, October 2, 2025

Sophia Loren Recipe Notebook Journal Free Recipes

 




SOPHIA LOREN

RECIPE NOTEBOOK - JOURNAL




ITALIAN RECIPES COOKBOOK JOURNAL / NOTEBOOK

ADD YOUR RECIPES : All your Favorite Italian Pasta Recipes and make your own SOPHIA ITALIAN COOKBOOK

BEAUTIFUL COVER : With The Gorgeous Neapolitan SOPHIA, Italy's most famous actress of All-Time

116 PAGES For All Your RECIPES with a Recipe Template on every page

This is a Blank Book with recipe template for You to Write Your Own Recipes into

We Recommend You Get Recipes from our Friends at Cooking-Italian.net

MAKES a GREAT GIFT : Birthdays, Christmas, Graduation, Bon Voyage, and all occasions

Original Paintings of Sophia Loren by Anthony Roma



FREE RECIPE

Spaghetti Puttanesca alla Sophia


AMAZON.com 








.



Sunday, September 28, 2025

$4 Beers and New York Dive Bars PBR Beer

.  


PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER

New York & The $3 PBR

"IT STILL EXISTS" !!!! 2022

2025 update $4 for a PBR at 7B BAR

Still a Great Deal



New York and the $3.00 PBR, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer has been a God-Send to many New Yorkers. As you all know, the US Economy has been in the Shitter for the past 5  years or so.

Many people are out of work, and many who are working, are taking home Half-as-Much Money or more of what they used to make. People have had to buckle down and give up or curb many things they enjoyed previous to the current state of our economy, which is in almost a Depression Era State.

Yes, everybody says that we are not in a Depression, we're in a recession. Those are the Rich and Well-Off, The 1%-ers  talking. To many, the state of our Union and their feelings are of Depression.
So, because of the Terrible State of our Economy you have given up eating out 3 times a week, you buy less clothes, spend less on Entertainment and any number of things. You haven't had a vacation in the past two years, maybe more. You've given up a lot. We all have.

Now when it comes to socializing, going out for a few Beers or Cocktails with some friends, you've had to cut back on that too. But hey, you gotta draw a line somewhere, and everyone is entitled to a few drinks to unwind every now and then, and to be with friends. Yes times are bad, people are hurting, you need your friends more than ever. And having a few Beers or Drinks is one of the most common adult ways to do so. It's natural and part of everyday life. You should be able to have two or three drinks or beers and not have to spend a small fortune doing so. You should be able to have 2 beers for about $10 including tip, and about $16 for tow drinks including tip. That's reasonable. That's what most people pay around America, and even less. But we don't live in America, we live in the greatest City in The World, New York, and Cocktails and Beers here can be oh-so-dear. "Expensive!" Expensive as Hell, "Ridiculously Expensive." It's absurd and outrageous, with many places thinking it's normal and OK to charge $16.00 or more for a measly little Cocktail made by a friggin so-called "Mixologist." Ha!  It's not OK, what's a person to do? So yes, we live in New York, and having a couple cocktails here can be a costly undertaking.. What is a Poor Working Guy or Working Girl to do??? Well Boys and Girls, let's Thank God for that great thing of wonder and the Bars and establishments who so graciously and kindly serve it, The $3.00 PBR, That's right, a $3.oo Beer in The Land of The Over-Priced $16.00 Cocktail, Manhattan, New York, NY..... It's quite Sad, Greedy too, not to mention "Ridiculous Ludicrous and Insane."

Yes, Thank God and let's thank the Kind-Hearted proprietors who serve $3.00 PBR'S or any Beer for just $3 or $4 in a New York Bar. You are doing your fellow man a public service and we thank you for that. Whoever you are, you are to be commended, and Shame-On-You, all those places that serve $14 PLUS Cocktails. "RIP-OFF" !!! Wish the masses would Boycott these places and patronize places like Blue & Gold Bar, 7B, and anyplace who has a heart. Bars that serve 3 and 4 Dollar Beers.

I just have to say, it's great to go to a place like Blue and Gold Bar on East 7th Street and know that you can have 3 or 4 Beers for just $12 to $16, accounting for a Buck a Pop for the Barkeep. Now that's pretty good. I have had the best times hanging at Blue & Gold with some friends. You sit at the Bar or get into a nice comfy booth, drink your Beers ($3 PBR'S), relax, listen to the Music, Chit Chat, and just enjoy, and it's not going to cost you The Shirt Off Your Back.
Yes, you can have 4 Beers, tip included for the price of 1 Rip-Off Drink at one of those Rip-Off Joints. And if you are Dumb enough to have four drinks in one of those places, guess what it's going to cost you? About $75 my friend.

