all ARCO Venice Bellino beat Tucci Cichetti Discovered Italy

 

all' ARCO

VENICE

"WHERE BELLINO Beat TUCCI"

all ARCO

VENETIAN CICCHETTI

STANLEY TUCCI'S FAVORITE

"But Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE Discovered it 20 YEARS Before TUCCI"

Daniel Bellino Zwicke discovered all ARCO in 1995. He read an article in the New York Times

about the Wine Bars (Bacari) and Cichetti of Venice, and was inspired. He wanted to open one

in NEW YORK. So Daniel booked a flight to VENICE, flew over, and over a 9 period he Explored the WINE BARS of VENICE. Just before people started getting on the Internet, and 20 Years before INSTAGRAM which informed the World of Bacari, Venetian Wine Bars and CICCHETTI, some 20 years after Daniel Bellin Z, who opened America's 1st Ever VENETIAN  WINE BAR "BAR ICHETTI" in NEW YORK'S Greenwich Village, where Danie was Bar Cichetti's CHEF< Wine Director and Managing Partner. The rest is History. And don't forget BELLINO Beat TUCCI, as far as Informing the people of the World of the existence of all ARCO and their wonderful Cichetti.

"BASTA" !!!

Note : There is no one correct spelling for Cichetti, which even in VENICE you will see it written several different was, including : CICHETTI, Cicchetti, and Cicheti. 

all' ARCO

"WHERE BELLINO Beat TUCCI"

VENETIAN CICCHETTI

STANLEY TUCCI'S FAVORITE

"But Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE Discovered it 20 YEARS Before TUCCI"

Daniel Bellino Zwicke discovered all ARCO in 1995. He read an article in the New York Times

about the Wine Bars (Bacari) and Cichetti of Venice, and was inspired. He wanted to open one

in NEW YORK. So Daniel booked a flight to VENICE, flew over, and over a 9 period he Explored the WINE BARS of VENICE. Just before people started getting on the Internet, and 20 Years before INSTAGRAM which informed the World of Bacari, Venetian Wine Bars and CICCHETTI, some 20 years after Daniel Bellin Z, who opened America's 1st Ever VENETIAN  WINE BAR "BAR ICHETTI" in NEW YORK'S Greenwich Village, where Danie was Bar Cichetti's CHEF< Wine Director and Managing Partner. The rest is History. And don't forget BELLINO Beat TUCCI, as far as Informing the people of the World of the existence of all ARCO and their wonderful Cichetti.

"BASTA" !!!

Note : There is no one correct spelling for Cichetti, which even in VENICE you will see it written several different was, including : CICHETTI, Cicchetti, and Cicheti. 

VINO e CICHETTI

Where "BELLINO Beat TUCCI"

all' ARCO

Photo by Daniel Bellino Zwicke - 1995

VENICE, ITALY

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

In front of his Hotel in VENICE

ALBERGHO GUERATTO

"JUST MINUTES After DISCOVERY ALL' ARCO"

VENETIAN WINE BAR

VENICE - 19915

ALL' ARCO

STANLEY TUCCI at All'ARCO

28 YEARS AFTER BELLINO

All'ARCO

VENICE, ITALY

ALL'ARCO

VENICE

AMERICA'S 1st EVER BACARO

VENETIAN WINE BAR

BAR CICHETTI 

AMERICA'S 1st VENETIAN WINE BAR (Bacaro)

Created by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke & Tom Taraci

Tramezzini Sandwiches Venice

 

TRAMEZZINI

VENETIAN TRAMEZZINI

"SANDWICHES"

The first food any Venetian eats when they return from a vacation is not a fancy gourmet meal, but a dirt cheap and extremely filling sandwich that we call tramezzino. Tramezzini are small bites of heavenly delight, triangular sandwiches with soft white bread with the crust removed, filled with mayonnaise and a variety of combinations, the most popular of which are: ham and eggs, tuna and olives, ham and mushrooms and shrimps and pink sauce. You will find them in any bar, the average price is 2,50 per piece and, although I know you will just want to keep eating them on and on, consider that two of those probably equal your entire daily calorie intake!

