Are you looking to shake things up in the kitchen? Do you enjoy flavorful pasta sauce that feels fresh and bold? Have you tried Carmine’s sauce? The sauce which stems from the legendary Carmine‘s Italian restaurant in NYC is available nationwide in a wide range of grocery stores. We here in Massachusetts have this brand on our store shelves, and it is truly one worth picking up.

One of the exciting things about this particular brand is that it feels so authentic. This doesn’t taste like your average jar of pasta sauce. And that’s because it’s not. So when they release new flavors, we get pretty excited about it.

Recently, we had the opportunity to try Carmine‘s latest sauce, their Spicy Pink Sauce, which is actually only available for New Yorkers. This sauce is a play off of their iconic vodka sauce, but with a spicy twist. The flavor is made with 100% Italian plum tomatoes, Calabrian chili, and cognac. It’s a vibrant pop of flavor that works perfectly with meatballs, Italian sausage, and whatever pasta you want to enjoy it with.

According to Glenn Rolnick, the Culinary Director for Carmine’s, the Spicy Pink Sauce, “is so versatile, and works really well with red meats. Its smoothness and a bit of fiery flavor from the Calabrian chili can be a great accompaniment to a steak, veal chop, or even a roasted pork loin. Beyond pasta I’d also recommend it with a chicken cutlet, fried or roasted eggplant, or even a portobello parmigiana. Mix it into rice dishes for a comforting winter meal, or if you’re looking for an easy appetizer, you can use it as a dipping sauce for risotto balls.”

If you want to add a glass of wine to your meal, Chef Glenn recommends “pairing the sauce with a smooth white wine, like a Pinot Grigio, or even a soft pink rosé to go with the flavor and heat of the Spicy Pink Sauce. A slight cooling of the mouth and tongue it would be perfect for what someone eating the sauce might be experiencing.”

After trying this sauce for ourselves, we have to admit that we agree with the chef. Not only do we enjoy the idea of pairing this particular sauce with pork and veal, and even eggplant, but this is definitely a lighter wine type of sauce. With the holidays fast approaching, you might be looking to shake things up in the kitchen. And Carmine’s is definitely going to become our go to sauce for the holidays.

Now the big thing is, we have to hope that the Spicy Pink Sauce does so well in New York that they decide to make that a nationwide treat.