ITALIAN FOODIE

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Gnocchi Recipe w Pork Rib Ragu

MARIELLA

And Her GNOCCHI w / PORK RIB RAGU

RECIPE

Homemade GNOCCHI

With PORK RIB RAGU

RECIPE

NONNA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK

SICILIAN PASTA GRANNIES

AMAZON.com

Mariella is a PASTA GRANNY. Gnocchi with PORK RIB RAGU is Delicious. "Love it"

#Rome #Italy

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Best Italian Cookbook of The Year Amazon

SUNDAY SAUCE

AMAZON.com

"BEST BOOKS of The YEAR"

AMAZON FAVORITE BOOKS - ITALIAN COOKBOOKS

SUNDAY SAUCE Picked as an Editors Choice for Best Books of The Year on Amazon.com

SUNDAY SAUCE

"BEST BOOKS of The YEAR"

Amazon.com

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Street Food Bari Italy

FOCACCIA PUGLIESE

aka BARESE

BARI, ITALY

STREET FOOD TOUR

BARI

PUGLIA

PANIFICIO FIORE

BARI

ORECCHIETTE

Strada Basso

BARIVECCHIA

BARI

DANNY EATS ORECCHIETTE

BARIVECCHIA, BARI - ITALY

NUNZIA "The ORECCHIETT QUEEN" of BARI

Warch Nunzia make Orecchiette on the Strada di Orecchiette

BARIVECCHIA, BARI - ITALY

Then Nunzia invites Italian Cookbook author Daniel Bellino Zwicke (NY) inside for

a plate of her famous Orecchiette with Ragu Barese

GRANDMA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

STREET FOOD

BARIVECCHIA

BARI

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Bar Pitti Family Friends Dinner NYC

BAR PITTI

Joe Macari, Eddie Macari, Dakota, Tommy Macari

Chris, Terik, Michele, Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Another dinner at Bar Pitti. There have been many over the years, both lunch and dinner, it's always a good time at Bar Pitti, a restaurant that makes some of the best Italian food in New York.

Cousin Joe gave me a call on Sunday saying he wanted to have a dinner at Bar Pitti this week. A great idea, as always. So Wednesday roll around and Joe calls me, and tell me they are on their way (Joe and Tommy).

A couple hours later, they call and tell me to meet them at Houston and Macdougal. It's Ash Wednesday and I was inside Saint Anthony's Church on Sullivan Street, so I was two minutes away. So I go over to Houston and Macdougal and I see Joe inside a Black Landrover. Joe says, "Tommy's inside (Song Napule Pizza), getting a Pizza." Cool. We wait in the SUV. Tommy caomes back with a nice Pizza Margherita. We're starting the day off right.

Pizza Margherita

Song Napule Pizzeria

I've been going to Sogno Toscano for the past 3 months and posting pictures on Instagram, so Tommy and Eddie have been wanting to go there, so before our dinner at Bar Pitti, we're head over there to drink a little wine and have some Salumi. It's myself, Tommy and Joe, and Terik and Tommy's friend Dakota meet up with us a bit later. We get a nice bottle of Sardinian Vermentino.

Tommy orders a plate of Salumi and Cheese. Joe's looking at all the food products (Tarrali, Olive Oil, Pasta and assorted Italian Food Products) on the shelves, and says, "I gotta get a bag of some of this stuff." We drink the wine. It's really good. Everyone loves the place, the vibe, the workers, the Salumi, Formaggio, and everything about the place. It's really a nice little Italian Wine Bar / Salumeria, and they are doing well. Bravo.

Sogno Toscano

Perry Street, NY NY

A Glass of CHIANTI

SOGNO TOSCANO

GREENWICH VILLAGE

We had a great time at Sogno Toscano. We finsih up and head over to Bar Pitti.

Inside BAR PITTI

We get to Bar Pitti, and are warmly welcomed by Roberto, Enzo, and the guys.