Before we delve into tramezzini tasting, a little bit of history. I'll begin by saying that their origin is claimed by more cities, if not even countries, but apparently they were born in England. One version ascribes their origin to the fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, known for his gambling habits, in fact it all happened one evening when he couldn't leave the table that he asked his servants to fill some bread with the leftover roast chicken and, the other players at the table, immediately copied him asking for the "same sandwich". According to another version, the invention of tramezzini is to be attributed to the Duchess of Bedford, Mrs Anna Maria Russel, who felt too hungry to wait for dinner and ordered some small tea sandwiches filled with butter and cucumber to accompany her afternoon drink. What is certain, anyway, is that the name tramezzino is Italian and was invented by Gabriele D'Annunzio. It means "the middle morning snack" (tra - mezzo, that is in the middle) and was created as an alternative to the British tea sandwiches in the Caffè Mulassano in Turin.

Well then, why is Venice so famous for something that wasn't even invented here? The reason is simple: our horrible climate! The dampness that characterizes the lagoon is ideal to maintain the bread soft and tender, to be washed down with an ombra or a birrino. Here, tramezzini are a big thing, the fillings are so generous that I have always wondered how one can fit so much food into such a small triangle.

In Venice, most bars have tramezzini and it is nearly impossible for them not to be good, so what follows is the list of places where I usually go to, but each Venetian has its own favorite, so when here...just follow your instinct!

ROSA SALVA

The first place that comes to my mind is undoubtedly Rosa Salva, both the one in Calle Fiubera and the one in campo San Giovanni e Paolo. When I was a child, it was my Saturday treat and I would always get two: asparagus and eggs (highly addictive) and tuna and eggs, while my mother always had one with shrimps and one with salmon and a thinly sliced gherkin which -according to her- gives the added kick. In this historical cafeteria and pastry shop, tramezzini are less plump than in other places, but they are longer and delicious. Their assortment includes curious combinations and is rather elegant. Rosa Salva even makes for catering events what they call Panettone di Tramezzini, their invention: a whole lot of mini sandwiches, placed one above the other, in the shape of a Panettone, the traditional Italian Christmas cake.

BAR THEATRO

Then I must mention the Bar al Theatro, known by Venetians as Bar alla Fenice because it is just in front of the Opera house. This bar is my personal favorite and my husband’s too. Now, the assortment is endless, but my drug is called porchetta and radicchio. Al Theatro looks very fancy, in fact the restaurant is quite pricey, but the bar is actually an excellent solution for a snack in the Saint Mark's district and whenever I come I usually have 2 tramezzini and one mini pastry (they have recently modernised their offer and, if you are a sweet tooth their dessert window is something to die for).

TOLETTA

Toletta is probably the most written about tramezzini bar in all of Venice and I can understand why! The size of their triangular delicacies is enormous and they have been feeding students, locals and visitors alike for at least 50 years, in fact, just next to it there are two high schools (humanities and arts) and between 10:30 and 11:00 am there are long queues of teenagers waiting to sink their teeth into one of their sandwiches. A quintessential culinary experience in Venice, a real must have!

BAR FILOVIA

My mother's favorite is Bar Filovia, just before Piazzale Roma. In foreign guides they call it Borgo Molin, but actually that is just the name of a prosecco producer that provided them with the tent! Anyway, it is a tiny bar with very little space but a huge choice of absolutely to-die-for sandwiches! My mother was pregnant and often used me as an excuse to eat them. The freshness, the choice of bread and the amazing variety makes waiting in line well worth it!

BAR TIZIANO

Located in Salizada San Crisostomo, one of the busiest streets in Venice from 10 am to 7 pm, this bar has incredibly delicious tramezzini. It is one of my best friend's weaknesses and whenever we meet I know that at some point she will ask me if I feel like a tramezzino... and I never fail to say yes! Oh yes, I forgot to mention that birrini are the tiny glasses (0,10 cl) of beer served only in certain bars in Venice (this because here it's normal to go from one place to the other, so we can't have a pint at every bar!!!!).

BIRRERIA FORST in CALLE DELLE RASSE

At Forst they have revisited the traditional tramezzini with their own offer that now, though, has become a classic. Their ones are rectangular, use thicker bread -both white and black- and include spicier flavors. My favorite is porchetta and mustard. Here the tramezzini cost 3 euros each, but they are bigger and the filling is very very generous. This is the best place for a quick snack close to Saint Mark's and it is also frequented by lots of locals.

You can find a crab sandwich, known locally as 

tramezzino al granchio (crab tramezzino), in many traditional Venetian bars (bacari), which also function as wine bars. These are inexpensive, triangular, crustless sandwiches that are popular among locals for a quick bite and an ombra (small glass) of wine. 

Here are some recommended places in Venice where you can find crab items and enjoy a glass of wine:

Classic Bacari & Wine Bars.

These casual spots specialize in cicchetti (small bites like the crab tramezzino) and have excellent local wine selections.