I’m making a confession here that will cause a bit of eye rolling. But I grew up raised by Mother Earth incarnate, saints Alice Waters and Ina Garten. I knew there was a difference between good vanilla and bad. I favored farm stands over grocery stores and bit into fresh-baked bread with eggs from a chicken in the yard. And the sauce that covered spaghetti wasn’t bought, it was made from the surplus that grew in the garden, preserving summer's flavor for as long as possible. Never did I think a jar of sauce not made from my own hands or my mother's could hold up. Luckily for me, Terlato Kitchen was up to the task. They knew the perfect snob to send their samples to and give my garden sauce a true contender for the top seat.
Founded by John Terlato, whose family got their start in hospitality through the wine business and exclusive dining above their wine warehouse in Chicago, the same legacy of simple yet elegant flavors lives on with pantry staples like pastas and sauces, mail-ordered as gift sets or to restock your shelves. The ingredient lists are short, with attention to quality ingredients, like San Marzano tomatoes from Italy.
The recipes are passed down from grandmothers with the goal of making each turn at the table a joyful sanctuary. The Pomodoro, the most classic of the red sauces and most minimalist, turned our dining table silent, except for the intermittent twirl of a fork and the slurp of the spaghetti. It was requested over and over by even hard-to-please children who hate tomatoes. The pasta itself is dense enough to soak up the sauce and yet still have an al dente bite. These sauces weren't made by my mother, but they made the table repeat the chorus of yum and leave with happy bellies, just like a granny-made meal should.
Terlato Kitchen offers sauces ranging from classics like Tomato Basil and Arrabbiata to specialties like Puttanesca, pizza sauce, or Spicy Giardiniera. If you need inspiration to go beyond the jar, they have recipes like the crowd-pleasing spaghetti pie or the party hit, spicy goat cheese dip made with their giardiniera.
Terlato Kitchen would be a perfect gift to send to a new parent for an easy meal done in minutes, a holiday basket to get loved ones through the most dreaded months living in Chicago, or just a unique thank-you with a pizza kit, bloody mary brunch box, or biscotti tower. Think of Terlato Kitchen as your option beyond the usual cheese and salami gift box. This snob would much prefer an impeccably sourced sauce over a brick of cheddar for any special occasion.
Terlato Kitchen's gift box offerings and pantry staples can be found at terlatokitchen.com. As they say, share a meal experience and not just a gift.
This coverage was made possible by a promotional invitation. Our opinions and editorial choices remain entirely our own.
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