Giovanni comes over and gives us the warmest welcome imaginiable. He hasn't seen Joe, Tommy, and Eddie in a while, and we're all hugs, and happy to see one another. We chat a few minutes and Giovanni puts down two bottles of Solaia, and says, "This is for you guys," My cousin Joe, says "No, you can't do this," but Giovanni won't take no for an answer, and says, "No baby, this is on me. It's from my own personal collection." I tell you, two bottles of Solaia 2017 is quite a nice gift. Giovanni says, "You guys never let us pay for the Pizza. This is on me." And so we drink the Solaia, and it's damn good. I Love it. Waht's not to love. If you know Soalai, you know what I'm talking about.

Michele comes in, and a few minutes later, Cousin Eddie arrives. We drink the wine, and are having quite a nice time, chit-chatting, and sipping on Solaia. We take quite a little while before we order some food, but when we do, it's serious.

"A Gift From GIOVANNI"

2 Bottles SOLAIA 2017

Excellent Wine

We finally get around to ordering, and we get Eggpkant Parmigiano, Meatballs,

Sauteed Spinach, and Shrimp. It's all good, especially the Melanzane Parmigiano, which is the best in town. I really love the way they make the Eggpalnt here. It is spot on and as good as can be.

We then had a pasta course of Spagehtti Vongole (Clam Sauce), Tortelloni that were quite tasty, and an awesome plate of Paparadelle with Duck Ragu. "Outstanding."

FONTALLORO

And PAPARADELLE w/ DUCK RAGU

We order our main courses. I get the Bolito di Manza. It's boiled beef, and for those of you who do not know, it taste much better than it sounds. It's Beef Short Ribs and it's tasty and succulent. Joe got the Oxtails (Coda di Vaccinara), and iI was a lucky recipient of one of his Oxtails. Along with the Calves Liver, these two dishes (Bolito & Oxtails) are the dishes I get most, whenever I eat at Bar Pitti, a place I started going to with my ex-girlfriend Dante when the place first opened. I was one of their first customers. My girlfriend and I discovered it, ans started eating there every week. We told my friends John O', Michael, and Jorge about it, and we all started having lunch there (or Lanza's) every Saturday for lunch, befroe we all went into work at Les Halles's at night. Good times.

Well, back to our dinner last night. Everything was great. We all got to chat a lot and Michele was telling some great stories, including when her and Giovanni got married in Greve, at Vicchomaggio, an Italian Wine Estate that makes Chianti in the town of Greve.

We got some Panacotta for dessert, and Robero brought us all some Passito di Pantelleria Italian dessert wine on the house.

Yes, it was quite a nice night, and we were all happy to get together.

Basta and Ciao for now.

...... Daniele

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUDIE / COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Tucci Can Not Make a Proper Negroni

STANLEY TUCCI Does Not Know How to Make a Proper NEGRONI

Yes it's true. The person who has become popular for making Negroni Cocktails, more than anyone else in the history of mankind, does not even know how to make a proper Negroni. This is scariligous, and shows once again, how people jump on the Band Wagon, so to speak.

I was horrified when I was looking in Tucci's latest book and saw his recipe for the Negroni. In his recipe and instruction, Tucci cals for 50 milliliters of Gin, 25 millileters Campari, and 25 milliliters Sweet Vermouth with a slice of Orange. "oh my God, I can't beleive it, totally wrong Stanley. The proportions are totally wrong and would make a "Horrible Negroni, and one I'd never ever want to drink." and I've been drinking these bad boys Since 1985, a good 25 years before the Negroni Craze reached the American Shores.

How can you do it Stanley? Everyone who knows anything about a Negroni knows that you use equal parts of Campari, Gin, and Sweet Vermouth, and not and never ever twice as much Gin as Campari, you complete destroy the taste, by completely throwing the cocktail out of balance, a primary prerequisite to any good cocktail. How can you do it Stanley. Futhermore, it is beyond me that the press and general public have practicallymade Tucci the King of The Negroni, and the man doesn't know how to make one. This is horrifying ! Really Stanley? How can you do it.

