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      Recipes With Pasta, Sauce, Seafood, and More

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      Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      A low-carb garden vegetable lasagna that’s big on taste. Thinly-sliced eggplant, zucchini, and yellow squash stand in for traditional noodles, layered with spinach-flecked ricotta cheese and our indulgent four cheese...

      Macaroni and Cheese Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Three cheeses, a jar of our creamy Alfredo sauce, and tender homemade pasta may seem like overkill, but we promise you it’s not. This may be the best baked mac...

      Sausage & Mushroom Pasta with Spinach & Burrata Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Sausage & Mushroom Pasta with Spinach & Burrata Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Unforgettably rich and hearty, all in one bowl. Our slowly simmered Italian sausage and mushroom tomato sauce is the perfect match for penne pasta. This quick dinner is tossed with...

      Baked Goat Cheese Dip Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Baked Goat Cheese Dip Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Everybody’s favorite party appetizer. Creamy soft goat cheese and homemade basil pesto melt into our classic marinara sauce when baked in the oven. Slice extra baguette; it’s so unbelievably delicious,...

      Risotto Bolognese Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Risotto Bolognese Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Our homestyle Bolognese sauce melts into creamy arborio rice in this divinely simple Italian favorite. If you’ve never tried making risotto at home, this is the recipe to start with....

      Bloody Mary Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Bloody Mary Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Our all-natural Arrabbiata and marinara sauces have super powers: they make a mean Bloody Mary mix. Choose spicy or mild, then whiz it up with a handful of ingredients and...

      Eggs in Purgatory Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Eggs in Purgatory Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      If you’ve got eggs in the fridge and a jar of Rao’s in the pantry, you have what you need to make this Southern Italian staple. Fragrant tomato sauce gently...

      Fusilli with Sausage and Cabbage Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Fusilli with Sausage and Cabbage Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Braised cabbage and Italian sausage pair up beautifully in this rustic and hearty pasta recipe from the Calabria region of Italy. Let our homemade tomato sauce and fusilli mingle with...

      Eggplant Parmigiana Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Eggplant Parmigiana Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      No frying required with this effortless twist on the classic. Hand-rolled eggplant slices are stuffed with ricotta cheese and basil, then covered in our homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella before...

      Filetto di Pomodoro Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Filetto di Pomodoro Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Craving classic Italian pasta? Warm up one of our slow-roasted tomato sauces and add it to ribbons of crisp prosciutto, sweet onions, and cracked black pepper. Stir in al dente...

      Mozzarella en Carrozza Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Mozzarella en Carrozza Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Italian comfort food ups the ante on our take on the grilled cheese sandwich.If you grew up in Italy, this is what you’d eat instead of a grilled cheese and...

      Swordfish in Vodka Sauce Recipe - Rao's Specialty Foods

      Swordfish in Vodka Sauce Recipe

      February 20, 2022

      Fresh swordfish steaks need minimal treatment, only a few minutes on the grill and a jar of our creamy, tomato-based vodka sauce for serving. Perfect with mashed potatoes or braised...

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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