BAR TIBERIO
CAPRI, ITALY - May 2022
Italian Cookbook Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
BACK on CAPRI
Yes I was back on Capri. Love it. Always have, ever since my first trip in the Summer of 1986, on my second trip to my beloved Italy. I still love it, it's wonderful, but not quite like when you're a young man in your mid 20s, and so full of life and infinite passion.
I'd never been to Pugila before, so when my cousin Tony told me that he and his wife Debbie where going to Apulia, I asked if he would mind if I tagged along with them. Tony told me, "You know you're always welcome with us," and so I was on my way to Puglia, with a stop in Salerno for 2 days to meet up with my cousins, and then we'd head for Bari as our base, then drive around exploring Puglia from there. We ended up going to Monopoli, Cisternino, Lecce, and Martina Franca. Tony and Debbie just stayed for 3 days, and so they weren't with me when I went o Alberobello and Locrotondo on my own. I had a great time exploring new territory and eating my way through Puglia. More on that later.
After a week in Puglia, I wanted to go and stay on Capri for a few days. I had just written my latest book Positano The Amalfi Coast - Travel Guide / Cookbook, and I felt like spending a little time over there again. As I said, I Love Capri. I wanted to stay at my favorite hotel on Capri, La Tosca, but unfortunately, they were all booked up, so I had to find another place. I stayed up in Anacpari in 2015, and it was nice, but I prefer staying in the area know as Capritown. I found a place called Casa Riaolo just a couple hundred feet down from the main piazza, Piazza Umberto and my favorite bar, Bar Tiberius. The location was great and my room was gorgeous, filled with beautiful antiques, paintings and first class accompaniments.
to be continued ....
POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
NAPLES CAPRI & SORRENTO
At ROMAN RUINS
BARI
FLIGHTS & HOTELS
ITALY - WORLDWIDE
Vernazza
Torre di Pisa
It took me 6 Trips to Italy to finally make it to see one of the most famous Italian attractions of all, "The Leaning Tower of Pizza at the Piazza Miracoli. It was a research trip with my business partner Tom (Bar Cichetti). I was landing in Milan, we were going to meet in Florence and Tom and his associate at TJT were first going to Lago di Como, so I figured I'd take the train to the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre, and would stay in the town of Vernaazza for two days before heading to Fierenze.
I had a nice time on the Cinque Terre, hiking to 4 of the 5 towns, eating, drinking local wine and having a great time as usual in Bella Italia. After my two days in Vernaazza was up, I'd be heading down to Florence to meet up with Tom and Maran. The train would be passing through Pisa, so I figured I just had to see the "Leaning Tower of Pisa," if only this one time. So I figured, I'd catch an early train from Vernazza to Pisa, jump off the train for 2 1/2 hours, run over to the Piazza Miracoli and see the Torre di Pisa. And so I did, and I must say, though it is a bit touristy, it's gorgeous and something you just have to see. And it's not just the Tower of Pisa but the whole Piazza di Miracoli is beeautiful, including the Cathedral, The Baptistery next door to it, and of course la Torre.
And so I saw the leaning Tower of Pisa, I took pictures, I had a great time, I loved, and was so glad I did. I got on a local bus and headed toward the train station. I hopped on the next train to Florence, passing trhough Empoli and Prato along the way.
The DUOMO
Florence , Italy
TRATTORIA PANDEMONIO
50 Via Leone, Firenze
FLORENCE
ITALY
Mamma Giovanna
"LOVE THIS WOMAN" !!!
BISTECA FIORENTINA
The Dining Room
PANDEMONIO
"One the Best Meals of My Life"
Mamma was absolutely awesome. We had Salumi, Crostini Toscano, and an awesome Bisteca Fiorentian, accompanied by a great bottle of Brunello, and Mamma brought over a nice selection of Grappa for us to choose from (Complimentary) to end our wonderful meal. But the meal wasn't over. There was a famous artist eating there when we were. At the end of the night when there was just 2 tables left including ours, Mamma and her sister pushed all the tables together, and we had one big party. Yes, it was one of the times of my life, and a night and meal that I shall always remember.
"Thanks Mamma!"
Approaching Villa Calcinaia
GREVE
CHIANTI CONTI CAPONI
Me having Lunch with the Conti Caponi
Sebastiano and Nicholas
VILLA CALCINAIA
GREVE , 1997
VILLA CALCINAIA
GREVE
The GRAND HOTEL
St. REGIS
FLORENCE
A area in the Lobby
The GRAND HOTEL
St. REGIS
FIRENZE
Vigna dell Piave
FONTODI
PANZANO
"FLACCIANELLO"
And FONTODI
OFF to VENICE
Piazza San MARCO
And MY VENICE
On The GRAND CANAL
Hanging with "El LUPO"
Arturo, one of Venice's most Famou GONDOLIERE.
