About – Rao's Specialty Foods

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ABOUTRAO'S

Delicious speaks for itself. From the moment the Rao family began creating authentic Italian pasta sauces served in Rao’s legendary New York restaurant, and later at Rao’s Las Vegas and Rao’s Los Angeles, creating a delicious sauce made from only the finest ingredients has been an obsession. Frank Pellegrino Sr. decided to take those magical sauces and put them into jars and launch the Rao’s Homemade® premium pasta sauce brand.

Rao’s Homemade® quickly became the world’s leading brand of premium pasta sauce and for good reason: Rao’s sauces are simmered slowly and made in small batches with only the best ingredients, like pure Italian olive oil and hand-picked, naturally ripened tomatoes from southern Italy. Our sauces have no tomato blends, no paste, no water, no starch, no filler, no colors, no added sugar.

The result? Authentic, nutritious, irresistibly delicious tomato sauce you can rely on for irresistibly delicious meals.

History timeline

  1896

Charles Rao, who immigrated with his parents from the southern Italian town of Polla, buys a small tavern on 114th St and Pleasant Avenue in an Italian neighborhood of New York City

  1930

Charles’ sons, Vincent and Louis Rao take over Rao’s and manage to keep the business open through the prohibition years.

  1958

After Louis’ passing, Vincent Rao takes over the family business and begins transitioning the tavern into a restaurant by introducing southern Italian dishes.

  1974

Anna Pellegrino Rao begins working with her husband Vincent and brings an expertise in southern Italian cuisine and an elegant style to help the Rao’s restaurant gain prominence. The restaurant begins to collect a number of “regulars” from the neighborhood and beyond.

  1975

Frank Pellegrino Sr. begins helping his aunt and uncle at Rao’s. Over the years, Frank emerges as the leader, heart and soul of Rao’s and becomes one of the foremost restauranteurs in America. Frank’s emphasis on simple, pure, delicious ingredients vastly improves the perception, taste and healthfulness of southern Italian cuisine. Frank Sr.’s notoriety and authentic Italian presence landed him roles in Warner Brothers’ “Goodfellas” and HBO’s “The Sopranos.”

  1977

Famed New York Times restaurant critic, Mimi Sheraton, gives Rao’s a glowing 3-star review stating Rao’s serves “wonderfully simple, delicious and honest Italian food, all prepared strictly alla casaligna – home style.” This turns Rao’s into one of the hottest restaurants in NYC. To remain loyal to their “regulars,” Rao’s assigns “table rights” for specific nights of the week or month. The rights were prized family possessions passed from generation to generation.

  1982

At just 12 years-old, Frank Pellegrino Jr. became the fourth generation of the Rao’s family to work at the restaurant. This begins a career of over 35 years working at Rao’s.

  1992

Tired of saying “no” to people who want reservations, Frank Pellegrino Sr. decides to package and sell Rao’s sauce, “so this way I don’t have to say ‘no’ anymore and everybody can have it at home.” Rao’s Homemade Pasta Sauce is born with only the best ingredients and refused to add sugar, tomato paste, water, starches, fillers or color. Characteristics that still are central to the product line today.

  2005

Rao’s Homemade continues to develop traditional sauces like Tomato Basil and Sausage & Mushroom.

  2017

Rao’s Homemade celebrates 25 years of bringing one of the best-tasting sauces home.

  2018

Rao’s Homemade continues to expand their sauce flavors offering Alfredo sauce and also begins offering dry pasta.

  2019

Rao’s Homemade begins offering soup, bring high-quality ingredients and flavors to another part of your pantry.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE ON A JAR OF RAO'S HOMEMADE SAUCE?

Rao’s Homemade sauces have a shelf life of 3 years from their production date during which time they are at their best quality flavor. The jars are shelf stable. Rao’s recommends that, once opened, sauce be refrigerated and used within 10-12 days. Unused product may also be transferred to a container and frozen for up to 6 months.

DOES RAO'S SUPPLY COUPONS?

Rao’s Specialty Foods does not offer coupons. We do, however frequently promote to our retailers so sale prices may be offered to you at the stores. You can also visit the Raos website at www.raos.com to check for specials.

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE RAO'S PRODUCTS?

