Food Adventures has the scoop!! Here is an announcement that is 60 years in the making… for the first time since the 1953 history of the Giovanni’s restaurant, they will be selling their sauce in jars !
Yes, Giovanni’s, located at 215 W Main St. Fairborn, has announced that some of their in house sauces will be available for purchase in mass quantities. They plan to start selling the jars at the restaurant and some local grocers in the northern Miami Valley area. Managing owner Cassaundra Spaziani says they are a couple of months away from being available in stores. She said they are currently working on developing artwork/photography for the labels on the jars. The mystery is whether her father, Tony Spaziani, will be on the label or not. It has yet to be decided.
They are going to start with 2 sauces:
1) GIOVANNI’S MARINARA:
An old Spaziani family recipe, this sauce typically tomato based, and seasoned with garlic, onions and spices.
2) GIOVANNI’S PUTTANESCA:
An aromatic sauce that combines tomatoes, onions, black olives, anchovies, capers, garlic and oregano, simmered with olive oil.
*** LEARN HOW TO WIN 3 JARS OF SAUCE BELOW !
Oh you know we love the sauces at Giovanni’s in Fairborn. And the marinara from Franco’s Italian Ristorante is delightful. Even Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen, and Palermo’s & Troni’s family have their spots in Miami Valley eats. And wow, what about Roost Modern Italian! But in today’s Food Adventure article, we are also going to talk about the local sauces that you can find in jars or cans for your eating pleasure at home.
Chef House, the Big Ragu and of course Hungry Jax know all about homemade spaghetti sauce. It is what we grew up on, it is what we prefer. But sometimes we don’t have 2, 4 or 6 hours to tend to the sauce. Well Chef House always does 🙂 she cray cray..
So when in need, The Big Ragu likes to get local for premade spaghetti sauce. Sometimes in a pinch he cracks open a jar. Whether it is for manicotti to mostaccioli, from eggplant parm to baked ziti. Which local ones are the best? We have the breakdown, so learn from us !
HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE BEST LOCALLY JARRED SPAGHETTI SAUCES:
1) MAMMA DISALVO’S MARINARA SAUCE:
In Big Ragu’s opinion, this jarred sauce is the closest thing he has found to his family recipe. And the taste is fantastic. The thick tomato sauce is slightly sweet, with chunks of basil and tomatoes. When you heat this sauce, sometimes a little olive oil rises up to the top, just like it is
supposed to…. You don’t need to add a thing to doctor it up. We are going to be honest, the sauce isn’t cheap, but it is worth it. In our list, all heads must bow to this #1 iconic Dayton jarred sauce. Also available in a spicy version, which is second best. Did we mention their incredible house salad dressing for sale in jars too?
2) ANNARINO’S MARINARA SAUCE:
A dark horse squeaks in at #2. The great flavor surprised us and the sauce has a terrific flavor. If you have yet to try this brand, give it a shot. We tried it on spaghetti a couple of times and were really impressed. As much as you can be from jarred sauce (Again, ain’t nothing like the real thing baby). They sell various flavors from mushroom to meat sauce, but we prefer the Marinara.
3) SCHIAVONE’S CANNED MARINARA SAUCE:
This versatile sauce comes in a can, and needs a bit of doctoring up with oregano and basil, then it is perfect. It is a great base sauce for baking pasta dishes. Many of you may remember the fantastic restaurant in Middletown where this sauce originated. Long closed down, only the canned sauce remains as a reminder of that wonderful Italian eatery. Take advantage, and try some of this old school sauce. This is a very basic building block for a great meal.
4) ZAPPIA’S MARINARA SAUCE:
A newer Dayton sauce, this one has a rich taste and good flavor. This family might be known for local car dealerships, but the sauce could eclipse that. It is an old family recipe passed down from Zappia generations back in Italy. Definitely worth a pick-up, if you have not tried this jarred sauce. One of the places it is available for purchase is the Flying Pizza Downtown. Try it, you’ll like it !
6) LAROSA’S MARINARA SAUCE:
The pride of Cincinnati sauces ends the list. From Kings Island to the Kentucky shore, Buddy LaRosa has been wowing the crowds with his sauce for decades. From pizza to pasta, this familiar sauce will have you licking your lips. This basic sauce again is not only great on pasta, but lends itself to baked dishes like lasagna.
There you have it – scoop on Giovanni’s and Dayton’s best local jarred sauces ! Now how about some freebies???
***** WIN 3 FREE JARS OF YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL SAUCE ! *****
Comment below and tell us which local sauce is your favorite and which one you would like to try 3 jars of? You have 7 choices – Giovanni’s, Mama Disalvos, Annarino’s, Schiavone’s, Zappia’s, Capozzi’s or LaRosa’s. One person who comments will be picked at random next Monday (note: if you choose Giovanni’s we have to wait til it is available….).
Feel free to browse the photos below of some of Dayton’s greatest canned spaghetti sauces.
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cat Cee says
Wasn’t Annarino’s a restaurant in Dayton originally? If so, where was it located?
I’d not heard of Zappia sauce before, I’ll look for it. What’s the story of Capozzi’s, was it an area restaurant in the past?
JAMES BLACK says
I guess I’m way too late to participate in this giveaway, but I’m an old Annarino’s lover. When I moved back to South Florida, I sorely missed Annarino’s. Next favorite would be Mama DiSalvo’s (I get that in a care package at Christmas thru Dorothy Lane Market) Thanks for doing this !
Jim
Marla Feeney says
Capozzis Marinara! Yum! So good.