edible notables
SPREADING SAUCY SMILES
Italian Hearts’ producers and products are full of love.
WRITTEN BY HEIDI BETHEL
PHOTOS BY CHRIS HOLLOMAN
A few years ago, Val and Papa Sal Gray hit rock bottom. Like many in Northern Nevada, the recession caught up to them and things were looking, well … gray. Unsure of what to do, and being people of faith, they asked for a sign to point them in the right direction. Suddenly, they both noticed hearts everywhere — in pools of water, on the sides of boulders, and even on the tomato plants in their garden — telling them to do what they love. This is where the story of Italian Hearts Hand Crafted Pasta Sauces Inc. begins.
“We wanted to share our sauces made from family recipes from generations ago,” Val explains. “We had the dream but no money to support it. Our friends rallied behind us. They raised the money to make our first batch of sauce, and our dreams come true.”
It Takes a Village
After their big break, the Grays continue to work with friends and local vendors, including Big Horn Olive Oil Co. and Great Basin Community Food Co-op both in Reno, to make three distinct sauces: Val’s Vegetarian, Bella Amoré, and Papa Sal’s Three Meat Sauce. The sauces are handcrafted in small batches and feature fresh, local, organic herbs and vegetables, antibiotic/hormone-free meats, and top-shelf cabernets and merlots.
“We use a slow-cooking process where we stir everything by hand. Papa Sal and I are the only ones who make the sauce, and we baby it until it reaches perfection,” Val says. “We have a basic recipe, but rather than follow it strictly, we cook and adjust until it tastes just right. That’s the Italian way.”
Paired to Perfection
In addition to coupling the sauce with pasta, Val suggests being creative with sauce pairings.
“Grill all kinds of vegetables such as asparagus, zucchini, bell peppers, and carrots and serve with the sauce poured over,” she says. “Or, top a plate filled with grilled salmon, steamed rice, and parboiled greens … There are endless possibilities with our sauces because we designed them to add love to any dish.”
Now that’s amore!
A general lover of all things food, Heidi Bethel often reflects on her time spent with her grandmother in the kitchen learning old family recipes, and she appreciates a good pasta sauce that embodies the rich flavors of generations past.
Get a Taste
Visit Val and Papa Sal as they provide samples at the 32nd annual Eldorado Great Italian Festival Oct. 12 – 13 in downtown Reno. For details: www.Eldoradoreno.com/reno-events/Eldorado-Great-Italian-Festival
Purchase their Sauces
Bella Italia in Arlington Gardens in Reno www.bellaitalia-store.com
Big Horn Olive Oil Co. in Reno www.Bighornoliveoil.com
Great Basin Community Food Co-op in Reno www.Greatbasinfood.coop
Napa-Sonoma Grocery Co. in Reno www.Napa-sonoma.com
Nevada Unique Store in Gardnerville www.Facebook.com/NevadaUniqueStore
Whole Foods Market in Reno www.Wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/reno
