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      Rao's Specialty Foods
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      Recipes With Pasta, Sauce, Seafood, and More

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      • Chicken
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      • Limited Edition Reserve
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      • Pasta Dishes
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      Chicken Sliders with Creamy Marinara Sauce

      Chicken Sliders with Creamy Marinara Sauce

      May 6, 2025
      Chicken Scallopini with Creamy Marinara Sauce

      Chicken Scallopini with Creamy Marinara Sauce

      May 6, 2025
      One Pan Chicken Prosciutto di Parmigiana

      Melissa Gorga's One Pan Chicken Prosciutto Parmigiana

      July 17, 2024
      Tommy Cutlets’ Famous Chicken Cutlets

      Tommy Cutlets’ Famous Chicken Cutlets

      December 21, 2023
      @emmanuelduverneau’s Alfredo Fusili Bake with Crispy Chicken

      @emmanuelduverneau’s Alfredo Fusili Bake with Crispy Chicken

      October 20, 2023
      Olivia Culpo's Chicken Parm Air Fryer Sliders - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Olivia Culpo's Chicken Parm Air Fryer Sliders

      November 17, 2022
      Homemade Chicken Parmesan Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Homemade Chicken Parmesan Recipe

      February 22, 2022

      Chicken Parm like no other. Deliciously crisp breaded chicken cutlets smothered in mozzarella cheese and our homemade tomato basil sauce, then served over heaps of spaghetti. Serve it up on...

      One-Sheet Chicken Parmesan Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      One-Sheet Chicken Parmesan Recipe

      February 22, 2022
      Gail Simmons' Tomato Braised Chicken Thighs Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Gail Simmons' Tomato Braised Chicken Thighs Recipe

      February 21, 2022

      A simple weeknight dinner everyone can agree on. Tender braised chicken thighs simmered with olives and capers in our classic marinara sauce never disappoints. Delicious with anything from buttered pasta...

      Chicken Cacciatore Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Rustic Italian cooking at its best. Chicken, Italian sausage, potatoes, and a medley of aromatic vegetables braise together in our roasted garlic tomato sauce. It’s the most satisfying dinner you’ll...

      Turkey Cacciatore Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Turkey Cacciatore Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      After the holidays, turn leftover shredded turkey into a hearty Italian classic with one jar of our excellent mushroom and bell pepper tomato sauce. It cooks up in minutes, all...

      Roasted Chicken Wings Alla Arrabbiata Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Roasted Chicken Wings Alla Arrabbiata Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Need a party appetizer that practically makes itself? Crispy baked chicken wings are tossed in our spicy yet irresistible Arrabbiata sauce as soon as they come out of the oven....

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      Alt where it all started 1896 Charles Rao, who immigrated with his parents from the southern Italian town of Polla, buys a small tavern on 114th St and Pleasant Avenue in an Italian neighborhood of New York City 2019 1930 Alt 1930 Charles’ sons, Vincent and Louis Rao take over Rao’s and manage to keep the business open through the prohibition years. 1896 1958 Alt 1958 After Louis’ passing, Vincent Rao takes over the family business and begins transitioning the tavern into a restaurant by introducing southern Italian dishes. 1930 1974 Alt 1974 Anna Pellegrino Rao begins working with her husband Vincent and brings an expertise in southern Italian cuisine and an elegant style to help the Rao’s restaurant gain prominence. The restaurant begins to collect a number of “regulars” from the neighborhood and beyond. 1958 1975 Alt 1975 Frank Pellegrino Sr. begins helping his aunt and uncle at Rao’s. Over the years, Frank emerges as the leader, heart and soul of Rao’s and becomes one of the foremost restauranteurs in America. Frank’s emphasis on simple, pure, delicious ingredients vastly improves the perception, taste and healthfulness of southern Italian cuisine. Frank Sr.’s notoriety and authentic Italian presence landed him rolls in Warner Brothers’ “Goodfellas” and HBO’s “The Sopranos.” 1974 1977 Alt 1977 Famed New York Times restaurant critic, Mimi Sheraton, gives Rao’s a glowing 3-star review stating Rao’s serves “wonderfully simple, delicious and honest Italian food, all prepared strictly alla casaligna – home style.” This turns Rao’s into one of the hottest restaurants in NYC. To remain loyal to their “regulars,” Rao’s assigns “table rights” for specific nights of the week or month. The rights were prized family possessions passed from generation to generation. 1975 1982 Alt 1982 At just 12 years-old, Frank Pellegrino Jr. became the fourth generation of the Rao’s family to work at the restaurant. This begins a career of over 35 years working at Rao’s. 1977 1992 Alt 1992 Tired of saying “no” to people who want reservations, Frank Pellegrino Sr. decides to package and sell Rao’s sauce, “so this way I don’t have to say ‘no’ anymore and everybody can have it at home.” Rao’s Homemade Pasta Sauce is born with only the best ingredients and refused to add sugar, tomato paste, water, starches, fillers or color. Characteristics that still are central to the product line today. 1982 1997 Alt 1997 Rao’s Homemade Pasta Sauce Begins to expand, introducing flavors like spicy Arrabbiata and Puttanesca for people to try in their own kitchen. 1992 2005 Alt 2005 Rao’s Homemade continues to develop traditional sauces like Tomato Basil and Sausage & Mushroom. 1997 2017 Alt 2017 Rao’s Homemade celebrates 25 years of bringing one of the best-tasting sauces home. 2005 2018 Alt 2018 Rao’s Homemade continues to expand their sauce flavors offering Alfredo sauce and also begins offering dry pasta. 2017 2019 Alt 2019 Rao’s Homemade begins offering soup, bring high-quality ingredients and flavors to another part of your pantry. 2018 1896 TIMELINE