09/06/2026
KEEPING TRADITIONS🍅Yesterday, I had the privilege of being invited into a growing tradition- the making of THE SAUCE!
Jarring, canning, preserving — however your family does it, one thing is certain: it is truly a labor of love. And I mean LABOR!
The Perri family has been at this for over 25 years, and it is indeed a JOB — with different crews working together to turn beautiful, fresh tomatoes into perfect jars packed with the taste of summer.
For the last 10 years, Steven— the head Tomato Master — has coordinated this entire operation, solely for the love of tradition, family and friends, and, most importantly, to make sure the youngsters learn how it’s done and carry it forward the RIGHT way!
Now, I know every Italian family has their way of making sauce. Everyone has their own process, their own little secrets and tricks, so don’t worry — I will not be divulging any hacks I may have learned!
But what impressed me most was how organized it all was, how engaged everyone was, and how welcoming they were to us newbies. There was a genuine desire to teach, share and pass down the art of making sauce.
And, of course, as with any good Italian gathering, there was food to feast on, wine to sip and laughs for days.
Hospitality throughout the Italian heritage is like no other. It is truly unsurpassed.
We live to enjoy the fruits of Mother Nature, but we also understand that food is so much more than food. It’s how we show love. It’s how we welcome people. It’s how we teach. It’s how we remember. And it’s how we keep our traditions alive.
We feed not only the minds of those willing to learn — we make sure we feed their bellies, too!
Thank you to the Perri family, and to this year’s IACRL Unity Day Gala honoree, Anthony Valois, and his amazing wife Laura, for welcoming me into the pack and allowing me to be part of something so special.
It’s a memory that took me way too long to finally create — but one I will forever cherish.
Traditions don’t continue by accident. They continue because someone takes the time to teach, and someone else takes the time to learn.
And yesterday, I got to witness exactly that. ❤️🍅🇮🇹