I've written extensively about the Negroni (in La Tavola), a good 10 years before the Negroni Craze even started. And as I've stated, I've been drinking these wonderful cocktails since the Summer of 1985, on my first trip to Italy. My first Negroni? I remember it well. It was at the Caffe Giacosa (formerly Caffe Cassoni), in FLorence. I went in and sat down. The waiter brought me a menu. I already knew what I wanted, as I had read of the Negroni in an Italian travel guide. I knew it was invented here, and that's what I was going to get. So when the waiter came back, I said, " Un Negroni pro favore." The waiter nodded and, replied, "Prego." A few minutes later he brought me my Negroni, with a few cocktail treats that they serve with cocktails in Italy. I took a sip. Yum, that's pretty good I thought. That was the first. The first of many hundreds to come. Way back then, very few Americans drank Negroni's. There were a few. The well traveled, but nothing like today. It really doesn't make me that happy that everyone and their grandmother drinks them these days. It sort of takes away from their specialness a bit. But what are you going to do" That's the way it is. They're still tasty and refreshing to me. Tasty and refreshing? Well yes. Just don't have Stanely Tucci make one for me. "Yuuk! Not very good. Not a Negrone (the way Stanely makes them).

Sorry Stanley, but you got it all wrong.

... to be Continued ...

DBZ

HOW to MAKE a PROPER NEGRONI

1 ounce Campari

1 ounce Sweet Vermouth

1 ounce Gin

ICE

1 fresh slice of Orange

Preparation :

Fill a rock glass with ice.

Add the Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin.

Stir.

Add a slice of Orange, and serve.

NOTE : You can change the proportions a little. Just don't change them up too much, or you will throw the cocktail out of balance, and it will not taste like a Negroni, defeating the whole purpose of making the drink, as is the case with Mr. Tucci's recipe. "It's all wrong. Way too much Gin."

If you wanted to stick around the prescribe recipe of equal parts of Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin, to make a proper Negroni, you can put in just a little less Gin, but not too much less, or you'll change the make-up too much.

Also, it is very acceptable to add a plash of Club Sod on top. Just not too much. Make sure it is just a small splash.

Bitters : Campari

Sweet Vermouth Brands : Cinzano, Marini & Rossi, Antica Carpano.

GIN : Any London Dry Gin. Most popular brands include : Beefeater, Bombay, Gordon's, Tanqueray, and Hendrick's.

Final Note : Negroni's can be made straight-up, or on the rocks, however, 95% of the time, they are served on the rocks.

NEGRONI

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE

AMAZON.com

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Sicilian Sun Dried Tomato Astrattu

MARIA

ANd her ASTRATTU

"Sicilian Tomato Paste"

How to Make SICILIAN TOMATO PASTE

"ASTRATTU"

RECIPES From MY SICILIAN NONNA

AMAZON.com

I Love Cucuzza - Gagootz Recipes

"GAGOOTZ" !!!!

PAST w/ CUCUZZA SOUP

RECIPE

TOMATOES PEPPERS & GAGOOTZ

READ ABOUT CUCUZZA

In SEGRETO ITALIANO

EGGPLANT TOMATOES & CUCUZZA

RECIPES

SOUPS PASTA GAGOOTZ and More

AMAZON.com

Maria Makes SICILIAN PASTA con CUCUZZA

RECIPE

SICILIAN CUCUZZA CHOCOLATE CAKE Recipe

ROCCO'S RESTAURANT CLOSING .. CARBONE and TORRISI to Take Over ., PRINCE STREET PIZZA OPENS

Prince Street Pizza opens today, where else but on Prince Street in Noho in the former Ray's Pizza. Thee "Original" Ray's Pizza that is. Sad to see it go after all these years, but it had slipped and the counter guys where amongst the worst in the city. You need cordial, upbeat, friendly guys serving up Pizza, and these guys were the opposite in every respect. In other words, "Horrible," which tends to put a damper on what should be a good pizza eating experience.

Yes, I'm sad to see this place go. I hate to see any long established beloved establishment go. Most times you lose a great place and nothing good replaces it. Worst of all, you might get another Bank, CVS, Duane Read, some sort of overpriced clothing boutique, or a dreaded Subway Sandwich Shop. Occasionally they might put in a equally desirable business such as a good cafe or good affordable restaurant (no overpriced Trendite place wanted). In the case of the sad closing of Ray's Pizza on Prince Street, another Pizzeria is opening, Prince Street Pizza. "Let's hope it's good."

