MARTIN SCORSESE
On CHARLIE ROSE SHOW
Talks CASINO and Other Stuff
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Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Italian Style Chicken Cutlets Recipe
Chicken Cutlets alla Nonna
"Mangia Bene"
Watch the Video
HOW to MAKE CHICKEN CUTLETSITALIAN STYLE
Pollo Marengo
Lemon Chicken
Brooklyn Style Sunday Gravy
And More ...
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Making Ravioli & Cappelletti
Ravioli making in Pennsylvania
ITALIAN AMERICAN
A CHRISTMAS TRADITION
Phylis & Lucia
Making RAVIOLI & CAPPELLETTI
In PENNSYLVANIA
Feast 7 Fish Italian Christmas
Mangia Italia
The Feast of The 7 Fish
My Aunt Helen used to make the famous Italian Christmas Eve Dinner, “The Feast of 7 Fishes,” The 7 Fish of the Seven Sacraments. I know she made it because I
used to hear her talking about it when I was a little kid. Although I shared
many wonderful meals with my dear Aunt Helen, I never had the pleasure of
having the famous Christmas Eve Dinner “La Vigilia” Feast of 7 FishFeast of 7 Fish with her. We always had Christmas Eve dinner with the immediate family and Aunt Helen had the Christmas Eve with her brother and sister and other family
members. Aunt Helen was born in Salerno, Italy and was my Uncle Franks (1 of my Mother’s 3 brothers) better half. So for our Christmas Dinner my mother would
make an Antipasto of Salami, Provolone, Peppers, and Olives, followed by Baked
Ziti and a Baked Ham studded with cloves and Pineapple rings.
The first time I ever had the mystical dinner was about 12 years ago with my cousin
Joe, his family and my girlfriend Duyen. We had been talking about this famous
Italian Feast a few weeks previous, and were thinking of making it. Joe told me he wanted to have the Christmas Eve Meal of The Feast of The 7 Fishes, known
in Italy as La Viglia (The Vigil) or “La Festa Dei Sette Pesci,” which is also known in Italian-America as The Feast of The 7 Fish, that signify the 7 Sacraments. Now, how’s all that for a mouthful?
This Dinner, La Vigilia originated in Southern Italy, especially in and around the
environs of Napoli. The Feast of The 7 Fish is a Southern Italian tradition that does not exist in the rest of Italy, it is of the South. La Viglia, or “The Feast of the Seven Fishes” as it isknown to Italian-Americans commemorates the waiting (Vigil) of the Baby Jesus to be Born at Midnight and the Seven Fish represent the Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Some also that the Seven Fish might signify the 7 Days of Creation, or The Seven Deadly Sins, but most believe the 7 Fish pertain to the Seven Sacraments.
So Joe asked me if I wanted to make this festive and all important dinner, to
perform the ceremony. He didn’t need to ask twice. I had never made it before
and was dying to do so. For a long time I had yearned to partake in this celebrated old Southern Italian Ritual, and this was my chance. Naturally I was excited, so was Joe.
The anticipation of the Great Feast to come was of happy expectations and excitement.
And what for the menu? I know Aunt Helen made Bacala, Shrimp Oreganata, Mussels, Baked Clams, Calamari, Octopus, and eel, all much Loved Southern Italian (especially Napoli and Sicily) Creatures of the Sea. We decided which fish we wanted and how to cook each one. Much thought and planning went into the menu and its execution. Joe wanted; Langoustines, Lobster, and Bacala. Alexandra asked if I would make Stuffed Calamari. We also decided on Shrimp Cocktail, Baked Clams Oreganata, and Cozze al Posillipo. The menu was set. Duyen helped me with the Calamari which we stuffed with Shrimp, parsley, breadcrumbs, and Peas. We braised the Calamari with tomato, White Wine, and herbs, and if I must say so myself, the Calamari came out superbly. The Stuffed Calamari were a lot of work to make, but well worth the effort as they were a huge hit with all. The Macari boys, Joey, Edward, and Tommy, as well as sister Gabriella, Alex, Duyen, Jose and Sergio from Barcelona were all in
attendance.