Rao’s products are available throughout the United States and Canada, in most supermarkets, specialty stores, and gourmet shops. A Rao’s Customer Service Representative will have a list of store chains to assist customers with a specific location. In most cases, a store will have the ability to order Rao’s if you request it. If for some reason, your favorite grocery store can not get it for you, you can always order on our website at www.raos.com . Please see ordering information below.

CAN I PURCHASE RAO'S PRODUCTS ONLINE?

Rao’s products can be purchased on our website, www.Raos.com. Orders are shipped via UPS. There is information on the website about Rao’s products, the gift collection and a variety of recipes using Rao’s products.

LET'SGETSOCIAL

“It’s the sauce...”

It’s always been about the sauce – from the moment the Rao family created the authentic Italian pasta sauces served in Rao’s legendary New York restaurant and later at Rao’s Las Vegas and Rao’s Los Angeles. And from the moment Frank Pellegrino Sr. decided to take those magical sauces, put them into jars and launch the Rao’s Homemade® premium pasta sauce brand – now the leading brand of premium pasta sauce in the world.

FOLLOW RAO'S Oops... Slider with alias raos-timeline not found. Oops... Slider with alias timeline-slider1 not found. where it all started 1896 Charles Rao, who immigrated with his parents from the southern Italian town of Polla, buys a small tavern on 114th St and Pleasant Avenue in an Italian neighborhood of New York City 2019 1930 1930 Charles’ sons, Vincent and Louis Rao take over Rao’s and manage to keep the business open through the prohibition years. 1896 1958 1958 After Louis’ passing, Vincent Rao takes over the family business and begins transitioning the tavern into a restaurant by introducing southern Italian dishes. 1930 1974 1974 Anna Pellegrino Rao begins working with her husband Vincent and brings an expertise in southern Italian cuisine and an elegant style to help the Rao’s restaurant gain prominence. The restaurant begins to collect a number of “regulars” from the neighborhood and beyond. 1958 1975 1975 Frank Pellegrino Sr. begins helping his aunt and uncle at Rao’s. Over the years, Frank emerges as the leader, heart and soul of Rao’s and becomes one of the foremost restauranteurs in America. Frank’s emphasis on simple, pure, delicious ingredients vastly improves the perception, taste and healthfulness of southern Italian cuisine. Frank Sr.’s notoriety and authentic Italian presence landed him rolls in Warner Brothers’ “Goodfellas” and HBO’s “The Sopranos.” 1974 1977 1977 Famed New York Times restaurant critic, Mimi Sheraton, gives Rao’s a glowing 3-star review stating Rao’s serves “wonderfully simple, delicious and honest Italian food, all prepared strictly alla casaligna – home style.” This turns Rao’s into one of the hottest restaurants in NYC. To remain loyal to their “regulars,” Rao’s assigns “table rights” for specific nights of the week or month. The rights were prized family possessions passed from generation to generation. 1975 1982 1982 At just 12 years-old, Frank Pellegrino Jr. became the fourth generation of the Rao’s family to work at the restaurant. This begins a career of over 35 years working at Rao’s. 1977 1992 1992 Tired of saying “no” to people who want reservations, Frank Pellegrino Sr. decides to package and sell Rao’s sauce, “so this way I don’t have to say ‘no’ anymore and everybody can have it at home.” Rao’s Homemade Pasta Sauce is born with only the best ingredients and refused to add sugar, tomato paste, water, starches, fillers or color. Characteristics that still are central to the product line today. 1982 1997 1997 Rao’s Homemade Pasta Sauce Begins to expand, introducing flavors like spicy Arrabbiata and Puttanesca for people to try in their own kitchen. 1992 2005 2005 Rao’s Homemade continues to develop traditional sauces like Tomato Basil and Sausage & Mushroom. 1997 2017 2017 Rao’s Homemade celebrates 25 years of bringing one of the best-tasting sauces home. 2005 2018 2018 Rao’s Homemade continues to expand their sauce flavors offering Alfredo sauce and also begins offering dry pasta. 2017 2019 2019 Rao’s Homemade begins offering soup, bring high-quality ingredients and flavors to another part of your pantry. 2018 1896 TIMELINE