In the equally sad case of one of Greenwich Villages last few remaining Old-School Italian Restaurant (VERY SAD), Rocco's on Sullivan Street will be going out of business soon. Fortunately something great will take its place, in all likelihood anyway as the team of Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone of Torris Italian Specialties fame is taking over the space, and you can be assured these guys with great taste, experience and know-how will not ruin the place. It will probably be even better with the Carbone/Torrisi touch which I like to describe as "Updated Old-School Italian-American." And these guys do a great job. Masters in their trade they are. They have just recently opened their second sucessful project in "Parm" next door to their original spot Torrisi, to booming sucess. The new spot in the former Rocco's on Sullivan Street (Mario Batali's first gig in New York) is sure to do the same. Which is to be wonderful, and a huge success.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

ITALIAN AMERICAN ... WHAT IS IT?

There has long been a debate, fights, and Mud-Slinging in regards to Italian and Italian-American

food served in restaurants in New York and the rest of the U.S.. Culinary Snobs, people who "Think" they know what they are talking about and what not. I can set the record straight, being an

Italian-American who has been eating Italian and Italian-American food for more than forty years, who has been professional Chef and someone who has eaten all over Italy on some 15 trips to the great peninsular. In addition to studying Italian Food in Italy for some 25 years, I am constantly reading all sorts of articles , cookbooks, and historical facts on this subject, in addition to being one of the countries foremost authorities on Italian Wine.

Anyway, let me tell you. I myself was once a uninformed Food Snob who badmouthed and was slightly disdainful of unauthentic Italian food being served in restaurants all over the city. That's just in restaurants. Of course I Loved eating Sunday Sauce, Eggplant Parmigiano, and Meatballs that my aunts made at our frequent family get together s. And on the occasions that we weren't at one of the family's homes but in an Italian restaurant in Lodi or Garfield, I usually ordered Chicken or Veal Parmigiano. Yes I loved it, but these dishes, for me at the time (1985-1993) had their place, and it was not in the kitchen or on the plates of any serious Italian Restaurant in Manhattan.

Eventually as I learned more of the history of food in New York, Italy, and the World, I realized that there was actually a real true Italian-American Cuisine and that it was completely valid.

Do you realize that if you think there is not a true valid Italian-American Cuisine, then you also must concede that there is No True French Cuisine, because the origins of what we now know as French food and Cuisine is really Italian. Yes, I said Italian. For the food and cuisine of French was quite primitive and did not begin to form into what we now know as French Food and French Cuisine until Caterina Medici of the Noble Florentine Family of the Medici married the King of France and brought her Florentine Chefs with her to the French Court way back in the 15th Century. So there. Many dishes which most people think of as French in origin, like Duck ala Orange, Bechamel, and others, are really Italian. "So there!"

Anyway, back to Italian-American food. Food and cuisines are constantly changing and evolving. This is how Florentine Chefs of Italy, went to France with the newly crowned French Queen who was of the Italian Peninsular in one Katherine Medici and taught the French how to cook. Thus Italians immigrating to the United States in the early 20th Century brought their ingredients and techniques from mother Italy to cook the dishes from their homeland, with some modifications do to financial issues (being poor) and the unavailability of certain ingredients, and started forming what would one day be known as Italian-American food (Cuisine).

"to be Continued"

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

NEW YORK...BLEECKER STREET, GRENWICH VILLAGE'S BEST #1 DOLLAR A SLICE PIZZA ..PERCY"S PIZZA

The latest entry into the DOLLAR a SLICE PIZZA "PERCY'S PIZZA" on Dollar Slice is phenomenal. It's Top Notch and Superior to the likes of JOE'S PIZZA just a mere 200 feet away from this wonderful new establishment.

The Pizza at Percy's is just about absolute perfection. The way real pizza should be, perfect dough that is cooked to crisp perfection with just the right balance of tomato to cheese ratio. This slice is tasty, and at a Dollar a pop, one of New York's greatest culinary deals. And as for the other Buck a Slice guys, they just don't measure up. They're pretty good for a Dollar, but the slice at Percy's is Superior, even up against $2.75 a Slice joints like the famed Joe's Pizza just feet away. Percy's blows them away. They have a couple great Pizzaiolos, one from Sardegna, the other from Cairo of all places. Percy's is a simple unassuming place, that's nice and comfortable and serves up some of the Best Pizza in town, and at a Buck a Pop, you just can't beat it. I Love it, and hope it last.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

A 1980 Vintage of COL Di'ORCIA BRUNELLO Holds Its Own... Tasty !!!!