The Mussels Posillipo were cooked with garlic, white wine, parsley, and tomato. The sauce is great to dip your bread into. This dish was one of my mother’s favorites back in the days when few Americans other than those of
Italian origins ever ate these wonderful little bivalves. Now-a-days every-body does. As a young boy I remember my mother sending me to Bella Pizza in East Rutherford to get an order of them for her. She always gave me a few and I have Loved them ever since.
Joe helped me to cook the Langoustines. They are hard to find and I had to order a
ten-pound box from Silvano in order to get them. The best way to cook langoustines is to split them in half and sauté them on each side in olive oil with a little butter and garlic. We served the Langoustines the same way as Silvano does as we feel his recipe is the best and everybody loves them that way. The Langoustines are served with a salad of thinly shaved fennel and celery dressed in olive oil and lemon with some split cherry tomatoes. Absolutely delicious!!!
The Lobsters we prepared the best way possible, the New England way, steamed and served simply with drawn butter and lemon wedges. There’s nothing better on
Earth, well except for Sunday Sauce of course.
Well, that Christmas Eve Dinner The Feast of Seven Fishes was quite a wonderful
experience. It was a huge success but quite a bit too much work and actually, too much food, everyone was kind of full already by the fifth fish. The following year we decided on incorporating the Seven Fish into three courses instead of seven separate ones as it’s just too much, too much to eat and too much to cook, a lot of work, and who needs to work that hard on Christmas. It was a good decision. We
still had 7 different fish, which is a must. Serving these 7 Fish in three courses was a good idea as it is much more manageable that way, both to cook and to eat.
On this Feast of The 7 Fish in “3 Courses” we decided to make the Stuffed
Calamari, which I would not have chosen again because it was a lot of work, but it was Alex and Joe’s favorite and they said that it was a must. This was our Antipasto Course.
Alexandra and her mom helped me, so the amount of work was cut down
and divided into three, “A good thing.”
The stuffed calamari took care of two of the seven the shrimp that were stuffed
into the squid.
The second course (Primi) of Linguine Frutti de Mare consumed four of the Seven
Fish required for the meal. It consisted of Mussels, Clams, Lobster, and Scallops cooked with garlic, oil, herbs, and just a touch of tomato.
The seventh and final fish was fresh Cod that I roasted and served with a sweet and
sour onion sauce (Bacala Fresca Agro Dolce). Everybody went bananas for it especially cousin Joe who raved at each and every dish I put down. It’s a pleasure cooking for Joe as his for eating and for the Italian American way of life, the food, the wine, the rituals. Joe truly Loves and savors the experience, so I always love
to cook for him, Alexandra, their children, or just about anyone for who savors
the experience so well. This goes the same for my cousin Anthony Bellino his wife Debbie and their three girls Chrissy, Danna, and Allison, along with all my
close friends and family.
It makes cooking a joy rather than a chore. When cooking for family or friends,
you give two of life’s great gifts, a tasty Home-Cooked meal combined with a
little bit of Love. Scratch that. “A whole lotta Love!”
If you don’t want to go so crazy, with 7 Fish as it’s quite an undertaking, you should try to do an odd numbers; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. Three (3) is a Nice Number and Represents the Holy Trinity of The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Buon Natale!
LEARN HOW to MAKE
The FEAST of The SEVEN FISHES
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS DINNER
"La VIGILIA"
In THE FEAST of THE 7 FISH
by Daniel Bellino "Z"
Talking about Fish
For The FEAST of THE 7 FISHES
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS
Arthur Avenue
NEW YORK NY
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Little Italy Mulberry Street NYC
179 Mulberry Street
Raise the rents, take the cannoli: Little Italy is disappearing.
The downtown neighborhood — long a haven for immigrant families from the old country — was once threatened by an ever-expanding Chinatown. But now the fatal blow is being delivered by the gentrifiers.
Young professionals, expensive lofts and boutique shops are all moving in. Brooks Brothers, the epitome of conservative style, is considering a Little Italy outlet.
