WINE BARS of VENICE: Daniel Bellino and Venice

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Daniel Bellino and Venice

PIAZZA San MARCO

VENICE

Daniel Bellino Zwicke is a New York-based food and wine writer, restaurateur, and author known for his expertise in Italian cuisine, who has a strong connection to Venice. He is the author of the book Italian Food & Travels: Rome Venice Pizza Pasta & ? and created "America's First Venetian Wine Bar" called Bar Cichetti.

Connection to VENICE

Inspiration for Bar Cichetti: Bellino traveled to Venice on an "exploratory" trip to experience the traditional Venetian wine bars, known as bacari, and specialize in cichetti (small snacks). This trip inspired him to open Bar Cichetti in New York City in 1998, which specialized in Italian wines and cichetti, replicating the Venetian bacaroexperience in the United States.

Writings: His book Italian Food & Travels draws on his experiences in various Italian cities, including Venice. He writes about his time in the city, including visits to landmarks like Harry's Bar and the Rialto Market.
Venetian Landmarks: In his writings and social media posts, he mentions visiting famous Venetian sites, such as Harry's Bar (where he ate carpaccio and drank Bellinis), the Rialto Market, and staying at the Albergho Gueratto hotel.
Books by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Bellino has authored several books, which often focus on Italian-American cooking, travel, and wine. Notable titles available on Amazon.com include:

Italian Food & Travels: Rome Venice Pizza Pasta & ?

Sunday Sauce
The Feast of the 7 Fish
Got Any Kahlua? (also known as The Big Lebowski Cookbook)
Mangia Italiano: Memories of Italian Food
Segreto Italiano: Secret Italian Recipes & Favorite Dishes
You can find more information and his latest articles on his website.

Daniel Bellino

HOTEL GUERRATO

VENICE, ITALY

MAP of VENICE

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

In VENICE

"DRINKING PROSECCO"

With COUSIN JOE

A Bacaro in Venice

"HANGING with il LUPO"

The WOLF

Arturo was a Famous GONDOLIERE

Bumped into him and some of his Friends

At OSTERIA VIVALDI

VENICE

1995

BOOKS by DANIEL BELLINO

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

AMAZON.com

No comments:

Post a Comment

All that Remains of BAR CICHETTI, this Business card and a Storefront That's Been Empty for 9 YEARS

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE Opens the FIRST EVER BACARO (Venetian Wine Bar) to Exist in the
UNITED STATES

There was a guy named Daniel who took a trip in 1995 to Explore, seek-out, and Study the BACARI
(Venetian Wine Bars) of the Magical City of
VENICE, Italy. He had read a article in the
New York Times about these treasures of the
Enchanted City of the Adriatic, "La Serinisima"
Venice, "or as the Italians say VENENZIA."

Daniel was quite intrigued by this little article.
It was only 1 page long, but it was magical, and
it sparked Daniel's interest enough that he decided
he would go to Venice, an Exploritory Trip by which he in a weeks time would go to as many Bacari as he possibly could, eating Lunch, inbetween Lunch, Dinner and all through each and every night of the week. he tried as much CICHETTI (Venetian Tapas-Like little plates of all sorts of Venetian Specialty Foods.

He ate Bacala Mantecato, Sarde en Soar, Bigoli, Fegato alla Venenzian, Riso Bisi, Mortadella, Speck, and all sorts of other Cichetti, Antipasti, Pasta, Fish, Shell Fish, Meat, Poultry, this that and every other thing he could get his hands (Mouth) on.

Before he went, he did as much Pre-Trip Research as was possible in the "Times Previous to the internet"
When he was in Venice, he asked as many questions as he could, striking up conversations with anyone who would listen, "many did." !!!!

Daniel took lots of pictures, ate, drank Wine, and gather recipes. He was smitten with Venice, its Wine Bars (Bacari, BACARO the singular).

Daniel "Fell in Love," with the Wine Bars (Bacari) of Venice and felt he just had to open one in NEW YORK. He vowed. Knowone had ever done it. He would be the "FIRST"
Daniel gathered all his info, his RECIPES, pictures, book, everything. He worked on all his recipes, cooking constantly for Friends and Family, he made a Business Plan. He found a partner who "Loved the Idea" as well. They shook hands and vowed to open "BAR CICHETTI" the BACARO (FIRST VENETIAN WINE BAR) "EVER in the United STATES.

Daniel and Tom created a BEAUTIFUL
BACARO/ TRATTORIA, with special Imported Venetian Fabric for the banquettes, wainscotting,
a beautiful Wood Bar, and fabulous Venetian Glass Chandeliers and scones.

Besides coming up the Idea and Concept of Bar Cichetti, Daniel was the Wine Director and Excecutive Chef. Daniel's food was incrediable.His CAPONATA was the best in town, his Paparadelle with Duck Ragu was justifiably Famous, and as the Journal of Italian Food and Wine stated, his Bolognese Sauce was considered to be one of the "Best in the Country" Daniel garnered many accolades for the Wine List he created, but especially for his true and tasty Regional Italian Cusine, gaining positive reveiws from "The New York Times"New York Magazine, Crains, TimeOut New York, Wine and Spirits Magazine, and even a 5 Page Color Spread in a Newspaper in Sao Paolo, BRAZIL.

by Robert Roma 2009

WINE BARS of VENICE

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Daniel Bellino and Venice

No comments:

Post a Comment

BACARO.... VIDEO of a VENETIAN WINE BAR

My WINE BARS of VENICE Youtube Video

ANTHONY BOURDAIN eats CICHETTI and Seafood Risotto in VENICE

VENICE

CASANOVA

Followers

Blog Archive

Map of VENICE