Show 127, June 20, 2015: Steve Schirripa, Uncle Steve’s Italian Specialties

Steve SchirripaItalian-American character actor Steve Schrripa is best known for his role as Bobby Baccalieri on HBO’s “The Sopranos.” He’s also a serious home cook.

Taking his mother’s recipe for pasta sauce he created a collection of popular sauces including Marinara, Tomato Basil and Arrabiata in the Steve Schirripa’s Uncle Steve’s Italian Specialties line. The pasta sauces are each hand-crafted with organic whole, imported Italian peeled tomatoes, fresh onions, extra virgin olive oil, fresh garlic, sea salt and spices. They are slow-simmered for six hours before bottling.

In the L.A. area they are available at Gelson’s with other retailers on the way.

Steve shares his struggles in initially getting his pasta sauces taken seriously by retail grocery store buyers. Because there are so many celebrity pasta sauces out there on the shelves that are mediocre, the buyers are resistant. Even the late Frank Sinatra had a line of jarred pasta sauces that didn’t survive the rigors of the marketplace. Schirripa’s key to success is simply getting them to try the sauce and judge it for the quality in the jar! This is why he’s resisted the temptation to put his image on the label.

“Growing up in Brooklyn, Sunday was the day you would wake up to the aroma of tomatoes, garlic and olive oil simmering on Mom’s stove as she prepared the sauce for Sunday dinner. My fondest memories are from those day, my Italian heritage and the comfort of family that I wish to share.” – Steve Schirripa