Well, do the Math, and if you can afford $75 for only 4 drinks, God Bless You. And if you can't, you've got an alternative. Right, your local $3.00 PBR Joint. They're a God-Send.


 Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Copyright 2008 Daniel Bellino Zwicke


PLACES To GET A $3.00 PBR in NEW YORK

BLUE & GOLD BAR in the East Village, on East 7th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Blue & Gold has long been a favorite of mine ever since I lived in the East Village from 1982 to 1994. It's just a cool ol normal old style bar with a pool table, standard 50's 60's Bar Decor, and Best-of-All $3.oo PBR'S and $6.00 Cocktails. I love it.

.



7B "HORSESHO BAR"



7B   a.k.a. The Horseshoe Bar, also in the East Village, a bastion of cheap and fare prices in Manhattan and Land of The $3.00 PBR and other $3 and $4 Beers.  7B  is located on the corner of Avenue B at 7th Street .. 

2025 Update - a PBR is now $4, still a great deal, at one of New York's most historical dive bars.








7B HORESHOE BAR

by the Artist BELLINO

GET a FINE ART PRINT

Frome FINE ART AMERICA







a $4 PBR

At 7B HORSE SHOE BAR

by Bellino

GET a FINE ART PRINT of This PIECE






At 7B

Copyright Daniel Bellino Zwicke











SINATRA SAUCE

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES

PASTA - MEATBALLS - CHEESE CAKE

And MUCH MORE ....












AMERICA'S FAVORITE FOOD

And SECRET RECIPES

BURGERS TACOS BURRITOS

SOUP SNDWICHES BBQ

And MORE ...








LUCY

"LUCY'S BAR"

135 AVENUE A  NY NY



Lucy’s Bar is the most aptly named bar in New York. For Lucy—the quiet and small and sweetly proper Polish owner with the well-coifed gray hair and floral blouses—is who you’ll see when you go there, and Lucy is the one who will serve you. If there are other employees, they’ve hidden themselves somewhere in the back.

Though Lucy’s is undeniably a dive (and one of the last in the neighborhood), it feels more like your aunt’s aging rec room, a place where you’d never think of disrespecting the house’s hospitality. It’s also one of the last vestiges of the Polish community that was once made up a significant part of the East Village’s character.

Ludwika “Lucy” Mickevicius moved from Poland to New York in the late 1970s and soon got a job at Blanche’s, a bar on St. Mark’s Place run by another Polish woman. She became such a fixture that people began to think of the bar as Lucy’s, and, when Blanche retired, she sold the place—by then located on Avenue A—to her bartender.

Lucy’s life doesn’t range much further than the twin poles of her joint and Poland, which she visits regularly, shutting up the tavern at a moment’s notice and disappearing for weeks at a time. Most nights, she stations herself at the far end of the bar near the ancient cash register. (It’s cash only here.) One recent evening, the Halloween balloons hadn’t yet been taken down. Then again, assorted Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations were already out. Maybe none of the decorations are ever packed up?

Lucy doesn’t budge much behind the bar, but she keeps herself busy for a woman in her mid-70s. She will draw you a pint or a glass of tequila. And, if she likes you, she might pour you a shot of żubrówka, a Polish bison grass vodka, on the house. When the place gets stuffy, she’ll swing open the door to let some fresh Avenue A air in; just as quickly, she’ll close it if it gets chilly.

The clientele ranges from a less-intense sort of downtown hipster, who exchange a few friendly words with Lucy—who, even all these years later, still speaks in broken, accented English—and then retire to their personal conversations, to old Polish regulars. In fact, on another recent night, a young couple came in to show Lucy their young child. All four spoke entirely in Polish and a delighted Lucy let the little scamp climb atop the pool table. As they left, she handed the kid one of the old Halloween balloons. For those few minutes, Lucy’s was a family bar.










2022 and You Can Still GET a $3 PBR


LYS MYYKTA aka  "The SLY FOX

142 2nd Avenue, New York NY - The EAST VILLAGE






LYSMYKTA aka "THE SLY FOX" is a Ukranian Bar in a Ukranian neighborhood in
New York's East Village. There's a Ukranian Restaurant in the back, serving delicious Ukranian Food and very reasonable prices. Yes this is thee main neighborhood of Ukranian peoples in New York City. The restaurants great, and any bar that serves $3 PBR Beer is great in my book too.

If you can go some place for drinks (beers), to hang and chit-chat  and have 3 Beers, and not have to spend more than $15, that's a place for me. You shouldn't have to pay $40 plus for just 2 drinks (or $60 for 3). People who don't make quite so much money as Lawyers, Wall Street Guys and whoever, should be able to afford to go for 2 or 3 drinks and not spend an "Arm and a Leg" to do it. 
The SLY FOX is a place where you can do that, and thank God we have them, and a few other joints that we can do so.