At BACARO VIVALDI
1995
I had a great time at Osteria Vivaldi. The place had a great vibe at the bar, where I met and hung out with the Famous Venetian Gondeliere "IL Lupo" real name Arturo. Arturo was with a couple friends and we had fun drinking local wine (Cabernet Franc), eating Cichetti and chit chatting about this and that. I had a wonderful time, and I went back the next night so I could sit down in the small dining room where I ate Razor Clams and Spaghetti Nero (w/ Squid Ink).
All' ARCO
My 1st TASTE of CICHETTI
My first major Italian Wine Connections came in 1996 when I took my second trip to research the Wine Bars (Bacari) of Venice, Cichetti, and Italian Wine. I made quite a lot of progress on my 1st Cichetti / Bacaro discovery trip to Venice, after I'd read that little article in the Sunday Travel section of The New York Times. It was that one little article on Venice and its wine bars called Bacaro (plural =s Bacari), meaning House of Bacchus, after the Roman God of Wine. At these Venetian Wine Bars, they served of course wine (mostly local) and small tidbits of food called Cichetti which are usually displayed behind glass cases on the bar. There is usually a wide assortment of at least 20 different items or more, on display and ready for consumption to go along with your wine. And speaking of wine, a glass of wine in these Venetian wine bars, is known as an Ombra, meaning shade in Latin, and getting the name through the fact that the fish, meat, and produce merchants around the Rialto Market, wanting to get out of the hot Sun of the outdoor market, would seek shade (Ombra) inside on of the many wine bars (Bacari) in the area.
The Bacari of Venice come in many shapes and forms, from some that are quite tiny like All' Arco which was the 1st Bacaro that I ever went to. I had gotten off the train at Santa Lucia Stazione, and was lugging my bags, and looking for my hotel, when I stumbled upon All' Arco. I spotted it and walked up to the barman, and asked if they had Cichetti. He greeted me with a smile, got me an Ombra (glass of Wine) and started handing me Cichetti. He gave me a crostini with Nervetti, one of the more unusual types of cichetti served, and one that mostly locals eat. Nervetti, it's made of beef nerves, and this was my first. My first morsel of Cichetti, not one of my favorites. He then gave me one with Mantecato (whipped Salt Cod). Now this was more like it, "quite tasty." I also had some Mussetto, which is a tasty Sausage made from Pigs Snout. "Yumm." Well I had a great little intro into Cichetti and the wine bars of Venice, I was pumped up and I continued on my journey to get my hotel. This was 1995, there was no internet (well?) and things like Expedia and Booking.com did not exist. I was quite lucky when I saw the sign and stumbled upon the Albergo Gueratto (hotel). I spotted it, and popped my head inside and asked if they had any rooms. They did, and the price was right. I found this wonderful little hotel in 1995, on my special trip to explore the Bacari of Venice.
The Albergo Guerratto is set right in the middle of the famed Rialto Market, just a 200 foot walk out the door of the Guerratto. Make a left as you're exiting the hotel. Guerratto is a very cool hotel with a great vibe. It's run my two nice young couples, the room rates are very affordable, they serve a great breakfast in their cool old dining-room, and the location is perfect for your exploration of Venice.
PENSIONE GUERRATO
I first spotted the Pnesione Guerrato when I walk down this small alleyway, the Calle drio la Scimia, right off of the Mercato Rialto, Venice, Italy.
