GREENWICH VILLAGE ITALIAN: Bellino and Pacino

Friday, October 10, 2025

Bellino and Pacino

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RICHARD CASTELLANO & AL PACINO

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Based on recent culinary publications, the connection between Al Pacino and Daniel Bellino-Zwicke is a recipe for Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil, which Bellino-Zwicke named "Spaghetti alla Pacino"

. The recipe was featured in Bellino-Zwicke's 2025 book Sunday Sauce and was based on a dish the actor supposedly enjoyed at a New York restaurant.

The story behind the recipe:

Culinary author Daniel Bellino-Zwicke was inspired to write about the dish after hearing that Al Pacino enjoyed a simple pasta with garlic and oil while dining at the restaurant Barbetta in New York.

Bellino-Zwicke included his version of the recipe, along with the story of Pacino's meal, in his cookbook Sunday Sauce.
Following the book's publication and coverage by Parade Magazine in April 2025, the story of "Pacino's favorite pasta" gained widespread attention.
No credible sources indicate a more substantive or personal connection between the two individuals. The association appears to be centered entirely on Bellino-Zwicke naming a recipe after the actor.

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke is a culinary author and chef known for creating New York-Italian cuisine inspired by classic mafia movies like

The Godfather. His connection to actor Al Pacino comes from writing about Pacino's favorite pasta dish.

The story behind "Pacino Pasta":

Bellino-Zwicke previously worked as a chef at
Barbetta Ristorante
, a New York City restaurant that Al Pacino frequented.

He prepared Pacino's favorite dish, spaghetti with garlic and oil (aglio e olio), for him multiple times.
Bellino-Zwicke included the story and the recipe, which he named "Spaghetti alla Pacino," in his book Sunday Sauce.
The story gained wider attention when it was featured in Parade Magazine in April 2025.
Other links to Al Pacino
The Godfather Cookbook: Bellino-Zwicke has promoted a cookbook inspired by The Godfather, with recipes for dishes like "Sunday Sauce alla Clemenza".

Online content: Bellino-Zwicke writes about his New York-Italian food and the Pacino story on his websites and social media.
Daniel Bellino-Zwicke's background -
He is a New York-based Italian-American chef and food writer.

His work often blends his family's Sicilian-American culinary traditions with references to Italian-American culture, including movies and mob history.