$4 BEERS at "SOPHIE'S"

East 5th STREET Between AVENUES A & B

The EAST VILLAGE NYC



I've been going to Sophie's, along with Lucy's, Blue & Gold Bar,
the Holiday Lounge and others since first moving to The East Village in 1982.
Prices have gone up in a lot of places, and now in many places - cocktails cost are
in the high teens, Twenty Dollars, and even up to $29 for a cocktail, as I witnessed when
a friend and I went to The Chelsea Hotel a couple weeks ago. Yes, $25 and $29 for a cocktail. Damn?

We spotted a nice looking bottle of Cote du Rhone for $78 a bottle. Not cheap, but in comparison to $29 a cocktail. Four drinks would have costs us $114, so we got the wine for $36 dollars less than 4 drinks, and put that $36 into a tasty Cheeseburger. The Burger came with Fries, and we had them cut it in half. It was Super Tasty. We loved it. Even Better than Burgers at Minetta Tavern. "Seriously" !!!

I've been at Blue & Gold recently, as well as "MILANO'S" - Sophie's, and 7b Bar. All serve $4 beers. Thank God for these places. I've said it before. I can go into Andy one of these places and have a couple Beers and live a respectable $4 tip, and walk out just spending $12. Not bad. Two cocktails plus tax and tip at The Lounge Bar at The Chelsea Hotel would be at least $50 for the two drinks plus $4.50 tax plus at least $10 for tip for a grand total of about $65, as oppose to $12 at any of New York City's awesome Dive Bars.

Don't get me wrong. Yes, we're comparing Apples & Oranges. When I went to The Chelsea Hotel, I knew it wouldn't be cheap, and I was prepared to pay for the privilege (of being there). My friend and I had a great time. We were there for a couple of hours BS-ing about this and that. We killed that bottle of Cote du Rhone and got another glass of wine each ($22 a glass). The check was about $170, not including tip, which was another $50, for a grand total of $220. Not cheap, but we had a "Great Time" and we were happy. You gotta treat yourself sometimes. But most times will be spent at a good dive bar.

"Thank God" for Good Dive Bars"

New York City






LUCKY'S BAR

168 Avenue "A" New York NY , East Village




Get $3  PBRs at LUCKY'S BAR

168 AVENUE "A" NY NY

EAST VILLAGE




JOHNSON'S BAR  ... 168 RIVINGTON STREET, LES NEW YOIRK NY




Inside JOHNSON'S BAR






$2  PBRs

PABST BLUE RIBBON BEER





Johnson's Bar

NY NY



MORE PLACES to GET $3 PBRs

CATS SPORTS BAR -  96 GREENWICH STREET at RECTOR NY NY  $3 PBRs

WALTER'S BAR - 389 8th Avenue Near 32nd Street and MADISON SQUARE GARDEN .. $3PBR

DOC HOLIDAY'S   141 AVENUE "A" East Village NY NY  - $2  PBRs





MILANO'S



MILANO'S

51  EAST HOUSTON STREET

NEW YORK NY

One of the last authentic old-school bars in NYC. How old-school? Milano's opened in 1880, and maintains a no-frills comfortably old-fashioned atmosphere.





The SPRING LOUNGE

aka SHARK BAR

45 SPRING STREET NEW YORK NY



The SHARK BAR

SPRING STREET at MOTT

Back in the day, when it was an ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD here.





Where it GOt its NICKNAME "SHARK BAR"


Nobody "In The KNow" calls it Spring Lounge, only Green Newcomers to Downtown New York would ever call it SPRING LOUNGE. For years it was a neighborhood "Shot & Beer" Joint. It became treny about 20 years ago (1999)

Those "In The Know" like me, only ever call it "The Shark Bar" ... It got this name from
the fake SHARK hanging over the bar, and that's that!

You can't get $3 Beers here, but we incuded it anyway. And although it's a Trendy so-called Hipster Bar, those of us Old Timers who still call it The Shark Bar, it still has a special place in our hearts.

Basta !













   

2ac44-bi-leb-small

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

Daniel Zwicke

AMAZON.com





169 BAR

Lower East Side

If Clockwork’s happy hour special seems too good to be true, you’ve got a little good old fashioned neighborhood competition to thank. Located right around the corner, 169 has been in operation since 1916. And its 11:30am-7:30pm HH is among the best in the city. $3 will get you an “Old Man Can/Bottle” of beer (PBR, Carling Black Label, Schaefer, Genesee Cream, High Life/Miller Lite) and any well shot. Subtly New Orleanian environs (window shutters look like they’re fresh off a Creole cottage; beads are strung here and there; there’s crawfish on the menu) evoke genuine good times.

    .

Bourdain and Ozersky at Keens Steaks