The Lobby
Pensione Guerrato
VENICE
I Love having my Breakfast in the cool old dining room
at PENSIONE GUERRATO
We HIGHLY Recommend It for an Authentic Venetian Experience
ALBERGO GUERRATO
Built 1288
Restored 1955
An assortment of CICHETTI at ARCO
CICHETTI "The Namesake of My VENETIAN WINE BAR"
BAR CICHETTI
NEW YORK , NY
BAR CICHETTI
"AMERICA'S 1st Ever VENETIAN WINE BAR"
BACARO
Created by Daniel Bellino Zwicke & Tom Taraci
220 Houston Street
GREENWICH VILLAGE
New York, NY
FLIGHTS & HOTELS
ITALY & WORLDWIDE
The PARIS HOTEL FLORENCE
LUXURY For LESS
PIAZZA SINATRA
Agrigento , Sicilia
"I'm up in The BELL TOWER of The CATHEDRAL of AGRIGENTO
SICILY
TEMPLE of HERA
Agrigento , SICILIA
Temple of Concordia
500 BC
Agrigento
The CATHEDRAL of PALERMO
PALAZZO NORMANNI
Palermo
Antica Focacceria S. Franceso
Palermo , Sicily
Home of Pane Milza
aka Vastedda
ARANCINI & PANE MILZA at ANTICA FOCACCERIA S. FRANCESCO
PALERMO , SICILY
AQUA MELONE
Antica Mercato Siracusa
View Out My Balcony Of PIAZZA del DUOMO
The CATHEDRAL & ELEFANTE
Europa Centrale Hotel
CATANIA
HOTELS
SAL & ANTONIO
Catania
GELATO di ZUPPA INGLESE
PIAZZA del DUOMO
TAORMINA
Swimming in The MEDITERRANEAN SEA
at CEFALU
HOTELS ORTIGIA SIRACUSA
SICILY & WORLDWIDE
Me At The TEATRO GRECO
SIRACUS , SICILIA
CATHEDRAL of SIRACUSA
Isla Ortigia
CATHEDRAL di SIRACUSA
ANTIPASTO MISTA
La TAVERNETTA
ORTIGIA , SIRACUSA
Caponata, Roast Peppers, Local Fish
NONNA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
DANIEL BELLINO Z
Spaghetti Pesce Spada
La TAVERNETTA TRATTORIA
ORTIGIA
CASATA
The Third Most FAMOUS SICILIAN DESSERT
After CANNOLI & ZABIGLIONE
A Glass of MARSALA After Dinner at La TAVERNETTA
ORTIGIA , SIRACUSA
SICILIA
View From My BALCONY
Domus Mariae Hotel
ORTIGIA
HOTEL INFO & RESERVATIONS
DOMUS MARIAE
My Hotel in ORTIGIA
"I LOVE This HOTEL"
Info & Resrevations
SIRACUSA
View to the right out my Balcony , Domus Maraie Hotel , ORTIGA SIRACUSA
FLIGHTS & HOTELS
To ITALY & WORLDWIDE
My Hat & GRANITA
La BAR
ORTIGIA , SICILY
GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
ARANCINI in SICILY
Recipe in GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK
Recipes From My SICILIAN NONNA
Temple of Concordia
Agrigento, Sicily
INSALATA SICILIANA
at a Little Trattoria in ORTIGIA , SIRACUSA
SPAGHETTI con COZZE
ORTIGIA
Old FIAT 500
On Streets of AGRIGENTO
BEST MEAL of The TRIP
PASTA al FORNO
PALUMBO
AGRIGENTO , SICILIA
Recipe in GRANMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK
Recipes From My SICILIAN NONNA
This was The BEST DISH on The WHOLE TRIP
POLLO ARROSTO con PATATE e CIPOLLA
at ROSTICCERIA PALUMBO
AGRIGENTO
LEMON GRANITA
AGRIGENTO
ANTIPASTO MISTA
CAPONATA , STUFFED EGGPLANT, MELANZANE PARMIGIANO
ZUCCHINI , e CIPOLLA
TRATTORIA U FUCULARA
CANTANIA
SUNDAY SAUCE
by DANIEL BELLINO "Z"
Bussiatta con Gamberi Bronte e Pistachio
Cantania
Insalta di Polpo
Trattoria on ORTIGIA , SIRACUSA
GAMBERONI GRATINATA
ORTIGIA
A Church in SICILY
VIEW From VILLA DAFNE, ALIA
Great Pool with an AMAZING VIEW
VILLA DAFNE , Alia , Sicilia
View Out My Room
VILLA DAFNE
ALIA, SICILY near ROCCAPALUMBA & LERCARA FRIDDI
The DUOMO , LERCARA FRIDDI
DUOMO
Lercara Friddi
Nonno Bellino
My Grandfather FILLIPO BELLINO
Born in LERCARA FRIDDI , SICILIA
about 18812
MARIA SALEMI
Maybe a Long Lost Relative
Old House in LERCARA FRIDDI , SICILY
Maybe My Grandparents lived in one like this ?
Francesco His Nonno & Me at their caffe, CAFFE GLAMOUR
Lercara Friddi
"BIG GUY" having un Caffe at CAFFE GLAMOUR , Lercara Friddi SICILY
Me and The GIRLS at The Municipal Hall , LERCARA FRIDDI
SICILIA
DUOMO
LERCARA FRIDDI
Un CANNOLO in a Pasticceria LERCARA FRIDDI , SICILY
Piazza Romano , Lercara Friddi
EGGPLANT PARMIGIANO
TOMATOES & EGGPLANTS
CAPONATA Too !!!
