Marinara Sauce
/The classic Italian tomato sauce, Marinara, is one of most popular and one of the most abused sauces. Canned versions with sub-standard tomatoes and thick, cloying tomato paste have drenched over-cooked pasta on America’s tables for generations (my childhood kitchen table was no exception). However, in the right hands, Marinara is a thing of beauty, a rich simple sauce that showcases the quality of the tomato and a few other ingredients.
Stories claim that Neopolitan sailors (marinaio in Italian) were introduced to the tomato by Spanish sailors who brought the fruit back from the Americas (probably Mexico). Their wives may have created sauces from the tomatoes with the addition of garlic, onions, basil or oregano. Order a Marinara pizza in Naples and it will be topped with a tomato sauce, oregano, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. That’s right - no cheese. Sailors going to sea from Naples carried flatbread folded with this sauce inside.
M’tucci’s Roasted Marinara uses the best tomatoes and slow roasts the ingredients for a deeper, complex flavor.
Whether you dine on one of our patios, order take out or buy this week’s M’tucci’s @ Home Prep Kitchen Kit, you can have M’tucci’s Roasted Marinara with Spaghettini and Chianina Meatballs. The Prep Kit comes with the recipe for completing your dinner for four, and includes the Mista Salad, Garlic Bread and Mocha cookies. You can order it from any location for pick up or delivery. Feed a family of 4 for $43.
As always, Chef Cory takes you through the steps of making meatballs and finishing your meal on M’tucci’s YouTube Channel. There are nearly 30 videos on our channel from tips for cooking to making Shrub cocktails. You can access the channel by clicking here.
M’tucci’s is the only place in New Mexico to offer Chianina beef. Beef from this historic Italian breed has tons of flavor and is considered healthy due to the lower fat content. We make our meatballs from the Chianina raised on a ranch in Southern New Mexico. You can read more about Chianina in a past La Gazzeta post by clicking here.
Open Patios with Monday - Friday Happy Hours
The city has allowed for fast track permitting to expand patios. We have additional covered seating M’tucci’s Italian and we are awaiting city approval for the same at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five. We are not accepting reservations at the moment, so tables are available for walk in guests. Happy Hours are popular with reduced prices, special dishes only available at Happy Hour (formerly known as Patio Hour). Hope to see you soon!
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
24 oz Hand Cut Bone-In Porterhouse - Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Balsamic Reduction $37
Pan-Seared Sand Dabs Lightly Breaded - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichokes, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Cream Sauce $21
Sunday Only: Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs, Salt Water Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach and House BBQ Sauce for $27
M’tucci’s Moderno
6oz Hand Cut Beef Tenderloin - Crispy Saltwater Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus and our Traditional Italian Salsa Verde Sauce $29
Pan-Seared Halibut - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Marinated Artichoke Hearts, Sautéed Arugula with Lemon Butter Caper Sauce and Prosciutto Powder $24
Grilled Northern Italian Style Spare Ribs - Garlic-Herb Sauce, Cabbage-Apple Slaw, Roasted Corn & Jalapeño. $17
Sunday Only: House Made Lasagna with Herbed Ricotta, Five Pork Bolognese and Roasted Tomato Marinara. Single portion for $16 (it’s large) and a double portion with a salad for $30.
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
Pan-Seared Ruby Trout, Grilled Escarole, Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce and Prosciutto Powder $24
M’tucci’s @ Home
Don’t forget to look for our Artisan Bread and Ravioli Meals at your local Albertsons Market. Also, we also have our Artisan Bread, Shrubs, cheese and cured meats in the deli counters at all M’tucci’s locations.
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
