Thursday, January 1, 2026

Danny Bolognese Italian Cookbook author

 



"DANNY BOLOGNESE"

aka Daniel Bellino Zwicke



DANNY BOLOGNESE

 Dnny Bolognese is a Professional  "Pen Nam" of Daniel Bellino-Zwicke, a Bestselling Italian-American cookbook author, Wine Professional, and former Chef. Based in New York's Greenwich Village, he is a recognized authority on Italian cuisine and wine with over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry.


Culinary Career and Contributions

  • Professional Pedigree: He has worked as a chef and wine director at renowned NYC restaurants, including Da SilvanoDel PostoBarbetta, and John’s of 12th Street.
  • Venetian Wine Bar: In 1997, he founded Bar Cichetti, which is credited as America’s first-ever Venetian wine bar (Bacaro).
  • Signature Recipe: He is most famous for his "Secret" Ragu Bolognese recipe, which he was taught in 1987 by Chef Pasquale at Ciao Bella in New York. 

  • PUBLISHED WORKS
  • Under both his legal name and the moniker "Danny Bolognese," he has authored several popular titles focusing on Italian-American food and culture: 
The Ragu Bolognese Cookbook: The Secret Recipe and More: A condensed guide featuring his most essential Italian recipes.
  • Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook: A long-running #1 best-seller on Amazon.com for Italian cookbooks that combines family recipes with cultural storytelling.
  • Other Titles: The Feast of the 7 Fish – Italian ChristmasSegreto Italiano (Secret Italian Recipes), and the humorous The Big Lebowski Cookbook. 
  • Daniel also maintains several culinary blogs, including Greenwich Village Italian and New York Italian, where he shares recipes, restaurant history, and stories about Italian icons like Frank Sinatra. 







Daniel Bellino Zwicke

aka "DANNY BOLOGNESE"








BOOKS by DANNY BOLOGNESE










The RAGU BOLOGNESE COOKBOOK

DANNY BOLOGNESE








Sunday, December 28, 2025

Sinatra Sauce Cookbook - Recipes

 



"SINATRA SAUCE"

The COOKBOOK





SINATRA SAUCE “Music Meatballs & Merriment”

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Sinatra Sauce "Music Metaballs & Merriment" and Living The Good Life. "Like Frank" .. Yes, it's about Frank. That is one Francis Albert Sinatra, the Greatest Singer of The 20th Century, and Icon of American, especially of the Italian-American Enclave in America. Frank Sinatra was many things, first and foremost a Great Italian-American singer, Love & Adored by Millions. Mr. Sinatra was also an actor, citizen, and Entertainer Par Excellence. Yes this book is about those things, Frank Sinatra : the incomparable singer, actor, recording artist, Teen Idol of the 1940s, philanthropist, and Las Vegas & Nightclub Entertainer. He was like no other, Sinatra was one-of-a- kind, and he had a lust for life, “Hanging with Friends,” - sipping cocktails, with good food, and making good times. That's what this book is about, Frank Sinatra, eating (Italian Food), enjoying a cocktail or two, and the company of family and friends. Yes, Frank Sinatra lived life to its fullest. He wouldn't have it any other way, but "His Way." 

This book “Inspires” and gives you the tools to live out your Sinatra Dreams. You can make it reality, with recipes of Frank’s Favorite Italian Foods, Pasta, Meatballs, Posillipo, Eggplant Parm and more. Eating, drinking, and having good times, all the time as Frank did. Meals with friends and family. Meals you can cook, with recipes in this book. The info and recipes are all here in Sinatra Sauce. Read it, put on some Sinatra (music), cook, eat, and create memorable times at the table, just like Frank. That’s what this book is about: Sinatra, Family, Friends, and Good Times. “The Best is Yet to Come”


Visit SINATRA SAUCE - The Website @ https://sinatrasauce.com

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a lifelong Sinatra fan. He is a Best Selling author, who lives and writes in New York’s Greenwich Village. Daniel is currently working on several other projects. He has authored : Sunday Sauce, La Tavola, Mangia Italiano, Grandma Bellino’s Cookbook, Segreto Italiano, and Positano The Amalfi Coast - Travel Guide / Cookbook.


Recipes :

SINATRA TOMATO SAUCE

DOLLY'S MEATBALLS

EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

CAPONATA

ARTICHOKES SICILIAN STYLE

ARANCINI (Sicilian Rice Balls)

MINESTRONE alla DOLLY

DINO'S PASTA FAZOOL

MACCHERONI al FORNO

SICILIAN LASAGNA

CHICKEN VESUVIO

VEAL MARSALA

STEAK - SINATRA'S WAY

MARTY'S SICILIAN MEATLOAF

FRANK'S ITALIAN CHEESECAKE

REGINELLA SICILIAN COOKIES


And Much More !!!




SINATRA SAUCE - 5 STAR on AMAZON






Best Selling Italian Cookbook Author

 DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE




Daniel Bellino Zwicke




DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke
 is a Best-Selling Italian-American author, wine professional, and restaurant consultant, based in New York City's Greenwich Village. He is widely recognized as an authority on Italian wine and culinary culture, specifically the traditions of New York’s Italian-American community. 

Professional Background

Restaurateur: He was the creator, executive chef, and wine director of Bar Cichetti, which is credited as the first Venetian Wine Bar (Bacaro) in America. Many celebrities dined at Bar Cichetti, including : Daniel's friends Matt Dillon, John Lurie, & Fischer Stevens, as well as Rosie Perez, Marisa Tomei, Debi Mazar, and Ed Harris.
  • Maitre'd Experience: He served as the maitre'd at the renowned celebrity hotspot Da Silvano in New York, where he catered to high-profile clients including Keith Richards, David Bowie, Bozz Scaggs, Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman, Ethan Hawke, Nick Tosches, Graydon Carter, Robert De Niro, and others.
  • Wine Expert: Over a 35-year career, he has served as a wine director at prestigious establishments such as Barbetta in NYC.
  • Maitre d' & Wine Director: He served as the Maitre d' at the celebrity hotspot Da Silvano and was the Wine Director at the renowned restaurant Barbetta in New York City.
  • CELEBRITY CONNECTION : During his tenure at Da Silvano, he managed high-profile clientele including Keith Richards, David Bowie, Richard Gere, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul McCartney, and Robert De Niro. 
  • Notable Literary Works
    Zwicke has authored numerous books that blend recipes with personal stories and cultural history: 

    SUNDAY SAUCE. : When Italian-Americans Cook: His most famous work, which spent over two years as a #1 Best Seller in Italian cookbooks on Amazon.
    • Grandma Bellino’s Italian Cookbook: A collection of recipes passed down from his Sicilian grandmother.
    • The Feast of the 7 Fish: A guide to the traditional Italian-American Christmas Eve seafood feast.
    • Sinatra Sauce: A tribute to Frank Sinatra, featuring the singer's favorite Italian foods and stories.
    • La Tavola: Tales of Italian-American life and adventures in New York.
    • Got Any Kahlua?: A unique cookbook inspired by the film The Big Lebowski, aka
    • The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK ...
    • Positano The Amalfi Coast: A combination of a travel guide and cookbook for the southern Italian region. 
    • BOOKS by Daniel are Available on Amazon @ AMAZON.com
    • Current Projects
    • As of late 2025, Zwicke continues to write from his home in New York, with ongoing projects including a new book focused on the Chianti region of Italy, its food, and its wine. 
    • Daniel owns and operates the very popular Italian Instagram page 
    • NewYork.Italian - with more than a half Million Followers.
    • Are you looking for a specific recipe from one of his cookbooks, or would you like a list of his recommended restaurants in New York?








