BELLINO Beat TUCCI in VENICE 1995

 

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

At All'ARCO WINE BAR (Bacaro)

VENICE

"EXPLORING VENICE"

BELLINO BEAT TUCCI

Bellino 1st discovered the Venetian wine bar All'ARCO, & Cichetti in 1995, on his exploratory trip of Cichetti and the wine bars of Venice. Daniel says, that it fact, it was the 1st bacaro (Ventian Wine Bar) that he ever went to at all. He was on his way to check into his hotel (Albergho Guerratto) when he stumbled upon it. He walked in and asked the guys behind the bar, "Hi! Do you. serve Cichetti?" Daniel said he was treated warmly, and they said, "Yes, of course. Would you like some." Yes please, Daniel replied. They first gave him one of the most obscure of all cichetti items. "What is this," Daniel asked. They replied "Nerveti. Nerve, Nerve." Daniel knew what they meant. "OK," and so he tried it. He had a a glass of Tocai, and they gave him some Baccala Montecato (shipped Salt Cod), the most popular cichetti of all. Daniel said, he had been reading about Musetto (Pif Snote Sausage), and he wanted to try it. He asked the barman if he had some. They did, and so he had some Mussetto as well.

Daniel paid his bill and was on his way. A few minutes later he checked into his hotel, and in the next 9 days, he would check out every bacaro (wine bar) in Venice, eating Cichetti, drinking local wines of the Friuli and the Veneto, chatting with proprietors and locals, and fellow customers. Daniel had a wonderful time, and learned all about the wine bars (bacaari) of Venice, how they ran, the food and wines served, and local customs.

All'ARCO WINE BAR

VENICE, ITALY

"BELLINO BEAT TUCCI" - To many Italian discoveries in Italy. 

And Vice Versa Bellino admits.

"Bellino Beat Tucci," refers to the ongoing playful feud and marketing gimmick by author and chef Daniel Bellino Z (Daniel Bellino-Zwicke). He has famously used the slogan "I Beat Out Stanley Tucci" to promote his bestselling Italian food, cooking, and travel books. [1, 2, 3]

The phrase stems from a few specific "wins" Bellino claims to have over Tucci:

• The Venice Wine Bar Claim: Bellino claims he beat Stanley Tucci in discovering the famous Venetian wine bar, All'Arco, by nearly 30 years, as he visited and wrote about it long before Tucci's travel shows popularized it. [1]
• The Recipe Claims: Bellino frequently points out in his book promotions that his Amazon Author Page features beloved Italian classics, such as Spaghetti Nerano and Pasta Primavera, beating Tucci to the punch for recipe accuracy and popularity. [1, 2]

For a quick look at Daniel Bellino Z and his books covering the same culinary ground as Stanley Tucci:

• Learn more about his Venetian discoveries on Instagram.
• View his collection of works on his official website Daniel-Bellino-Zwicke.com

BOOKS by BELLINO AMAZON.com

DANIEL BELLINO Z - Amazon Authors Page

BELLINO'S LATEST BOOK

EXPLORING VENICE

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

AMAZON.com

 

all' ARCO

VENICE

"WHERE BELLINO Beat TUCCI"

all ARCO

VENETIAN CICCHETTI

STANLEY TUCCI'S FAVORITE

"But Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE Discovered it almost 30 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

Author DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

At OSTERIA ALL'ARCO

1995

VENICE, ITALY

"28 YEARS BEFORE TUCCI"

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVEL

BOOK by DANIEL AMAZON.com

DANIEL'S Plate of MUSETTO 

And BACCALA MONTECATO

all'ARCO 2026

ALL' ARCO

STANLEY TUCCI at All'ARCO

28 YEARS AFTER BELLINO

All'ARCO

VENICE, ITALY

ALL'ARCO

VENICE

CICCHETTI

STANLEY TUCCI at all'ARCO

VENICE - 2023

"EATING CICHETTI"

BELLINO Beat TUCCI by 28 YEARS - at all'Arco 1995

AMERICA'S 1st EVER BACARO

VENETIAN WINE BAR

BAR CICHETTI 

AMERICA'S 1st VENETIAN WINE BAR (Bacaro)

Created by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke & Tom Taraci

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

In front of his Hotel in VENICE

ALBERGHO GUERATTO

"JUST MINUTES After DISCOVERY ALL' ARCO"

VENETIAN WINE BAR

VENICE - 19915

READ ABOUT VENICE

CICCHETTI & VENETIAN WINE BARS

In "ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS"

ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ?

TRAVEL GUIDE -COOKBOOK

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

EXPLORING VENICE

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

WINE BARS - RESTAURANTS - HOTELS

CASANOVA - VIVALDI - GIUSEPPE CIPRIANI

With 40 RECIPES of VENICE'S FAVORITE DISHES

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

AMAZON.com

BACK at all'ARCO

Author DANIEL BELLINO

VENICE , ITALY

2026

BELLINO Back at ARCO Wine Bar VENICE

all'ARCO

VENETIAN WINE BAR

VENICE

"BELLINO beat TUCCI"

Daniel Bellino Zwicke discovered all'ARCO wine bar (Bacaro) in 1995

Bellino was on exploratory trip of the Bacari of Venice - Venetian wine bars. He came upon all'Arco even before he checked into his hotel, on this historical trip and the study of Venetian Wine Bars and Cicchetti, the bar-food that they serve in the Bacari (wine bars) of Venice. Daniel was walking from Piazza Roma, just taking a boat from Marco Polo Airport, Venice.  He was on his way to Albergho Gueratto hotel, when he came upon all'Arco, Daniel's 1st Venetian Bacaro. He was a bit tired from the walk, and wanted to take a little break. The Bacaro looked quite inviting so he went in. "Prego," said the barman. "Do you have cicchetti," Daniel asked. "Yes sir," the barman replied.

