“BELLINO & PACINO”
Daniel Bellino is an Italian-American author who highlights Al Pacino in his cookbooks, particularly focusing on Italian-American cooking, “Sunday Sauce” (meat-based Red Sauce), and shared Sicilian roots, Bellino’s family from Lercara Friddi, Sicily, and Al Pacino – “Believe It or Not” hails from Corleone, Sicily.
Bellino’s books, such as Grandma Bellino’s Cookbook, discuss recipes like Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, which is noted as a favorite of Al Pacino.
Daniel Bellino’s Connection: Daniel Bellino Zwicke is known for writing books about Italian-American life, food, and culture. He features “Sunday Sauce” and mentions Sicilian-American connections.
Daniel writes in his book of the times when he was the Wine Director of Barbetta Ristorante in New York, where Pacino occasionally dined at. When Daniel was taking Mr. Pacino’s food order, Al would always ask if the kitchen would make him Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Spaghetti with Garlic & Olive Oil). “The dish was not on the menu, that why Al asked if we could make us. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse,” states Bellino. And of course we always made it for Al, and he was a wonderful client to have dining with us.” The rest is history, shall we say. Al Pacino’s favorite paste was Spaghetti with Garlic & Oil (Aglio e Olio). We know this thanks to Daniel Bellino, who felt with Pacino first hand. Bellino tells this story in his book Sunday Sauce
- Al Pacino & Pasta: In his book Grandma Bellino’s Italian Cookbook – Bellino features a “Spaghetti Aglio e Olio” recipe that he associates with Al Pacino. While Pacino is of Sicilian descent, this specific garlic and oil dish is commonly known as a Neapolitan specialty.
- Sunday Sauce: Bellino’s recipes, often termed “Sunday Sauce alla Bellino alla Pacino,” highlight traditional, slow-simmered sauces featuring meat such as meatballs, sausages, and pork braciola.
- Key Themes: Bellino’s work often highlights connections between famous Italian-Americans (like Pacino and Sinatra) and the culinary traditions of New York and New Jersey Italian-American communities.
- Related Works: Other books by Bellino-Zwicke include Sinatra Sauce: Meatballs & Merriment.
Al Pacino and Aglio Olio you ask? What about it? Well it’s just that Spaghetti Aglio Olio always reminds me of that great fellow New Yorker Sicilian American, the one-and-only Al Pacino from da Bronx. It’s not a big deal, just a wonderful little memory for me. When I was the Wine Director at the famed Barbetta Ristorante on Restaurant Row in New York’s Theater District (where Al often performs on stage), Al Pacino used to come and eat there every now and then. He never wanted anything to fancy, but something that just about all true blooded Italian-American wants, and that dish is Spaghetti Aglio Olio, plain and simple, yet it’s in our blood. That’s what Al wanted and that’s what we gave him, and Al loved it and you will too.
Note: As has already been noted, you can make Spaghetti w/ Garlic & Oil, simply by making the above recipe, and omitting the Anchovies, and you’ll have it just like Al Pacino does.
Enjoy!
Excerpted form GRANDMA BELLINO’S ITALIAN COOKBOOK
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke
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New York Italian 