I’m a big fan of Rao’s products. Having relocated from NY to California, I miss the Italian food more than anything. Rao’s was the first sauce I tasted since moving here that scratched that NY itch. From their line of sauces, I ventured into their soups, pasta, and frozen items (the meatballs in marinara are delicious).
Today, Campbell Foods announced they have acquired the Rao’s brand. Perhaps this won’t change anything, or perhaps it will all become inedible. I’m hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.
It has me wondering - am I alone in my love for all things Rao-related? Or have I just been away from the East Coast for so long that my standards have diminished? I should add that I understand that no jarred sauce or frozen meatball is a good substitute for the real thing, especially homemade. Nothing will ever taste like meatballs and gravy made by an 80-year old Italian grandmother.
That is certainly the risk. I was a big fan of Stone IPA until they were bought by Sapporo. I noticed a quality change right away, and not for the better.
If nothing else, I supposed Rao’s has proven that there is a significant market for a higher end sauce, even if it costs more. If they ruin Rao’s, hopefully someone else will step up with a suitable replacement.
Damn. I just bought a bunch of Rao’s pasta because it was on sale - it’s one of those products where I always stock up when it’s bogo.
I don’t think Campbell’s has simple red sauce and dry pasta in their brand portfolio, so I expect them to downgrade the quality and price to get in line with its other stuff.
I’d never heard of the brand before now, but if the sauces (such as marinara) aren’t excessively sweet like most pre-fab sauces of that type, I’d give them a try.
Ingredients: Italian whole peeled tomatoes, olive oil, onions, salt, garlic, basil, black pepper, oregano
That’s pretty simple stuff. I understand that sometimes you just want to open a jar of something and dump it on cooked pasta, but a sauce of that sort is very easy to make. Even on a busy weeknight you could put a sauce like that together from scratch in about the time it takes to boil water and cook pasta. Maybe make lemons from lemonade! Stock up on some cans of good quality San Marzano-style tomatoes and the other ingredients, and make your own sauce that will be even better than Rao’s.
Super easy. But, as you say, sometimes you just want a jar of sauce. Maybe grocery shopping is around the corner and you don’t have an onion and a head of garlic. Maybe you’re just feeling extra lazy or extra harried. Maybe you hate cooking. Whatever.
Hell, sometimes I even buy the really shitty jarred stuff because it tastes like growing up.
While looking at the news yesterday my wife suddenly came out with “Oh NO!!!” When I asked what was wrong, she said “Campbell’s has bought Rao’s! I hope they don’t ruin it!”
I hope they don’t too. My wife swears by Rao’s. We buy it two jars at a time at BJs and Sam’s Club.