Classic Tarry Tobacco nose for such an old wine, 30 years old. The wine was in great shape with a surprisingly dark garnet color with just a little bricking around the edges. Tar and Tobacco pervading in the mouth, still hinting of Violets and a good amount of fruit of particular Alcohol Soaked Cherries. The wine was most enjoyable and a pleasure to drink. It's probably a few years beyond its prime, but should still hold its own for another 5 years or so if you have a bottle that is in as good of shape as this.

Drunk at Southern Wines Grand tasting in conjunction with the Food Network, New York, September 30, 2011.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

BORDEAUX BLEND from GREVE in CHIANTI Takes TOP PRIZE

Reporting from the Winebow Annual Grand Portfolio Tasting.

As usual a great event of a couple thousand fine wines from around the World. This guy always focuses primarily on the Italians with a few French, Ports, Champagne, and a few others thrown in here and there. The tasting did not disappoint and one big surprise from some friends in Greve, the Fiore Family led by father and famed wine maker Vittorio Fiore, son Jyuri (Vineyard Manager and co/Winemaker), and brother Roberto who was my first Wine-Salesman from Winebow when I had my Bacaro Bar Cichetti back in the late 90's. Well, I spotted Vittorio doing some tasting on his own and started up a little chat. Asking him how his sons Jyuri and Roberto are doing and he said his son Robert whom I haven't seen in years was at the tasting and was manning their table.

So I went over to the table with Vittorio and said hello to Roberto. Of course I tasted their famed Super Tuscan wine Il Carbionone. Awesome as always. I spotted another wine on the table and as I looked at it, it seemed to have a typical Bordeaux labeling to it. But I also noticed the Podere Scalette log on it so I knew it was one of the Fiore wines. After tasting the Il Carbionone I asked Roberto if that was a new wine the had. He said, "Yes it's a special project form Jyuri (brother who is vineyard manager and c0-winemaker along with father Vittorio). Roberto said that Jyuri was a bit tired working with just Sangiovese and wanted to make a Bordeaux Style wine. So the Fiores planted some Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petitie Verdot. The wine, called Capogatto is make from equal parts of these 4 grapes. Well, let me tell you. The wine blew my mind. Awesome and perfect in every way. This wine had some nice flavor of all sorts of mixed berries both red and black and was in "Perfect Balance" of Acid, no harsh tannins, fruit flavor and nice medium weight. I loved it and told Roberto and Vittorio with all sincerity. And in the end, after tasting wine for another two hours, it was this wine that won top prize in my book for the best wine of the day, and I would give it a score of 94 on a 100 point scale. Absolutely marvelous.

And speaking of marvelous, I've just to mention the dessert wines of Fausto Maculan, who makes arguably, Italy's best dessert wines of all, and they are his specialty. When I came upon the Maculan table I spotted Fautos's daughter Angela, said hello and asked her if I could try the Brentino which has a special memory for me, as I always remmeber when my cousin Joe and I drank it one night back at the Hotel after a long day of flying from New York to Milano, grabbing a car at the airport and driving to Bardolino to spend the night before heading to Verona and Vinitaly the next day. Anyway, it was Joe's first trip to Vinitaly and our cousin Tony was along with us as well. After we checked into our hotel, we went out for lunch, then went to a nice litle Enoteca where we had a couple glasses of wine with some Salumi and cheese. In Italy, in a wine bar (Enoteca) you can buy bottles of wine to take home as well as consuming in the wine bar. Something you can not do in the states. This place had some really fine wine and Joe bought a bottle of Brentino, along with a bottle of Guado al Tasso, and a bottle of Sassicaia. After lunch and the wine bar, we all went back to the hotel to rest-up before going out to dinner. We had a nice dinner, went to another Enoteca after that and drank a great bottle of Amarone Brigaldara. "Awesome." We then went to some little cocktail lounge and had a couple drinks before heading back to the hotel.