"The blocks used to be full of Italian families," recalled local resident Sonny Mongielle, 85. "Every block represented a different region of Italy.
"But it's just a matter of time before Little Italy is no more," he said.
The most recent census delivered stunning news for the tract at the heart of Little Italy: The neighborhood is home to not a single Italian-born resident, down from 44 in the 2000 Census.
But the Chinese-born population of Little Italy is down, too — 31% — and the Asian immigrant population is also on the decline, falling 18.6% in the last decade.
A Waiter with Manicotti & Spaghetti & Meatballs
Outside ANGELO'S Mulberry Street , Little Italy NY
Angelo's is one of the very few remaining Old School New York
Italian Restaurants left in Little Italy, New York
Little Italy RECIPES
In SUNDAY SAUCE
WHEN ITALIAN-AMERICANS COOK
ALL YOUR FAVORITE ITALIAN RECIPES
What's up are incomes and homogeneity.
The median pay of residents of Little Italy has risen 27% — and the population of residents earning more than $100,000 is soaring, up 156% over the last decade. The white population is up 33%.
Celebs such as director Sofia Coppola were among the well-to-do recently checking out condos at the Brewster Carriage House at Mott and Broome Sts. The properties sold for millions.
"The lofts are selling for higher and higher," said Tim Bascom, owner of Bascom Real Estate. "It's becoming a cool place to be. Young people love it, and can afford it."
Faith Hope Consolo, retail chairman for Douglas Elliman, said Little Italy remains caught in a residential and retail shift.
"This is SoHo extended," she said. "The little boutiques are in Nolita, but they are coming fast to Little Italy."
There are still 44 distinct Italian restaurants, bakeries and cafes in Little Italy.
But tourist mainstays such as Ristorante S.P.Q.R. and Cafe La Bella Ferrara have closed. And even the new incarnation of Umberto's Clam House, near the original Umberto's where gangster "Crazy Joey" Gallo was killed in 1972, is facing a rent hike that will likely end its run.
At La Bella Ferrara, the monthly rent went from $7,000 to $17,000 in just two years — and the sad owners closed after 42 years in business.
"We serve dessert and coffee, we can't afford that," said co-owner Frank Angileri, 69. "They pushed us out. . . . Italian businesses can't survive here, with the rising rents and the economy.
"It's a shame, it's such a shame. They kicked us out like dogs."
At S.P.Q.R. on Mulberry St., the landlord, who upped the rent to $55,000, is already eying the space for condos.
Manager Mike Ahmed, a 32-year S.P.Q.R. veteran, recalled the glory days: Guests from around the world, people getting engaged or married at the 500-seat restaurant, important business meetings held over the linguine di mare.
"It's become too hard to make a living out of this place," he said with resignation. The soaring rents are "the start of a cancer we're not going to be able to control," he adds.
At Puglia Ristorante, the loss of customers forced the shutdown of two adjoining dining rooms in recent years.
The restaurant was temporarilty open just four days a week, but is now back on a seven-day-a-week schedule. Frank Medina, a real estate manager whose clientele includes the vintage eatery, says he's reluctant to bring in another restaurant to the location.
"The only thing that's keeping this area alive," he said, "is the San Gennaro Festival and the Chinese counterfeit (products). It's very bleak.
"The joke here is Little Italy is very little — and getting littler," he added. "In 10 years, it's hard to say what'll happen to Little Italy."
The disappearing businesses are changing the area's familiar Italian look.
Julen Larrinaga, who works at the Grey Dog Cafe between Grand and Hester Sts., said out-of-towners are confused when they arrive at his place, where the gentrified offerings include scrambled eggs or granola for $9, a cheeseburger is $11 and "Michigan sandwiches" are $9.75.
"Tourists come into the shop and ask where Little Italy is," said Larrinaga, 24. "I tell them they're technically in it already."
