Pacino Pasta and New Book by Daniel Bellino

AL PACINO

PASTA alla PACINO

Daniel Bellino

Al Pacino’s favorite pasta? It’s Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, (Spaghetti Garlic & Oil). Al’s favorite. I know. Al used to come to the restaurant Barbetta, in New York’s theater district. I was the wine director there. Mr. Pacino once asked me, “Can you guys make me Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.?” To which I replied, “Of course we can. For you Mr. Pacino, we will make it.” And so we did. We had. He made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. The dish, as you should well know, is beloved by most Italians, whether in Italy, or here in America. We Italian Americans just love it. Especially in the New York Metropolitan area of New York & New Jersey. We grew up with it, as Al Pacino growing up as a boy in the Bronx, New York, and as a young man living in Manhattan. It’s part of his life, and is in his blood. He’s Italian. Italian-American from the Bronx. New York Italians? We love: Baked Clams, Sunday Sauce, Lasagna, Meatballs, Linguine Vongole, and yes, as Mr. Pacino, “Spaghetti Aglio e Olio.”

Take note, that Parade Magazine April 1, 2025 picked up on my story of Al Pacino and myself (Daniel Bellino Zwicke). The wrote a little piece, quoting me, and telling the story of Al Pacino and me. That night at Barbetta, and the subsequent act of me telling the story (with recipe) in my book Positano The Amalfi Coast – Travel Guide – Cookbook. Parade magazine picked up on it, and my story and Al Pacino and I (Daniel Bellino) has snowballed, in print and all over the internet. And yes, “I’m proud it is.”

And so I could not resist telling the story again. The story and myself – Daniel Bellino Zwicke, and the great Al Pacino. I’ve been a huge fan, as most Americans of Mr. Pacino for some 50 plus years now. “We are Paisons,” and blood brothers in a way. We are both Italian-American New Yorkers, with Sicilian ancestry and roots, from the same area of Sicily. Al Pacino’s family, believe it or not, are from Corelone, Sicily. Yes I said Corleone, the same town in Sicily as the fictional character Pacino played in the movie The Godfather, as one Michael Corleone, whose father Vito is from the Sicilian town Corleone.

My family, the Bellino’s are from the nearby town of Lercara Friddi, Sicily, the same town that the famed Mafia Boss Charles “Lucky” Luciano is from, as well as Frank Sinatra’s father – Martino Severino Sinatra. That’s our connection – Frank Sinatra, Al Pacino, and Me – Daniel Bellino.

And yes, I greatly admire both Frank Sinatra, and Al Pacino, and I’m proud of our small connection as Sicilian Americans. “Paisons.”

PASTA alla PACINO – RECIPE

INGREDIENTS :

8 ounces imported Italian Spaghetti

8 tablespoons Olive Oil

5 cloves of Garlic, peeled and sliced

½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

2 tablespoons fresh chopped Parsley (optional)

Note : Make sure to use good quality imported Italian Spaghetti, and Italian Olive Oil.

Fill a 3-4 quart pot ¾ full of water and add 1 teaspoon Sea Salt. Turn heat to high and bring the water to the boil.

Add olive oil and the garlic to a large frying pan. Cook on low heat until the garlic just starts to brown. Turn the heat off. Add the red pepper and stir.

Drop the spaghetti into the boiling water. Cook, following the directions on the box (about 9 – 10 minutes).

When the spaghetti is finished cooking, drain it into a colander, reserving about ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water.

Reserve a ¼ cup of pasta water to mix into the finished plate of pasta.

Place the drained spaghetti into the pan with the garlic & olive oil. Toss and mix the spaghetti so it is completely coated with the sauce. Add a little of the parsley and a little of the pasta cooking water if needed. Mix everything together.

Plate the spaghetti on two plates, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle on the remaining Parsley. Serve immediately. It does not require cheese, but you may put on a little if you like. Just not too much. Enjoy.

Note : Yes, this book is all about Italian Nonnas and their wonderful home-cooked Italian food recipes. Going a little bit out of that realm with this story and recipe of Al Pacino’s favorite pasta – Spaghetti Aglio e Olio. Yes. Well yes and no. Al is Italian, of Sicilian ancestry, and though he does not at the time of this printing have any grandchildren, but we are certain with having 4 children that he will one day have grandchildren and become an Italian Nonno.

Anyway, we love Al. And who doesn’t? So, we have included our Italian-American brother here. “Basta”

…. Daniel ….

Excerpted from soon to be published book by author Daniel Bellino Zwicke. Working Title – Italian Nonna Cookbook … Anticipated publishing date – November 2026

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

VERONA, ITALY

“BOOKS” on AMAZON

DINNER at “LUIGI’S”

A Fictitious Restaurant in The BRONX

The GODFATHER 1972

AL Pacino as Michael Corleone

Al Lettieri as Sollozzo

And Sterling Hayden as Captain McClusky

“DINNER with AL”

Bellino and Pacino – Al Pacino Favorite Pasta

AL PACINO

“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.
Instagram +5

Bellino frequently shares these stories and recipes on his “New York Italian” Instagram and blog, often framing them within the context of classic Italian-American films and culture.

NONNA BELLINO’S COOKBOOK

RECIPES From MY SICILIAN NONNA

AMAZON.com

AL APCINO & AGLIO e OLIO

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

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

Books

Sunday Sauce alla Bellino alla Pacino

A Pot of SUNDAY SAUCE

alla BELLINO alla PACINO

“SOME CALL IT GRAVY”

SUNDAY SAUCE

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

SUNDAY SAUCE

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke’s recipe for Sunday Sauce is a classic Italian-American gravy, featuring a long simmer time and a combination of meats

. His recipe is published in his book, Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook.

About Daniel Bellino’s recipe –

Bellino-Zwicke’s recipe, like others in his cookbook, is based on traditional Italian-American family recipes and food culture.

It celebrates the tradition of simmering a meat-based tomato sauce for several hours to create a rich flavor.
An excerpt from his book notes that meat combinations often include sausages, meatballs, and beef braciole, though pork neck and veal shank are also possible additions.
His book also includes recipes for famous movie-inspired sauces, such as Clemenza’s Sunday Sauce from The Godfather and Sinatra’s Spaghetti & Meatballs.
Where to find the recipe
The book: The full recipe is available in his cookbook, Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook. This can be purchased from online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AbeBooks.

Excerpts: Excerpts and summaries of the recipe’s approach and ingredients can be found on Daniel Bellino-Zwicke’s personal website and various food blogs.
Inspired recipes: Since Bellino-Zwicke’s recipe is a classic version of the Italian-American Sunday Sauce, many similar recipes exist online, often referencing the same key elements, like a long simmer time and a combination of meats.
General Sunday sauce preparation
While the specific recipe is proprietary to Bellino-Zwicke’s book, the general method for this type of Sunday sauce, or “gravy,” is widely known. It involves:

Browning a combination of meats, such as Italian sausages, meatballs, and pork.

Adding aromatics like onion and garlic.
Combining with tomatoes and other flavorings (such as tomato paste, wine, and herbs).
Slow-simmering for several hours to allow the flavors to meld and the meats to become tender.
The final sauce can then be served over pasta, with the cooked meat as a second course.

“MAKING SUNDAY SAUCE”

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

At UNCLE TONY’S HOUSE

LODI, NEW JERSEY

MORE on SUNDAY SAUCE

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke’s book,

Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook, doesn’t contain just one single recipe, but rather presents a variety of Sunday sauce traditions reflecting different family customs. The core difference between the recipes is typically the combination of meats used.

Here are the variations of Sunday sauce included in the book, based on Bellino-Zwicke’s writing:

The popular trio: Many families, including the most popular version Bellino-Zwicke describes, make their sauce with a trio of Italian sausages, meatballs, and beef braciole. This is considered a foundational version of the dish.

A simpler sauce: For some, a simpler version of the sauce is made with just sausages and meatballs. This version is notably featured as Pete Clemenza’s sauce in The Godfather.
Pork variations: Other families incorporate pork into their sauce. Some versions use pork neck, while Bellino-Zwicke mentions that he sometimes makes his Sunday sauce with sausages, meatballs, and pork ribs.
Other meat options: The author notes that other meats can be added to the mix. Some families might include chicken thighs or a veal shank.
“Secret Sauce”: The cookbook also includes a “Secret Sauce,” or Salsa Segreta, recipe. Inspired by the old-school Italian red-sauce joint Gino’s of Lexington Avenue, this version is distinct from the typical meat-heavy Sunday sauce.

