First time for this pizza (edit: and also pasta sauce)

wtg

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Was fascinated by the concept of a sausage and giardiniera pizza. I figured it would either be fabulous or totally awful.

It was great!! Plenty spicy, but no oiliness from the giardiniera. I was afraid it would be greasy.

Hadn't previously heard of this brand. It is available nationally if you want to try it out.

https://thecornerbooth.com/pizza/

wtg

Saw that Mezzetta has a pasta sauce. Not sure if I've missed it in the past or if they are just getting into the marinara business. I love their pickled products - olives, peppers, etc.

Bought the marinara and tomato basil. The marinara is very good. I usually buy Rao's, but the Mezzetta is half the price. Could become our new "house brand".

https://www.mezzetta.com/pages/pasta-sauce

Would like to find the wild mushroom sauce; they didn't have it at Meijer. And the truffle, porcini, and cream version, which is one of their premium sauces and a bit more expensive.

Mik

Yep. I tried Mezzetta’s marinara a couple weeks ago. Best fresh tomato flavor ever in a jar. Our new go to. I like their olives etc too.

Steve Miller

Their Caesar dressing is good too.

wtg

Maybe that’s Marzetti rather than Mezzetta?

Steve Miller

@wtg Dunno.

They all look the same to me.

ShiroKuro

@wtg said in First time for this pizza (edit: and also pasta sauce):

a sausage and giardiniera pizza.

Ohhh that sounds yummy!! Where did you buy it (like, not Costco hopefully, becaus we don’t have one near here)

Re Mezzetta’s, I recognize that label, I’ll have to compare prices with Rao’s. Mezzetta’s seems to have similar offerings (although I notice their roasted garlic includes onions, Rao’s doesn’t. I prefer no onions).

wtg

Not Costco for the pizza. JewelOsco.

Corner Booth has a store finder on its website,

Rao’s is usually $8 or more a jar unless it’s on sale or I get it at Costco. The Mezzetta at Meijer is usually $4.29, on sale for $3.49

ShiroKuro

Wow, that’s expensive for Rao’s, it’s closer to $6 down here. But I just checked, and they have Mezzetta’s at the local Walmart. It’s $3.98! We’ll definitely try it.

Corner Booth shows no stores in our town. Too bad!

wtg

Rao's hasn't been anywhere near $6 since well before the pandemic. There used to be a Fresh Thyme nearby that had a nice selection of the various flavors.

Meijer has Rao's for $7.29, but I don't normally shop at there; I stopped in while Mr wtg was in PT at the hospital, which is not too far away.

I checked for Mezzetta at a nearby Walmart, and they don't stock it.

If I want some of the more "exotic" flavors I suspect I'll have to mail order from Mezzetta.

Mik

Looked last night. Their shipping charges are outrageous. $9 sauce, $30 shipping. Might as well buy a case of 6 from Walmart for $60.

wtg

@Mik Thanks for the heads up on Walmart. I really would like to try the porcini sauce.

Too bad we don't live closer to each other. We could split a case of something we both want to try....

ShiroKuro

These price differences are crazy. The last time I bought Rao's, it was something like 6.49, now it's 6.88. That's still way more than Mezzetta's of course.

Oh and these are Walmart prices, Kroger is about $1.00 more.

I sometimes mix different Rao sauces together, maybe I'll get Mezzetta's sensitive and mix with Rao's roasted garlic...

Big_Al

The Mezzetta's sauce is 2 for $6.28 at the local Giant Eagle. Might give it a try. Usually, we buy a sauce branded for and sold by the local Italian market near us.

I had only associated Mezzetta's with pickled products like peppers and jalapenos. I never thought of looking for that brand in the sauce department.

I'm not sure why you thought the gardeniera might make the pizza oily. The gardeniera I know is pickled in brine and there is no oil involved.

The nearest Corner Booth pizza to me is in Ohio.

Big Al

wtg

@Big_Al said in First time for this pizza (edit: and also pasta sauce):

I'm not sure why you thought the gardeniera might make the pizza oily.

Pretty much all I've ever had is Chicago-style, packed in oil rather than vinegar.

https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/giardiniera/

Big_Al

That's interesting. Here is the nutrition label for the local brand Bell-View that I usually buy.

Quite a different product with the same name.

Big Al

wtg

Of course in Chicago we also eat our hot dogs with neon relish. This is as close as I could get as far as color is concerned; it's even more shocking in real life.

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Steve Miller

I love that relish! Now to find sport peppers…

wtg

Vienna brand sport peppers are the best. Accept no substitutes.

wtg

DIY hot dog kit.

https://www.viennabeef.com/natural-casing-chicago-style-hot-dog-kit/

Also looks like Heinen's carries Vienna products...