My favorite stories are those very similar to Christopher Costantino’s. Until recently, Christopher was a very successful local sales wonder, immerged in Corporate America, but his heart wasn’t there. It was in the kitchen. He even attended culinary school. As a child, Christopher’s grandmother shared with him her secret recipe for Tomato Basil Italian Pasta Sauce that had been handed down over five generations. Last year, Christopher decided to pursue his passion of Italian cooking with his launch of Costantino’s Kitchen, a gourmet food line, in November.
“After I graduated from culinary school in 2003, my heart has been in the kitchen, while my body was at as desk. I decided to step full-time into the gourmet food business to actively live my passion,” – Christopher Costantino.
His first product of the new line is a tribute to the one who started it all – Grandma Angie. Grandma Angie’s Tomato Basil Italian Pasta Sauce is all-natural, made with ingredients you’ll recognize and can pronounce. I had the opportunity to try the sauce for myself and it’s good. I believe that most of the time, simplicity is best… and this is one of those times. Grandma Angie’s sauce doesn’t compare to the mass-produced pasta sauce you’ll find in corporate-chained grocery stores because it’s better. Is there anything more comforting that a bowl of hot pasta, hugged with a sauce of sweet tomatoes, onions, garlic and fresh basil? Probably not. If Costantino’s made their sauce aroma into a candle, I’d buy it… but that’s another business venture for another day.
Grandma Angie’s Tomato Basil Italian Pasta Sauce
To buddy with the sauce, they’ve also created a line of garlic oils to add a punch of flavor to your dishes, without adding a ton of extra fat. Currently, the oils are available in mild and spicy (I love the spicy!) and can be used countless ways. Literally, countless. Think outside the pasta box here. Use them in salads, marinades, sauces or try subbing it for butter in recipes. I happen to think it’s especially good on my beloved kale chips. Visit their website for Italian recipes and new ideas for uses: costantinoskitchen.com/recipes.html.
You can purchase Costantino’s products online at costantinoskitchen.com, or at Valley Farmers’ Markets most days of the week, including the Old Town Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.
Keep up with company news by liking their page on Facebook and following them on twitter too @costantinokitch.