“RED SAUCE”

ROCCO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

GREENWICH VILLAGE

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Bellino on Pacino – Al Pacino Favorite Pasta – Recipe

AL PACINO

Daniel Bellino & AL Pacino

AL’S FAVORITE PASTA

Al Pacino is a big fan of a pasta dish called spaghetti aglio e olio. It’s a Neapolitan dish that features spaghetti noodles, good olive oil, lots of garlic and red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. It goes without saying the pasta dish and the Scarface star have been linked together a lot in recent history.

Al Pacino’s love of spaghetti aglio e olio also came up in Daniel Bellino Zwicke’s Positano The Amalfi Coast – Travel Guide – Cookbook.

“When I was the wine director at Barbetta Ristorante in New York City, whenever Al came into the restaurant, he would often ask if we could make him a plate as it wasn’t on the menu,” Zwicke wrote. “Al literally made us an offer we couldn’t refuse, naturally we didn’t, and we always gave Mr. Pacino a plate of his beloved spaghetti aglio olio, just the way he liked it. You’re welcome Al.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Yes, it was Italian Cookbook author Daniel Bellino Z, an Italian-New Yorker like Pacino who first let it out of the bag that Al Loved Spaghetti with Garlic & Oil. It was with Bellino’s publication of his book Sunday Sauce in 2014, where the author first writes about Pacino’s love of this pasta, which no one had known about before the publication of Bellino’s Sunday Sauce. Daniel knew Al Pacino’s love for Spaghetti Aglio Olio, as whenever Al Pacino would come to the restaurant where Bellino was the Wine Director, Pacino would always ask him if he could get a plate of Spaghetti with Garlic & Oil, as it was not on the menu. The restaurant in question was Barbetta on West 46th Street in New York. of course Bellino said “Yes.” Daniel went into the kitchen and told the cooks, who naturally made the dish, which Daniel brought out to Mr. Pacino, and he was always quite pleased.

….. The above paragraph is from PARADE MAGAZINE April, 2025

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

When writing his book Sunday Sauce, Bellino figured it would be a great recipe and story to add to his book. All Italian-Americans love the dish, including Al Pacino, so Daniel wrote up his recipe, and told the story of Al eating at Barbetta, and always asking for the dish. And yes, everyone loves the story, and the recipe for Spaghetti alla Pacino, which Daniel named after the great Italian-American actor from the Bronx, New York.

In April 2025 Parade Magazine published the story of New York writer Daniel Bellino-Zwcike writing this story about bring Al Pacino his favorite pasta, putting the recipe for Pacino Pasta, and the story about Pacino eating it at Barbetta Ristorante, in his book Sunday Sauce. Once Parade Magazine published the story about Bellino & Pacino, the story spread like wildfire, and now hold the world knows Al Pacino’s favorite pasta. – Spaghetti with Garlic & Oil (Aglio e Olio).

The rest is history.

PS … Bellino also put the rescipe in his latest book – POSITANO The AMALFI COAST – Travel Guide – Cookbook.

This book is also available on Amazon.com

SUNDAY SAUCE

alla BELLINO alla PACINO

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Daniel Bellino Zwicke

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Grandma Bellino’s Italian Cookbook, is based on Recipes from Giuseppina Salemi Bellino, who was born and raised in Lercara Friddi, Sicliy, the same town that Charles “Lucky” Luciano, and Martino Saverino Sinatra (Frank Sinatra ‘s father) were born.

Giuseppina immirgatedfrom Lercara Friddi to New York in 1904, with her husband Fillipo Bellino. A few years later they moved to Lodi, New Jersey, a few miles away from New York City. At the time, Lodi, was a town that was made up of Italian Immigrants 100%, mostly of Sicilian or Neapolitan origins.

Giuseppina’s grandson Daniel Bellino grew to love food so much, he went to Culinary School, and worked his way up to become the Chef at Corrado Italian Restaurant, after working for a few years in French and Italian Restuarants. He open the 1st Venetian Wine Bar (Bacaro), Bar Cichetti, where he was the Chef, Wine Director and Managing Partner.

