After Mass this morning, I'll take a swing over to Rosario's Sausage, because I read a story about a man who tried to trade a baby for fifteen Big Macs. Mother of God. This poor gluttonous louse stole a baby, only to barter for food that would gag a maggot.
Please note the photo that I chose for this piece (it tells the story )- over Rosario's is a corporatist road sign distracting drivers' attentions from a business worthy of their coin.
I tried to keep my children from Mickey D's, not because I am food snob, or nutrition Nazi, but because the entire corporatist Ronald McDonald Clown Happy Meal net offends me to the marrow.
Families make better foods than corporations. Wal-Mart offends me because it makes people lazier and murders generations of family businesses on main streets universal. I was anti-WalMart long before the Brooks Brothers Bolsheviks of SEIU leadership.
For hamburgers and hot dogs my kids went to Pop's at 111th Kedzie, Top Notch on 95th, Fat Tommy's on 111th and the now closed Wonder Burger at 110th & Kedzie.
Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's and Domino's were all verboten in Casa Hickey.
Whether or not those lessons impacted, I am not sure, but at least they were presented, like going to Mass on Sunday: " You belong to the Club; you go to the meetings."
For good cooking, ingredients matter. Rosario's makes great sausage daily and the place opens at 9:30 A.M. and will be packed.
I am making Penne ala Vodka Cream Sauce for two.
I could go to Jewel(s), Mariano's, or Pat and Jacks for Italian Sausage, but am cooking for someone I love, respect and like to see smile over a plateful of my efforts.
Rosario's, like the long-gone Sardi's in the Old St. Mary of Mount Carmel parish on 69th Street back in the 1960's-70's, is place where the respectful buy Italian meats, spices, cheese and condiments worthy of the genre - Italian Cooking.
I will have big pot of lightly salted
This a temple, a sanctuary of sausage perfection and family owned purveyor of priceless products for modest purses.
There is also the neon sign showing pigs and cows only too delighted to leap into the meat grinder like straight-ticket Ward Democrats at a polling place.
I will buy the spicy sausage ( out of casing) and brown the hell out of it over medium heat in a Olive oiled caste iron skillet. No need for the McCormicks crushed red pepper flakes and so I will add four cloves of crushed garlic, one small red onion chopped to the Rosario's goodness, until brownish. I will add a 28 ounce can of Red Gold brand crushed tomatoes with the liquid and cook until eye-ball reduced, Then I will add three shots of good vodka and cook for a good while - timer be damned,
Lastly, in goes heavy cream and chopped basil and a pinch of oregano.
Withe penne cooked to the tooth, in it goes like the happy cows and pigs and gets a thorough tossing in a skilletful tasty.
I will plate with Basil, crusty Dago bread and hand grated Parmesano.
Our world has family owned, loving and true treasure like Rosarios Sausage. Skip the convenient. Go for the genuine
Rosario's Italian Sausage
8611 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60652
