Tastemakers: Mario Batali Arrabbiata Sauce/ La Mozza Aragone

Aug. 14, 2011

Mario Batali
Arrabbiata Sauce
A recent visit to some of the farmers’ markets in Northern Michigan produced everything I needed to make fresh pasta sauce. We are so fortunate living here with our agricultural diversity and for the next couple of months the harvest is on which bodes well for all sorts of canning projects. Making homemade salsas and tomato sauces are easy and not as time consuming as one might think.
During a recent interview with Chef Mario Batali he emphasized that every “great recipe and meal starts at the store.” He took it a step further about getting the freshest ingredients as possible and knowing where your food comes from. Batali, in addition to being a celebrity chef and owner of several top restaurants, is also a bestselling cookbook author. Many of his cookbooks have an Italian theme with plenty of pasta sauce recipes.
While making homemade pasta sauce is relatively simple, it is not always convenient. Unlike many celebrities who lend their name to just about anything, Mario Batali does not. He is hands-on at all of his restaurants as well as his Italian winery (see Bottoms Up) and so when you see his name on a product, you can expect that it meets his high standards. A few years back he released a collection of Mario Batali Pasta Sauces.
The collection of sauces include Pizza, Marinara, Alla Vodka, Arrabbiata, Cherry Tomato and Tomato Basil. My personal favorite is the Arrabbiata because I like spicy foods and this has some zip to it. The sauce is made with crushed red pepper and San Marzano tomatoes with a nice balance of capers and fresh garlic.
Summer Garden Food Manufacturing, the only Green LEED Certified Manufacturing facility in North America makes Batali’s sauces for him. “These are all natural sauces and made in small batch production to ensure consistent product quality and great taste in every jar. No paste, puree, or sugar is added to any of my sauces making them great options for the health conscious consumer.” The sauces are sold in Northern Michigan; for locations and details check out www.mariobatali.com ---Rick Coates

La Mozza Aragone
In last week’s BottomsUp/Tastemakers we reported on Chef Mario Batali’s recent interview in Bon Appétit and how he sang the praises of the Northern Michigan food and drink scene. After his glowing reviews of area restaurants, wineries, breweries and the region as a whole, it is time to share some love back at the chef.
Batali and his restaurant partner Joseph Bastianich, along with Bastianich’s mother, chef and restaurateur Lidia Bastianich (a celebrity chef in her own right), partnered to launch the La Mozza label. The vineyard is located in Toscana (Tuscany) the central region of Italy famous for its Super-Tuscan blends with Bordeaux varieties.
The 2007 La Mozza Aragonne is a blend of primarily Sangiovese, a popular native grape of the region along with Alicante, Syrah and Carignan. This wine has an intense ruby red color and you can expect a spicy licorice aroma with subtle berry fruit notes. The spice and licorice come through on the palate as well, along with a slight citrus feel and more plum notes than berry in the flavor profile.
This is a tough wine in a good hearty way. Pair with grilled steaks or the traditional New England pot roast slow roasted with horseradish. Certainly this wine works well with red sauces and pasta.
A little history behind the name from Batali: “The name ‘Aragone’ refers to the Aragons of Spain, who together with the Medici family of Florence, dominated the region of Maremma in the 1500s. The six-point star depicted on the label, represents an aerial view of ‘Forte Stella, which is located in Porto Ercole just south of Grossetto, built by the Spanish around 1550.”
This wine is available in Northern Michigan, so look for it at your favorite shop. For details check out www.mariobatali.com
---Rick Coates