Daniel traveled extensively in Italy, learning about all regions of Italian Food, and gathering many great recipes. He published his first book La Tavola in 2012, followed by his Best Selling Italian Cookbook SUNDAY SAUCE in 2013.

Daniel’s book Grandma Bellino’s Cookbook is based on his Nonna Bellino’s Recipes, and other recipes from Bellino family members (Mother Lucia, Aunt Fran, Aunt Helen, & Uncle Tony).

NY Italians Make Sunday Sauce on Black Friday

CLEMENZA with His SAUSAGE & MEATBALLS

“He’s gonna Shove them in The SAUCE”

He Shows Michael (AL Pacino) how to make SAUCE for 20 GUYS (Mobsters)

From Francis Ford Coppola’s “The GODFATHER”

Based on the Novel by Mario Puzo

FAICCO’S PORK STORE

Greenwich Village, New York

We’re making Clemenza’s Mob War #Godfather Sunday Sauce (Gravy) on Black Friday. We’re not gonna waste our time waiting on lines, getting all “Bent Out of Shaped,” and stressed out like those people who shop on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. No, our day is going to be a whole lot better and more fulfilling than fight traffic and crowds. We go down early in the morning to our local Italian pork Store Faicco’s on Bleecker Street to get all our stuff for our tasty Sunday Sauce.

I pick up all the meats I need to make the my Sunday Sauce alla Clemenza. I need Italian Sweet Sausages, Braciole, San Marzano Tomatoes, and Maccheroni.

We go home, to get the Sauce started.

RECIPE alla CLEMENZA

Making the MEATBALLS

Ready to COOK

Here’s our Ingredients

Sausages, Pork Neck, Braciole

Tomatoes and Ground Meat for our Meatballs

Notice our fine bottle of Italian Wine. Barbi Brunello di Montalcino

A special wine for some special sauce.

RECIPES in The BOOK

GODFATHER SUNDAY SAUCE alla CLEMENZA

CHARLIE SCORSESE’S GOODFELLAS SAUCE alla PRIGIONE

SUNDAY SAUCE alla BELLINO

JOE DiMAGGIO’S MOTHER’S SUNDAY GRAVY

And More …

Amazon.com

The BELLINO’S Make SUNDAY SAUCE ITALIAN GRAVY

In LODI, NEW JERSEY

SUNDAY SAUCE on FRIDAY

Cousins Daniel and Anthony Bellino make their family’s famed Sunday Sauce Gravy at Anthony’s fathers house in Lodi, NJ .. They are keeping up a family tradition that they’ve been partaking in since they were young boys in the early 1960’s America. Daniel even wrote a couple books that are themed around this most important subject of SUNDAY SAUCE Italian Gravy. Daniel likes to put Pork Spare Ribs in his sauce, which he says, “Oh my God, the Ribs in the Sauce? When you cook Spare Ribs in the Gravy, you just can’t believe how tasty they are. The are so succulent and juice. They taste so Dam Good. Even better than BBQ Ribs, which I love as well. But the Ribs in the Sunday Sauce taste even better, believe it or not? I kid you not.”

Our Thanksgiving Turkey

“We had this yesterday. It came out Dam Good.”

Like all Good Italians, we started our Thanksgiving Dinner with a little Antipasto Misti of Salami, Provolone, Olives, Celery and Roast Peppers. The we sat down for a portion of Rigatoni Bolognese, made with my Famous ragu Bolognese Sauce. The we take an hour break, before sitting down for the Turkey with all the trimmings. Our Turkey came out so good.

We take another hour break before sitting down for all our desserts, which included; Pumpkin Pie, Coconut Custard Pie, Pecan Pie, “Wow, that’s a lot of Pies?”

We have Espresso, Cannolis, and Italian Cookies, and a couple shots of Amaro to finish it all off, and another Thanksgiving has come and gone.

Yes, many families will go shopping on Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, but not us. We’ll be eating Sunday Sauce on Friday and having Meatball Parmigiano Sandwiches on Meatball Parm Mondays. Now that’s Italian! What would you rather do? Fight Traffic and crowds and lines at the shopping malls, or eat Sunday Sauce and Meatballs? I know what I’ll be doing. Me, my family and friends. We Mangia Bene Tutto!

Basta!

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke on Italian Thanksgiving and eating Sunday Sauce

on Black Friday ….