Chicago Style™ wrote:Italian delicatessens such as Alpine Food Shop on North Avenue west of Harlem and Nottoli on Belmont west of Harlem have great frozen pasta sauce. About $3.00 for 16 oz and $5.50 for 32 oz. Other similar places in the same general area (Riviera, Geno's, etc.) probably have frozen sauce too.

Closer to the OP in Niles, I cannot confirm the other Nottoli on Harlem near Foster (same family -- different operation), but the frozen sauce is BAD at Rex Italian Specialties on Harlem near Montrose. It's better for sandwiches and other stuff.

Right in Niles, I would check Minelli's at Oak Mill Mall. Have only been there once, so not sure if they have sauce but they do have a freezer case with other pasta-type items -- lasagna, ravioli, etc.

Agreed - on the rare occaion I have to buy it I get it from Serrelli's on North Ave.

I keep a jar around for a quick meal, even though I know I can make something from scratch better than those insipid jars.
Most of the time I end up doctoring it up with garlic and chile flakes anyway... hardly saving much effort.

I did find one recently I like quite a bit:
Mezzetta, with artichokes. Lots of olive oil flavor in the mix, and decent pieces of artichoke. "Made with Napa valley wine".
I no longer remember where I got it from or how much it cost, but I'd buy it again.

The other day I was in Valli Produce and picked up a can of Wild Porcini sauce on a whim; the label was very appealing. It was really good and was a little much for 12 ounces of spelt pasta; probably would have been perfect for 16 ounces. I was surprised how much I liked it. It didn't seem oversalty and it was very tomatoey considering the label touts the 'shrooms.

Here's a vote for Mezzetta Arrabiata or original marinara. The ingredients list starts with imported San Marzano plum tomatoes and olive oil; No tomato puree/paste, water or sugar. I am never again buying a jarred tomato sauce that lists tomato puree as their first (or any) ingredient. Sure the fat content in Mezzetta's sauce is higher, but that's cause the fat comes solely from olive oil. Typically goes for ~$6 around here, but found some on sale for $2-$2.50/bottle; Unfortunately, I'm now addicted and will either have to await the rare sale or splurge on occasion.

http://www.mezzetta.com/mm5/merchant.mv ... y_Code=nvb

I just recently used RAo's sauce which I got at Target. Can't remember what I paid but it was a lot. Maybe at least six bucks or more a jar. Good but too expensive. I usually use Newman's or Barilla.

Does anyone have any opinions on a super bargain type sauce like the ones they have at Aldi such as Grandessa or the other brand they carry that starts with an R, I think its something like Ranalli. Sauce there is under two dollars a jar.

toria wrote:
Does anyone have any opinions on a super bargain type sauce like the ones they have at Aldi such as Grandessa or the other brand they carry that starts with an R, I think its something like Ranalli. Sauce there is under two dollars a jar.

Francesco Rinaldi is quite good for jar sauce. Aldi's brand isn't that bad, in a pinch. I really like Rao's but it's almost $10 a jar by me.

http://www.francescorinaldi.com/

For a cheap but decent sauce, I like the Classico brand. It needs to be doctored up a bit, but there is no added sugar or corn syrup. It is often on sale for less than 2 bucks. I have only had the marinara type sauces (roasted garlic and onion, etc.) I cant vouch for the meat sauces or cream sauces.

-Will

I like Rinaldi too, only the ORIGINAL traditional variety though. In fact, I just made a quick large batch of 'puttanesca' sauce last night to freeze for self & culinary-challenged daughters. Took no more than 30 minutes to assemble & get in the pot:

Saute 5 cloves minced garlic in good olive oil 'til they're just starting to turn brown
Add 1 large sliced white onion, saute
Add half pound sliced mushrooms, saute
Add 1 large can Carmelina imported plum tomatoes
Add half can water
Add three-quarters cup red wine, turn on high to bubbling, cook 5 minutes
Add ground cayenne pepper to taste
Add pizza seasoning with fennel to taste (had no fresh herbs or Italian seasoning)
Add 1 more can Carmelina tomatoes
Add 2 jars Rinaldi ORIGINAL traditional sauce, stir & reduce heat to medium-high
Add 1 small jar capers, rinsed
Add 1 small can sliced black olives

Stir, check consistency. Add water or wine until it's more a gravy than a thick sauce--at least that's my personal preference. Cook on medium to a little higher heat, stirring. Should be done in about 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Whole Foods has Rao's pasta sauce on sale right now for $5.99. I am not sure when the sale ends. That is about as cheap as Rao's gets.

NFriday wrote:Whole Foods has Rao's pasta sauce on sale right now for $5.99. I am not sure when the sale ends. That is about as cheap as Rao's gets.

The $5.99 promo price is ONLY if you have a AMAZON PRIME Membership and use your Prime scan code when checking out at the store. Without Prime RAO Sauce is on sale for $6.67.

NFriday wrote:Whole Foods has Rao's pasta sauce on sale right now for $5.99. I am not sure when the sale ends. That is about as cheap as Rao's gets.

With the exception of Costco's 2-packs.

spinynorman99 wrote:

NFriday wrote:Whole Foods has Rao's pasta sauce on sale right now for $5.99. I am not sure when the sale ends. That is about as cheap as Rao's gets.

With the exception of Costco's 2-packs.

