Before this taste test, I had no idea how many jarred vodka sauces were on store shelves. Just about every major manufacturer has entered the market, along with legendary restaurants sharing their signature recipes—and even a famous Hollywood actor. Finding the best vodka sauce was going to be a delicious, carb-loading challenge.
Even before opening a jar, I noticed how much storytelling goes into selling pasta sauce. Imagery of restaurants with checkered tablecloths and special touches from Italian grandmas adorned the labels. Many brands tied their authenticity to a specific location. The labels were a roadmap of the New York City boroughs—sauces hailed from Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn. There was also one from New Jersey and one from Chicago. Some products came ready to serve with heavy cream already incorporated into the sauce. Others included instructions for adding fresh cream while heating the sauce.
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