From: “Anthony J. Agostinelli”

To: info@cucina-antica.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001
Subject: Garlic Marinara Sauce

Dear Aniello Fusco:

I am a second generation Italian-American. My Dad and Mom (Domenico Agostinelli and Maria Luigia Fandetti) were both born in Bonefro, Provincia di Campobasso , Abruzzi (now Molise ), Italia. Ever since my childhood in the early 1930s, I have been having tomato sauces (“gravies”) made from Italian plum tomatoes from my Grandfather Antonio’s, my father’s and my gardens. My parents always shopped in the Italian section of Providence , and were able to find a variety of canned plum tomatoes with basil added. They “canned” their own tomatoes, but when they ran out, they always bought brands which bore the designation, “Marco San Marzano!” My Grandfather knew about the climate, the soil and the geneology of that brand of tomato. That brand was always used for cooking, and especially for my grandparents’ parents’ and my pizzas. When I married, my wife used the same “Marco San Marzano”- no other! To this day, I seek out the brands which bear the “San Marzano” mark. When sharing recipes which require tomatoes, I always specify “San Marzano.”

Also, in our sauces, we have never used tomatoes.

So, your sauce, the “Garlic Marinara,” is the finest of commercially available sauces that I have found. I purchased the sauce at King’s in Chatham , New Jersey . I am pleased to know that it is available on line, since there are no stores listed in Rhode Island where this is sold… you might try to put the sauce in: Portobello in Newport and Barrington ; Roma and Venda on Federal Hill (the Italian section) in Providence ; Aquidneck Marketplace and Deli in Middletown … all in RI!

I will purchase your sauce again, online and in New Jersey , when I visit both my son, his wife… and my daughter, and her husband…

All the best, stay well and in touch,

Tony (Anthony Agostinelli of Portsmouth, RI

From: Mary-Edna Krutchoff of Fairlawn , NJ

Sent: Thursday, September 19,2002
To: anna@Cucina-antica,com
Subject:Arugula Sauce

Hello! I have never written to a food manufacturer before about a product… but… I bought a bottle of Arugula sauce by mistake; I meant to get Colavita marinara as I always do. I must have picked up the jar next to it on the store shelf. I didn’t even realize it till weeks later when I went to prepare a quick dinner. “Too, late”, I thought. “I have to use this now. No time to change dinner plans.” My family and I were so thrilled with your sauce. My son also had his Italian friend over that night. He thinks I am as good a cook as his Mom! This is quite a compliment from a 16 year old boy! I have no idea how much I was supposed to pay for the jar, as the price was gone. But I as sure I paid a lot less than it is worth. You cannot put a price on something so terrific! Now, I have to hope I can find more of your sauces on the shelf in my little local food shop. Where in Westchester is the restaurant.. And what is the name? I can sense a “road trip” coming up soon! Thanks, Mary-Edna Krutchkoff (a busy nurse and mom)

From: Brenda Pugliese

Sent: Wednesday, June 4, 2003
To: info@cucina-antica.com
Subject: Finding Product

Purchased a jar of garlic marinara can’t remember where. Loved it. Want more. Where in Manhattan can I find this product. Live and work in 10019 zip. Please advise. Thanks…… Brenda Pugliese

From: Jan Gordon

To: info@cucina-antica.com
Sent: Thursday, July 5, 2001

Dear Cucina Antica,

Congratulations—yours is the best bottled sauce ever to come on the market. It’s so great that I don’t bother to make my own sauce at home anymore. Best of luck in gaining a big Market Share. FYI, I discovered it in the Scarsdale , NY , DeCicco C-Town. Food Emporium doesn’t seem to carry it yet (although they hundreds of brands on display).

Thanks for the terrific product.

Jan Gordon

From: Sylvia Ferris

Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2004
To: Info@cucina-antica.com
Subject: Vodka Sauce

We recently had the opportunity to try your Vodka Sauce and Pasta. It was without a doubt the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell me where I might find it in MA. I went to Big Y in Amherst today and picked up the Tomato Basil, but I would love o have the Vodka again.

Thank you

Sylvia Ferris

From: Nina, Matt & Samantha Auerbach

Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 8:32 PM
To: Neil@Cucina-Antica.com
Subject: your sauce/we met you at Whole Foods on Sunday and wrote our paragraphs

Neil:

We enjoyed meeting you at Whole Foods Market yesterday and tasting your tomato sauce.  Each of my kids wrote a paragraph about what they liked about your sauce. Read on:

When I took a taste of the Cucina Antica Vodka Sauce I thought it was the best sauce I ever had, I wanted more. I liked the Vodka Sauce so much because it tasted sweet. The Vodka Sauce was much better than all of the sauces I have ever had because all the other sauces taste the same but this tasted different. All the other sauces are very plain and don't have a taste to it but this sauce did have a taste, a very good taste. That is why I liked the sauce so much.

-Samantha Auerbach, age 10

There are many reasons I liked Cucina Antica's  sauce a lot better than other sauces. We usually get Ragu  tomato sauce which tastes very plain with no flavor. It pretty much tastes just regular tomato sauce. But, yours was really great - I loved it. It was the best sauce because it was creamy, tasty and full of flavors like fresh tomato, garlic and herbs. It just really had a special zip to it, unlike regular sauces. I thought your vodka sauce was really tasty and just delicious. It would go well with a lot of foods like shrimp and pretty much any seafood. But my favorite is pasta with your sauce. I usually cook pasta with tomato sauce and some canola oil and mix it all together in a pan. I can't wait to have pasta with your sauce because it will give it a lot more taste.

-Matt Auerbach, age 12

Matt & Samantha Auerbach
Chappaqua, NY