    Daniel & Vincenzo Manzo

    At VILLA MARIA LEMON FARM AGRITURISMO

    MINORI, ITALY 








    BESTSELLING ITALIAN COOKBOOKS


















Monday, December 22, 2025

Feast 7 Fish ITALIAN CHRISTMAS





The FEAST of The SEVEN FISH "ITALIAN CHRISTMAS"

"La FAMIGLIA" 

 



The FEAST of The 7 FISH

"ITALIAN CHRISTMAS"






La FAMIGLIA

"La VIGILIA"




The FEAST of The 7 FISH. "ITALIAN CHRISTMAS"


Daniel Bellino-Zwicke is the author of 
The Feast of The 7 Fisha popular cookbook celebrating the Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition. The book features recipes, stories, and instructions for preparing the multi-course seafood meal, often called La Vigilia. 
About Daniel Bellino-Zwicke: 
He is a long-time Italian food and wine professional from New York.
  • He has worked as a chef, wine director, and managing partner at various restaurants, including 
    Bar Cichetti
    , which he founded
    .
  • Bellino-Zwicke has authored several best-selling Italian cookbooks, including Sunday SauceRagu Bolognese Cookbook, and Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook.
  • He often writes about Italian-American cuisine and culture, incorporating personal stories and travel experiences. 
  • About the book, The Feast of The 7 Fish: 
The book serves as both a cookbook and a cultural guide to the traditional meal.
  • It provides historical context for the Southern Italian and Italian-American Christmas Eve feast.
  • The recipes include traditional dishes such as Baked Clams Oreganta, Seafood Salad, Linguine with Clam Sauce, and Mussels Marinara.
  • The book aims to preserve and share the family tradition, which has often been passed down orally through generations. 
  • The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes: 
  • Origin: It is an Italian-American tradition that evolved from the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on the eve of holy days. While fish-centric meals are common in Southern Italy, the specific "seven fishes" tradition is largely an American development.
  • Symbolism: The number seven can symbolize various things, including the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, the seven hills of Rome, or the seven days of creation.
  • The meal: It is a multi-course dinner featuring a variety of seafood, which can include baccalà (salt cod), calamari, clams, mussels, and eel. The specific dishes often vary by region and family tradition. 










SETTE PESCI










Thursday, December 18, 2025

Sinatra Eats Italian Cookbook



"FRANK"

GET a FINE ART PRINT

FRANK SINATRA

From FINE ART AMERICA


IT MAKES a MOST WONDERFUL GIFT

 


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A Young Frank Sinatra  ....  Hoboken, New Jersey


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Frank Sinatra

"Come Fly with Me" !!!


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PATSY'S  "Franks Favorite Restaurant"



Frank's Favorite Restaurant in The World, was Patsy's on West 56th Street in New York, in The Theater District near Times Square .. Frank's Favorites were; Calms Posillipo, Spaghetti Pomodoro,  Veal Milanes (extra Thin & Crispy) and Spaghetti & Meatballs of which patsy's makes The Best in The City ..

PATSY'S is by far the restaurant most associated with SINATRA -- on its website, the restaurant notes that it "has been known for years as the restaurant Frank Sinatra made famous." You can still order up old-school Italian there, but you might not have the exact same experience as Sinatra, who was said to have entered through a special door to sit at a reserved table on the second floor. Sinatra became especially loyal to the restaurant after making a solo Thanksgiving reservation one year, not realizing the restaurant was slated to be closed that day. Patsy Scognamillo didn't want to turn Sinatra away, so he allowed the reservation. He also didn't want Sinatra to know the restaurant was opened just for him -- so he had the entire staff bring their families to fill the place up, something Sinatra didn't learn until years later, according to Patsy's lore. The restaurant still celebrates its connection to Sinatra: At right, in 2002, Joe Scognamillo served actor Bill Boggs, who had dressed up as Sinatra . (236 West 56th St.)

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FRANK & AVA GARDNER Mangia Bene !!! 