BOOKS by DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE
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Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Italian Americans in Movies Godfather Goodfellas
AL PACINO with AL LITTIERI
Al Pacino as Michael Corleone and Al Lettieri as Virgil Sollozzo
In Francis Ford Coppola's The GODFATHER
Novel by Mario Puzo
ITALIAN-AMERICANS in The MOVIES
SYLVESTOR STALLONE
As ROCKY BALBOA "The ITALIAN STALLION"
In Stallone's "ROCKY"
Based on a part of Chuck Wepner's Life
When Wepner fought Mohamed Ali
Two More Italian Americans in the Movies
ROBERT DeNIRO and JOE PESCI
In Martin Scorsese's RAGING BULL
Based on the life of Italian-American Prize Fighter
From the Bronx, New York JAKE LaMOTTA
"The RAGING BULL"
DiNero played Jake LaMotta, and Joe Pesci played his brother Joey
Directed by Martin Scorsese of Little Italy, New York NY
DEAN MARTIN (Dino Crochetti) and FRANK SINATRA
Both ITALIAN AMERICAN SINGERS and ACTORS
COOKING SICILIAN
ITALIAN AMERICAN
And ???
Make Him an Offer He Cant Refuse Godfather
AL PACINO as Michael Corleone
Francis Ford Coppola's GODFATHER
ITALIAN-AMERICANS
"La FAMIGLIA"
Directed by John Maggio
Rosetta Pennsylvania
SUNDAY SAUCE
WHEN ITALIAN AMERICANS COOK
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Scorsese Making Sunday Sauce Gravy in Italian American
Catherine Scorsese makes Sunday Sauce Italian Gravy in her apartment
on Elizabeth Street, Little Italy, New York ...
"This is what my mother in-law taught me. You take a few tablespoons of tomato sauce, and put in here (with the chopped meat)."
"It keeps the meatballs soft. Not like some people. You get invited to some peoples house, and the Meatballs are hard. I better be careful. I have a lot of friends. If they see this."
At The Home of Catherine and Charles Scorsese
Elizabeth Street, New York NY
1974
The Filming of "ITALIAN AMERICAN"
by Martin Scorsese
Starring : Catherine Scorsese and Charles Scorsese
with Martin Scorsese
Dialogue
Charlie : "I remember the first Radio we got. It was in the shape of a Church."
Charlie : "Sometimes it's been known, that a man is a better cook than a woman. It's the truth."
Catherine : "Then, why don't you cook?"
Charlie : "It's not my thing."
Catherine : "We didn't have our Honeymoon, so went to Italy years later"
"This is us in Palermo. That's my aunt. She's 80 years old. That's me standing."
Marty has Dinner with his parents Catherine & Charlie, at their home on Elizabeth Street
1991
Marty : "It's California Wine, it's not Italian."
Charlie : "There's more Maccheroni coming out"
Catherine : "I made a pound of maccheroni. And there's some meat they can have."
Marty : "You want some cheese"
Charlie : You want some Mozzarell Cheese?"
"I get it from my sisters, They have a garden, and they give it to me. It last all year."
Marty : "You have some Cheese? The kind I like"
Marty : "That's it. That's the kind I like. What is it"
Catherine : "Cheese in a Basket"
Marty : "No what do you call it?"
Charlie : "That's what we call it. Cheese in a Basket"
Marty : "No what is its name?"
Charlie : "Cheese in a basket. It's Special Cheese"
Marty : "No, isn't that Ricotta?"
On Filming - It Not You Murray
Catherine "He got my up 5 O'Clock in the morning to make Spaghetti. He had to have a scene with hot Spaghetti. It was up in the Bronx. It was freezing up there."
Charlie "Yeah Ricotta. It's special cheese."
Catherine: "Come on, the Raviolis are getting cold!"
Marty : "Where is that Mozzarella from?"
"That's DiPalo, it's famous"
SUNDAY SAUCE
WHEN ITALIAN-AMERICANS COOK
SUNDAY SAUCE alla SINTARA
GOODFELLAS PRIGIONE SAUCE
SCORSESE SUNDAY GRAVY
And More ...
Catherine :
"Are you insinuating my father didn't know how to Make Wine?"
Charlie and Catherine Scorsese
ITALIAN AMERICAN
1974
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