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RITROVO ITALIAN REGIONAL FOODS Ritrovo Selections–Casina Rossa Puttanesca Pasta Sauce
IN ITS SECOND DECADE OF COLLABORATIONS WITH SMALL-SCALE, organic-focused farms and producers throughout Italy, Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods adds another Gold sofi Award to its collection, this year for Outstanding Pasta Sauce. In its third-time win in this category, the spotlight is on Casina Rossa's Puttanesca Pasta Sauce. It's a proud accomplishment for Seattle-based Ritrovo owners Ilyse Rathet and Ron Post, who represent 14 artisan producers from 10 regions of Italy. "We've worked hard for it, with years of impassioned research, thousands of miles traveled over the Italian countryside and immeasurable investments made in the relations that we have with our producers," says Rathet. Many top chefs are enamored of Ritrovo's high-quality offerings in pastas, sauces, olive oils, vinegars, salts, spices and other products. This year, Ritrovo chose to enter Puttanesca Pasta Sauce by Casina Rossa in the sofi Awards. "The richness of its blend of lush, ripe Italian tomatoes with capers, olives, 100 percent Italian pine nuts and raisins appeals to a wide range of American consumers," Rathet says. "It has a natural sweetness that can be appreciated straight out of the jar." The co-founders of the Italian company Casina Rossa, Nicola and Paola DeLaurentiis, have outgrown their modest enterprise located in Abruzzo and replaced it with a new, up-to-date facility to maintain the quality, level of innovation and aesthetic appeal synonymous with their name. "Just about everything from the Casina Rossa kitchen is an instant best seller," Rathet says. Suggested retail price: $6.50/17.5 ounces. Contact: Ilyse Rathet, Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods; 206.768.1635; ritrovo@aol.com; ritrovo.com.—L.S.L.
➊ LA PASTA INC. Pink Vodka Sauce
Contact: Alexis Konownitzine alexis@lapastainc.com 301.588.1111 lapastainc.com
➋ SIERRA MADRE GROCERY COMPANY
Roasted Garlic & Olive Bruschetta Salsa
Contact: Karen A. Swisher karen@sierramadre groceryco.com 626.355.9556 sierramadregroceryco.com
S32 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE ❘ specialtyfood.com FINALISTS
PASTA SAUCE