RECIPES in GRANDMA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK
Oranges for my Fresh OK at FOCACCERIA S. FRANCESCO
TIMBALLO di ANELLETTI SICILIANA
Bar Santoro , PALERMO
Church in Agrigento
Church in Agrigento
Via Maqueda , Palermo
CAPONATA
TRATTORIA CARTARI , Palermo
CAPONATA Recipe in GRANDMA BELLINO'S ITALIAN COOKBOOK
Recipes From My Sicilian Nonna
RECIPES from MY SICILIAN NONNA
AMAZON.com
Me & Fillipo of TRATTORIA CARTARI , Palermo
Drinking Insolia BDP
Spaghetti con Broccoli
CARTARI
Drinking FRAPPATO with DINNER
Trattoria Cartari
Cucuzza Pepperoni Melanzane Zucchini e Pomodoro
RECIPES : PASTA GAGOOTZ , CAPONATA , e MELANZANE PARMIGIANO
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
CAVALOFIORE
RECIPE For PASTA with CAULIFLOWER
GRANDMA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK
MELANZANE PARMIGIANO
aka
EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA
Cathedral
CEFALU
A PANINO to Bring to The BEACH in CEFALU
Where I Swam in CEFALU
After a Swim in The Mediterranean CEFALU
La ROCCA , Cefalu
Me & My APEROL SPRITZ ata Cool Bar in PALERMO
Espresso & Bomboloni Antica Caffe Maria , Mercato Ballaro , Palermo , Italy
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
Trattoria 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
BOLITO di POLPO
MERCATO BALERO
PALERMO, SICILY
"MANGIA la POLPO" !!
Grandma Bellino's Italian Cookbook
RECIPES From My Sicilian Grandmother
Giuseppina Salemi Bellino
Oratorio del Rosario Santa Cita
Palermo
Oratoria Santa Cita
The Battle of Lepanto (7 October 1571). A fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of European Catholic maritime states arranged by Pope Pius V, inflicted a major defeat on the fleet of the Ottoman Empire in the Gulf of Patras. In the history of naval warfare, Lepanto marks the last major engagement in the Western world to be fought entirely or almost entirely between rowing vessels, the galleys and Galeasses which were still the direct descendants of the ancient trireme warships. The battle was in essence an "infantry battle on floating platforms". It was the largest naval battle in Western history since classical antiquity, involving more than 400 warships. The victory of the Holy League is of great importance in the history of Europe and of the Ottoman Empire, marking the turning-point of Ottoman military expansion into the Mediterranean. It was also of great symbolic importance in a period when Europe was torn by its own wars of religion following the Protestant Reformation, strengthening the position of Philip II of Spain as the "Most Catholic King" and defender of Christendom against Muslim incursion.
The Church of SANTA LUCIA
PIAZZA del DUOMO
SIRACUSA
Villa Casale
Sicily
Temple of Hera
Agrigento
.
[gallery ids="3189,3190" type="rectangular"]
.
PASTA con SARDE
TIMBALLO di MELANZANE
Italian Cookbook Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
PIAZZA MINERVA
SIRACUS, SICILY
2017
CATHEDRAL of SIRACUSA
BALLARA MARKET
PALERMO
ANTICA FOCACCERIA San FRANCESCO
PALERMO
Waitng for My VASTEDDA
"That's what we SICILIAN AMERICANS in NEW YORK
call them, In PalermoSICILY, they are known as Pane Muesa,
or Pane Milza, meaning Bread & Beef Spleen Sandwich"
FOCACCERIA San FRANCESO
PALERMO, SICILY
Heating up the BEEF SPLEEN
Yhe Sandwich consist of this Beef Spleen (Muesa),
CACIOCAVALO CHEESE and RICOTTA
On a Special SESAME SEED BUN called Vasteddi
In NEW YORK, Sicilian Americans have named the Sandwich after
the Sesame Seed Bu. In PALERMO, the birthplace of the Sandwich it is
calle PANE MUESA.
RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA
DANIEL BELLINO "Z"
Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Cathedral
Palermo, Sicily
"One of My Favorite Churches"
Can't Remember the Name
PALERMO
CHURCH in PALERMO
SICILY
Pretoria Fountain
PALERMO
MARTORANO CHURCH
PALERMO
SICILY
In My Room
DOMUS MAIAE HOTEL
ISLE of ORITIGIA
SIRACUSA
DOMUS MARIAE HOTEL
SIRACUSA
SIRACUSA, SICILY
VIEW From MY ROOM
DOMUS MARIAE
Looking to the SEA and Left
2017
CANNOLI
The QUESTESSENTIAL SICILIAN DESSERT
SICILY
CAFFE at BUS STATION
CATANIA
TRAVEL JOURNAL, SICILIAN HAT
And an ARANCINI (Rice Ball) for The ROAD
On the ROAD
SIRACUSA to CATANIA
SICILY
BADIA SANTA LUCIA
CHIESA di Santa LUCIA
SIRACUSA
CARAVAGGIO
BURIAL of SANTA LUCIA
CHIESA SANTA LUCIA
SIRACUSA, SICILY
CATHEDRAL of PALERMO
2017
CAFFE MINERVA
SIRACUSA
Me and MY CANNOLI
And MY HAT
SICILY
.