"What would you like? asked the barman. "Whatever you suggest," replied Bellino. 

The barman put together a plate of 4 different assorted cicchetti - of Baccala Montecato, Nervetti, Sarde en Saor, and Mortadella on toasted bread. "Vino," asked the barman. "Yes. Vino Bianco please," asked Daniel. The barman gave hime the wine and his plate of cichetti. "Grazie."

This was Daniel's first ever cicchetti, and his first visit to a Bacaro (Venetian Wine Bar), which turned out to be all'Arco, the Bacaro that Stanley Tucci made so famous, on his travel show "Searching for Italy," some 30 years after Bellino discovered cichetti and all'Arco wine bar in Venice, in March of 1995.

That week Daniel went to numerous other Bacaro, all over Venice. He ate a lot more Cicchetti and drank lots of local Venetian wine, including : Prosecco, Lugana, Soave, Tocai, Valpolicella, Cabernet Franc of the Veneto, and Refosco. Daniel studied the Bacari, the difference from one place to another, the locals, the barmen, and bar owners. He learned as much as he could, about the Wine Bars (Bacari) of Venice - Cichetti, customs and rituals, and the regional wines of the area. 

Daniel went back to New York, armed with all the knowledge of cichetti and the wine bars of Venice.  Then, along with a business partner he opens America's 1st ver Bacaro (Venetian Wine Bar) -

BAR CICHETTI in Greenwich Village, New York. It was quite a success and people loved it, especially the Italians. The Italians who own wine estates in Italy. There is no wine culture in New York like the Italian Wine Culture of New York. The French don't do it, the Californians don't. New York is the number 1 Time Market in the World, and everyone who makes wine, wants to sell theirs in New York. The proprietors of Italian wine estates in Italy, love to go to New York, to promote and sell their wine, and to throw beautiful Italian Wine Luncheons and dinners with their wines. They invite their favorite clients, and Daniel Bellino quickly became one of them. Daniel was the Chef and Wine Director of Bar Cichetti and all the Italians (wine estate owners) loved what he was doing. They loved his passion, cooking skills, and everything he was doing. They loved Bar Cichetti, The rest is history. 

Author DANIEL BELLINO Z

At all'ARCO

VENICE - ITALY 1995

Some 30 YEARS BEFORE TUCCI

Daniel Bellino Zwicke is recognized for discovering the Venetian wine bar All' Arco in 1995, nearly 30 years before Stanley Tucci featured it. Bellino's exploration of Venice's wine bars and cicchetti inspired him to bring this culinary experience to New York. His early advocacy for All' Arco and its offerings has been highlighted as a significant contribution to the global appreciation of Venetian cuisine.

Cultural Impact

• Bellino's work predates Tucci's culinary explorations, establishing him as a pioneer in promoting Venetian food culture internationally.
• The rivalry highlights the importance of early culinary exploration and its lasting impact on food culture.

From Yahoo Media

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

In front of His HOTEL in VENICE

ALBERGHO GUERATTO

1995

STANLEY TUCCI at all'ARCO

VENICE

2023 ?

A BUSINESS CARD of BELLINO'S BAR CICHETTI

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK

Established 1998

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke & Tom "T"

AMERICA'S 1st EVER VENETIAN BACARO 

ITALIAN FOOD & TRAVELS

ROME VENICE PIZZA PASTA & ?

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE 

AMAZON.COM 

LOOK FOR DANIEL'S FORTCOMING BOOK

EXPLORING VENICE

TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK

June 2026 Publication

BOOKS by DANIEL

AMAZON.com

"BELLINO Beat TUCCI"

At all' ARCO

VENICE, ITALY

Chef / author DANIEL BELLINO Z Goes Back to all' ARCO

Which He 1st DISCOVERED in 1995

30 YEARS Before STANLEY TUCCI

all'ARCO

VENICE, ITALY

BELLINO DISCOVERS CICHETTI at all'ARCO

VENICE, ITALY - 1995

Author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke discovered the famed Venetian wine bar All'Arco in 1995, long before it gained widespread fame through celebrity chefs, using it as a cornerstone for his exploration of traditional Venetian 

cicchetti (small snacks). Bellino, often humorously stating he "beat" Stanley Tucci to this spot, highlights it as a top destination for authentic, fresh, and tasty bite-sized delicacies. 

Key Details on Bellino's Discovery:

Discovery Date: Bellino discovered the, at the time, little-known All'Arco in 1995 while exploring the bacari (wine bars) of Venice.

• Location: The bar is located near the Rialto Market, a perfect spot for authentic cichetti and Ombra (small glass of wine).
• Significance: Bellino notes this, among other spots, as a premier location for tasting traditional, high-quality, and affordable Venetian snacks, which he documented in his culinary travels.
• Context: He often notes this discovery in his books, such as Italian Food & Travel, emphasizing his early appreciation for the venue.

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

At all'ARCO

VENICE, ITALY 

1995

TASTE

"MY LIFE THROUGH FOOD"

Stanley Tucci 

.

.