We were back at the hotel for about 25 minutes when I heard a knock on my door. It was cousin Joe with a bottle of Brentino in hand. We popped the cork. We drank the Brentino and chatted about the day and the rest of the trip to come. It was just one of the great unplanned little time that you never forget. We had a great time drinking the Brentino and chatting at a hotel in Bardolino on the beautiful shores of Lake Garda 45 minutes from the Lovely little city of Verona. Just Great! So that's how I go off on a tangent about Brentino and drinking a bottle of the stuff in Bardolino at Lago de Garda.

After tasting the Brentino, which was nice, but could never taste as good as the one in the Valpolicella Classico area of Italy with cousin Joe. "No way!"

So I moved on to the renowned dessert wines of Fausto Maculan. I spot this wine Madoro and ask Angela if it's in the style of Recioto, the celebrated dessert wine of Valpolicella Classico and older brother of Amarone. Angelo said, yes it was in the same style but instead of Corvina, Rondenella, and Molinara, the Maculan "Madoro" is made from 80% Marzemina grapes and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. I tasted it and absolutely adored it. Near perfection. The wine had a bit of sweetness but not too much. Just the right amount in fact. It was rich and full, and in perfect balanced. I Loved it, and put this in my top 6 wines of the tasting along with the Capogatto from the Fiore's, a tasty Cote de Broilly from Chateau Thivin, Maculan Dindarello, and Maculan Torcoloto. All fabulous, outstanding wines. Wines to get excited about. Anyway, it was on to tasting the Maculan "Dindarello" made from 100% Moscato grapes. The wine was in perfect balance and tasting of Orange Blossoms, Honey, and Apricots. Yummy, to say the least as was the famed Maculan "Torcolato" made from 100% Vespaiola and tasting of Peaches, Honey, and Wild Flowers. Again, ummy and close to perfection. Wow!

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

PATSY'S and NEW YORK PIZZA

When it comes to PIZZA, and in particular the Best Pizza, New York leads America at the "Top of the List." No other place in the country comes close. "And that's all there is to it." That slop they make in Chicago is not and should "Never Be Called Pizza." It's Deep-Dish-Pie, just don't call it Pizza. It's not.

Now, back to New York, the Undisputed Heavyweight Champ of Pizza in the United States of America, and some the Best Pizza on the Planet, and that includes Italy.

New York has such renowned Pizzeria's as John's Pizzeria on Bleecker Stree in the Village, the great Tottono's on Neptune Avenue, Coney Island, Lombardi's, Gimaldi's, Ben's in Soho, and on and on. Let's not forget Patsy's, way up in East Harlem, a stones throw from the hardest table in New York, "Frankie No's" Raos.

Yes, and speaking of Patsy's coal oven Pizza that has been operating in East Harlem since 1933 when the neighborhood was primarily a Italian one at the time.

Plain and simple, Patsy's makes a pure and simple Neapolitan Pizza at the fairest of prices. Imagine a large Pizza Margherita for just $12.00 a Pop and a Slice will only set you back $1.75, at a time (2011) when most slices are $2.50 or $2.75 ..

Patsy's is a New York institution who has had such customers as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Benett, Phil Rizzutto, Yogi Berra, jo DiMaggio and many others call Patsy's their favorite Pizza. Now top that.

yes Patsy's is waey up in East Harlem and quite a trip for Downtown Manhattanites, but it's definitely worth a trip every now and then . Patsy's, try it!

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

The NEGRONI

The Negroni! A cocktail most Americans do not know. To bad! It is so fine. Well not many know except among the more Sophisticated of our population. Even just a minute percentage of those who have traveled to its birthplace in Italy will even know of the cocktail. In this country, it is drank more often in the city of New York, a city with a higher "Sophisticate" ratio than most, but still only a few will know of this drink, the Negroni Cocktail.

So what it is it? Well its base is the highly popular aperitif bitter Campari, a Bitter-Sweet aperitif from Torino, Italy. The Negroni made of 1 0z. Cmapari, 1& 1/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth, 3/4 oz. Gin, over ice cubes in a Rocks Glass with a splash of Club Soda on top and garnished with a slice of Orange or Orange peel. Voila! The Negroni! Usually drunk as an aperitif before dinner in the early evening, but just as wonderful anytime of the afternoon, especially Alfresco, or late into the evening for that matter.

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke