Monday, August 17, 2009

Bellini Time

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Pass me the Bellini and some cheese and crackers, would you? And could you ask that gondolier to move his boat a little?

What? Did I just take a quick trip to Venice where Bellinis were invented?  Nah, it’s just the The Boathouse Restaurant in New York City’s Central Park, where there’s actually a gondola for hire.   August 2009 279 It may not be the Grand Canal, but it’s a perfect respite from a hard day gazing in galleries at the Frick Collection and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Yea I know it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.

Well if you can’t get to Venice, or even Central Park, you can make your own Bellini at home. A Bellini is made from Prosecco (a sparkling Italian white wine similar to champagne) and white peach puree. It originated in 1948 with Giuseppe Cipriani (founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice) in honor of the 15th century Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini. By now, it’s become famous around the world.

Now that peach season is here, it’s Bellini time too. They’re a snap to make. Start out with ripe white peaches. I got mine from a local farmer’s market and they needed a couple of days to ripen. The flavor is more delicate than yellow peaches and a requisite for a Bellini.

For two drinks, just peel a couple of white peaches and put them in the blender. Blend until you’ve got a puree and fill a tall fluted glass with one-third to one-half of the puree. Some people add a teaspoon of raspberry puree to give the drink a “pinker” look, but I left it out in the drinks below. Fill the rest of the glass with chilled Prosecco, stir with a spoon and garnish with a peach slice.

For the kids in the family, you can make a baby Bellini using soda water instead of the Prosecco.

Background music of “O Sole Mio” totally optional.

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I leave you with an image of a painting of St. Francis by the artist who inspired the drink - Giovanni Bellini. It’s only one of the many stunning works of art in the Frick Collection. If you aren’t from the New York area and haven’t ever heard of the Frick, you owe it to yourself to visit next time you’re in the Big Apple. The collection is housed in a mansion at 70th St. and 5th Avenue, built in 1913 by the American coke and steel magnate and art collector Henry Clay Frick.

Giovanni_Bellini_BEG011 

17 comments:

  1. Linda,
    I sat in almost your exact seat at the boathouse last summer!
    I LOVE Bellinis, especially when they are made with fresh peach juice. Batali's restaurants in the city make them the best (maybe not as good as in Venice, though!).

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  2. My favorite! And you know what, I've had Prosecco chilling in my fridge for far too long. Peaches are in there too!!

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  3. The drinks looks delicious and I love your pictures!

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  4. Bellini...sounds so yummie and the perfect picture place for it!

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  5. My daughter has been hooked on Bellini's since we visited Harry's Bar in Venice in '01! They are a delightfully refreshing drink. White peaches are so good.

    Did you take the gondola ride? I'm curious as to how much they charge. It was so expensive in Venice that it was hard not to feel ripped off, but it was well worth it to see some of La Serenissima that way!

    I haven't been to the Frick in a long time -- way too long! I hope to visit many more museums in the fall when the temperatures cool down. I just ordered a two year membership to MoMA. If you'd like want to go together in the future it would a $5 admission as opposed to the $20 with my membership card.

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  6. mmmm bellinis! One of my favorites. May have to whip some up NOW!

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  7. Please do pass me a bellini and some cheese and crackers! Perfect timing.

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  8. Those Bellinis looks amazing! I love the first photo.

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  9. aaaah....I love these drinks so much!

    If it wasn't so hot out I would run to the market right now.

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  10. I love Bellinis... great summer drink Linda. Thanks for the inspiration. I'm making some tonight to cool off a little in this heat!

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  11. Oh my that looks completely heavenly! I must save up some money and go to this adorable place once I get back to New York!

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  12. I love the Frick collection but i can't believe i never even had a drink at the Boathouse. Looks like a nice place to relax. And yes, i wouldn't mind a Bellini either.

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  13. I was wondering how did you manage to have a gondola in your shot ;)

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  14. I'll take one or two and a ride on the gondola too PLEASE.

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  15. I love the setting in that photo. A great place to have a Bellini and spend the afternoon. This is what summer is all about!

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  16. Ciao!Un saluto da Roma! I love cooking Chinese (as I am), Japanese and of course Italian food. Bellini for ferragosto, ottimo!

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  17. You had me going there. I thought, "My GAWD, what kind of house does she live in?!?!'' hah!

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