It's worth noting that the jars of Rao's marinara sold at Whole Foods are 24-ounces net weight (shrinkflation strikes again!). The 2-packs sold at Costco are 28-ounces net weight in each jar. So, you're paying about the same at WF but for ~15% less product.

=R=

Wait now, $6 for a 24oz jar of pasta sauce? Is it really 6 times better than a 99 cent jar of Food Club?

tjr wrote:Wait now, $6 for a 24oz jar of pasta sauce? Is it really 6 times better than a 99 cent jar of Food Club?

Rao's marinara is most definitely better than any other jarred sauce I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot of them) and the only one I ever buy. Is it worth the price? That's in the eye or wallet of the shopper.

=R=

Sunset Foods has Rao's on sale for $5.99 too right now.

NFriday wrote:Sunset Foods has Rao's on sale for $5.99 too right now.

Yes -- also for the 24-ounce jars. On sale from their normal price of $9.99/jar.

=R=

22oz Rao’s Marinara two pack = $9.98 @ Sam’s Club

I just looked at Costco's website, and they don't have Rao's on their website. Last month, I saw Rao's alfredo at Aldi's.

ronnie_suburban wrote:Rao's marinara is most definitely better than any other jarred sauce I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot of them) and the only one I ever buy.
=R=

Have you tried Victoria brand's "White Linen?"
I have yet to try Rao's though I know plenty of folks that love it and recommend it. White Linen is easily the best I've tried to date.

seebee wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Rao's marinara is most definitely better than any other jarred sauce I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot of them) and the only one I ever buy.
=R=

Have you tried Victoria brand's "White Linen?"
I have yet to try Rao's though I know plenty of folks that love it and recommend it. White Linen is easily the best I've tried to date.

The Victoria sauce is great but Rao's does have the edge. The ingredients are roughly the same. Costco has the best pricing for both.

I didn't enjoy Raos the one time I tried it, but based on this convo, I'll have to give it another shot.

While I rarely buy jarred sauces, at a $6 per jar price point, that is a fairly good deal for a premium grocery product.

NFriday wrote:I just looked at Costco's website, and they don't have Rao's on their website. Last month, I saw Rao's alfredo at Aldi's.

I've noticed that Costco's website isn't that good for seeing what grocery items they have available. You have to use Instacart and then select the Costco closest to you to see grocery items. Just subtract 15-20% off Instacart's prices to get the approximate price Costco charges in store.

Jim-Bob wrote:

NFriday wrote:I just looked at Costco's website, and they don't have Rao's on their website. Last month, I saw Rao's alfredo at Aldi's.

I've noticed that Costco's website isn't that good for seeing what grocery items they have available. You have to use Instacart and then select the Costco closest to you to see grocery items. Just subtract 15-20% off Instacart's prices to get the approximate price Costco charges in store.

Complicated by the fact that each store has a slightly different selection and the products rotate through quickly and may disappear for long stretches (the vendors pack specifically for Costco so the jars may be a different size than you'd find in a regular grocery). The Niles location almost always has Rao's in stock.

spinynorman99 wrote:The Victoria sauce is great but Rao's does have the edge. The ingredients are roughly the same. Costco has the best pricing for both.

Have you seen the White Linen at a Costco recently? The one I go to hasn't had it in a long time. They only have the Victoria Organic which is pretty lackluster compared to the White Linen. I def have to give the Rao's a shot.

seebee wrote:Have you seen the White Linen at a Costco recently? The one I go to hasn't had it in a long time. They only have the Victoria Organic which is pretty lackluster compared to the White Linen. I def have to give the Rao's a shot.

Was at Niles last time I was there (a few months ago).

The White Linen seems to be a fall seasonal item. When it sells out, it won't be back till the next year. Usually comes in a bit before Halloween, from what I remember. I buy a bunch then (it almost always goes on sell a few weeks after it comes it) and store it in my basement.

spinynorman99 wrote:

seebee wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Rao's marinara is most definitely better than any other jarred sauce I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot of them) and the only one I ever buy.
=R=

Have you tried Victoria brand's "White Linen?"
I have yet to try Rao's though I know plenty of folks that love it and recommend it. White Linen is easily the best I've tried to date.

The Victoria sauce is great but Rao's does have the edge. The ingredients are roughly the same. Costco has the best pricing for both.

I have tried it and liked it but not as much as Rao's. Iirc, Victoria Foods is the primary co-packer for Rao's, so the products probably share some core attributes (if not exact recipes).

=R=

My favorite of all store marinara sauces is Carbone Marinara Sauce. They just starting selling it at Whole Foods but I first tried this sauce which was bought at The Fresh Market in Wilmette. In my opinion Carbone is better tasting than Rao's but both are top notch store sauces.



Article:
https://www.insider.com/review-best-jar ... ght-2022-6

Not to go political or anything, but fun fact on Rao's: one of the main investors was Vanessa Trump's (Don Jr.'s ex-wife) father. He invested $1MM and owned 30% of the food business which sold for over $400MM in 2017. She divorced Don Jr. who sought a piece of the business in the divorce but got nothing.

Moderator Note:

We split a multi-post tangent about jarred pasta sauce off from the Whole Foods thread and merged it into this discussion.

Carry on, please.

Thanks,

=R=
for the Moderators