Red Sauce America - Food, Culture, and Italian American Experience




Aragosta Fra Diavolo

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Tuesday, June 14th, 2022 | 1,158 views

Aragosta is the Italian term for lobster. Lobster fra Diavolo is an American invention. So what the heck is Aragosta Fra Diavolo?

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American Polpette

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Tuesday, June 7th, 2022 | 644 views

American Meatballs

American-style meatballs served over spaghetti was invented by immigrants arriving in the United States. Typically, Italian meatballs were served separately rather than alongside spaghetti.

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Cookbook: Where to Dine in Thirty-Nine

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Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 | 748 views

Where to dine in thirty-nine is an essential cookbook of the era

New York City has always been a city of restaurants. Diane Ashley collected recipes from restaurants across the city offering a unique snapshot of what diners were eating.

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Molignane alla parmisciana

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Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 | 572 views

Eggplant parm

An early version of eggplant parmigiana from the 19th century, published in dialect, Molignane alla parmisciana is perhaps the first evidence of the origin of the modern dish.

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Vodka Rosse

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Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 | 537 views

This vodka and cream sauce comes from an American cookbook, but based on recipes collected in Italy.

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Before Fettuccine Alfredo, There Was Macaroni with Butter and Cheese

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Tuesday, May 10th, 2022 | 623 views

Fettuccine Alfredo is actually just cheese and butter -- not a drop of cream

Fettuccine Alfredo is a rich, creamy tasting pasta dish. The simple recipe of butter and cheese is a richer, more indulgent version of a basic pasta dish.

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Is This Chicken Dish The Italian Origin of Lobster Fra Diavolo?

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Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 | 727 views

Pollo al diavolo was a precursor to the lobster fra diavolo that became so famous in Italian American restaurants

Pellegrino Artusi’s La scienza in cucina e l’arte di mangiar bene includes a version of chicken diavolo that might be related to the more famous American dish, Lobster fra diavolo.

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No. 282 Braised Meat Balls

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Tuesday, April 26th, 2022 | 513 views

Italian-style meatballs served with tomato sauce were one of the few “ethnic” dishes included in the War Department cooking technical manuals in World War II.

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Amatriciana Sauce – Italy, 1950

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Tuesday, April 19th, 2022 | 645 views

Il Cucchiaio D’Argento was a massive volume of Italian recipes published in post-war Italy, and quickly became the kind of classic given to young couples as a wedding present.

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Large Meatball Home Style

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Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 | 528 views

American Meatballs

Ada Boni’s The Talisman Italian Cook Book is a classic of pre-war Italian cooking. When Metilda la Rosa published a post-war translation in English, it included a few additional recipes.

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