FRANK & AVA GARDNER






The SINATRA COOKBOOK



SINATRA SAUCE

The COOKBOOK

COOK & EAT LIKE FRANK

His FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES










FRANK & DINO 


FRANK & DEAN






FRANK'S FAVORITE ITALIAN BREAD ... PARISI on MOTT STREET, LITTLE ITALY, New York, NY 



FRANK'S FAVORITE ITALIAN BREAD

PARISI BAKERY MOTT STREET

LITTLE ITALY, NY NY


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FRANK'S FAVORITE PIZZA 


FRANK'S FAVORITE PIZZA "PATYSY'S"

FRANKS FAVORITE PIZZA

PATSY'S in EAST HARLEM

No Relation to PATSY'S on 56th STREET


PASTY'S PIZZERIA







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SINATRA at JILLY'S New York with Friends and Daughters NANCY and TINA

Frank loved going to his close Pal JILLY RIZZO'S New York Restaurant JILLY'S where Frank would eat Chinese Food, tell stories, and drink JACK DANIEL'S to the Wee Hours of the morning 


 

Despite having served as an icon for high living for generations, Frank Sinatra was not a fan of haute cuisine. A high school drop-out from Hoboken, New Jersey, the only child of a father who was a lightweight boxer turned fireman and a political activist mother who ran an illegal abortion business that provided services for free, Sinatra even after his fame was established preferred simpler fare and cozier surroundings than were found in the five-star restaurants of the world. In New York he favored only a few establishments, none of them popular celebrity hang-outs (except for the celebrities invited by Frank). There was P.J. Clarke’s at 915 Third Ave., where Sinatra carefully scheduled his nights around those of gossip columnist Dorothy Kilgallen, whose favorite topic was anything going wrong in Sinatra’s life, especially if it concerned the disillusion of his relationship with actress Ava Gardner. Then there was PATSY'S at 236 W. 56th St., where Frank ordered the breaded veal and spaghetti with red sauce on the side. As a story goes, Sinatra found himself on the skids one Thanksgiving, without company and without plans. So he made a reservation at Patsy’s, which wasn’t open that day. But owner Pasquale Scognamillo scrambled his staff and family so that when Frank rolled in at 3pm, the place was full. Rocky Lee Chu-Cho Bianco at 987 Second Ave was where Frank would go for pizza, and if he wanted something a little more upscale, he hit the 21 CLUB over at 21 W. 52nd St., where the jacket and tie dress code was a lot less of an issue in the 1950s than it is now.

But above and beyond them all was his affection for Jilly’s Saloon. Born Ermenigildo Rizzo on May 6th, 1917, Jilly’s career in food services started early, when he worked for his father delivering Italian ice to cafés. He opened his first restaurant, JILLY'S SALOON , on West 49th Street but eventually moved it to a new location on West 52nd. It was this second incarnation of Jilly’s that attracted Sinatra’s attention. On any given night, Sinatra could be found at his regular booth surrounded by regular friends who received the call earlier in the day — having grown up an only child, Sinatra swore he would never dine alone. Jilly’s kitchen specialized not in Italian fare but in Cantonese food. Sinatra spent so much time there that Jilly Rizzo became Sinatra’s closest friend, his right-hand man, and his bodyguard.

Learn How to Make SINATRA SUNDAY SAUCE and MEATBALLS




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Frank Sinatra with Jilly Rizzo and JACKIE "O"

By 1962 he and Jilly Rizzo were so close that Sinatra was securing bit parts for the saloon owner in films like The Manchurian Candidate. That same year, Sinatra and fellow Rat Packer Sammy Davis Jr. recorded the duet “Me and My Shadow,” which twice mentions ending up at Jilly’s. In Sinatra’s 1968 detective movie Lady in Cement, he pays tribute to his friend by naming a seedy Miami strip club Jilly’s. Also in 1968, Sinatra once again paid musical tribute to his favorite hang-out when, in the song “Star,” he crooned “If they’ve got a drink with her name in Jilly’s bar, the chances are the lady’s a star.”

Apart from being Sinatra’s throne room, Jilly’s was most famous as the spot where mobsters decided to murder television comedian Johnny Carson.



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SUNDAY SAUCE

alla BELLINO alla PACINO

AMAZON.com






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FRANK SAMMY & DEAN

And "JACK DANIEL"  TENNESSEE WHISKEY

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Recipe for SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS alla SINATRA

Click Here ! 



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Jack Daniel's and Frank Sinatra

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FRANK SINATRA with Cigarette & JACK DANIELS





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SINATRA and Friends at JILLY'S , New York

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