A mission-based food manufacturing company
We source local upcycled tomatoes, that would ordinarily go to waste, and turn them into delicious sauces and condiments for everyone to enjoy. We're helping people change the way they think when food shopping. Overripe tomatoes and oddly shaped carrots should get cooked, not tossed.
Ugly Tomato Sauces
Bruised, overly ripe, or oddly shaped, “ugly” tomatoes usually go to waste in the USA.
So we take them directly from the farmers’ hands and give these imperfect tomatoes a second life by cooking them down for hours into a sweet, delicious red magic that has become our signature Ugly, but tasty Sauce.
Vegan Tomato 'Nduja
2017 SOFI WINNER ~ BEST NEW CONDIMENT
Our vegan version of the traditional spicy Calabrian pork spread
is a delicious combination of tomatoes and spicy Calabrian peppers. A savory condiment that will add heat, flavor and umami to any dish.
“Two words: flavor bomb! This spicy, umami spread packs a punch to my avocado toasts and sandwiches. Super unique product and a must try!”
We embrace tradition, but we’re not traditional.
A Modern Family Business
Michael, Nonna and Jorge in Brooklyn, NY.
Preserving food was essential for survival where my parents came from in Calabria, Italy. Today, while still important for many, remains a tradition for most. Growing up in Brooklyn with Italian parents, I was taught to embrace these traditions, especially at the end of Summer. The warm season coming to an end meant gathering all of Summer's natural bounty to jar and preserve for the cold months ahead. Regardless of whether we lived in Brooklyn, NY or Calabria, Italy this was essential and what we did to take care of the family and to make sure no one ever goes hungry.
– Michael, Co-Founder
City Saucery is inspired by the age-old tradition of preserving fresh and natural ingredients for everyone to enjoy year-round.
The power of three
Michael
Michael (proud son of Nonna Carolina) was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY enjoying his parents' fresh and healthy cooking. Vegetables and fresh herbs were grown in their own home garden and were brought to the dinner table for the whole family to enjoy. Michael spent his summers in Calabria, Italy observing and learning the traditional ways of preserving home grown organic ingredients and enjoying the unique (and spicy) regional cuisine of his family's home. Growing up in Brooklyn, and raised by Italian parents, influenced Michael's appreciation for real food greatly. The diversity of cuisines in NYC and fresh home cooked and clean meals inspired him to venture into recreating foods he knows well.
Nonna
Nonna Carolina was born and raised in Calabria, Italy (the southernmost and spiciest region) and learned to cook from her own nonna. She came to Brooklyn, NY in the 1970s, bringing with her age-old traditions and recipes handed down over generations from the women in her own family. Nowadays, after having cooked professionally in NYC, she still believes and continues with the casalinga-style of cooking: "the only way I will cook!" This native Calabrisella is not only the Sauce Boss at City Saucery, but she's also one of the co-founders contributing in helping redefine how America eats at home.
Jorge
Jorge was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela and came to NYC over ten years ago to further his career as an Art Director. Meeting Michael on his journey led him to something completely unexpected when he joined the family on a typical Sunday and fell in love with the feast Nonna Carolina had cooked up for the entire family. Gathering around a cozy dinner table while tasting authentic and healthy Calabrese dishes would change him forever. He may have left the grueling ad world behind but he's also discovered his true passion with helping redesign a better American food system.
Together this modern family business set out to jar that same fresh, locally-sourced, home-cooked taste that only Nonna can create in her kitchen and share it with the world.
