Dnny Bolognese is a Professional “Pen Nam” of Daniel Bellino-Zwicke, a Bestselling Italian-American cookbook author, Wine Professional, and former Chef. Based in New York’s Greenwich Village, he is a recognized authority on Italian cuisine and wine with over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry.
Culinary Career and Contributions
- Professional Pedigree: He has worked as a chef and wine director at renowned NYC restaurants, including Da Silvano, Del Posto, Barbetta, and John’s of 12th Street.
- Venetian Wine Bar: In 1997, he founded Bar Cichetti, which is credited as America’s first-ever Venetian wine bar (Bacaro).
- Signature Recipe: He is most famous for his “Secret” Ragu Bolognese recipe, which he was taught in 1987 by Chef Pasquale at Ciao Bella in New York.
- PUBLISHED WORKS
- Under both his legal name and the moniker “Danny Bolognese,” he has authored several popular titles focusing on Italian-American food and culture:
- Sunday Sauce: When Italian-Americans Cook: A long-running #1 best-seller on Amazon.com for Italian cookbooks that combines family recipes with cultural storytelling.
- Other Titles: The Feast of the 7 Fish – Italian Christmas, Segreto Italiano (Secret Italian Recipes), and the humorous The Big Lebowski Cookbook.
- Daniel also maintains several culinary blogs, including Greenwich Village Italian and New York Italian, where he shares recipes, restaurant history, and stories about Italian icons like Frank Sinatra.















