[gettin out]

WELL IT'S SAUCE IN THIS ITALIAN HOUSE, STILL IN JERSEY, THE POTS ON THE STOVE NOW & THE SNOW COMING DOWN,AS WE 'SPEAK".

[Rokinronda]

I enjoyed all the responses and wanted to say thanks for all the input!!!
MANGIA!!

[jtdraig]

Italian families with strong Italian tradition generally use the term "gravy" to refer to what the rest of us call sauce. I grew up in a heavily Italian area in New York and the term "gravy" wasn't unusual. I hadn't heard the term for many years until we lived next to an Italian family who maintained their traditions in Tucson..they called it gravy. Then, not until I retired, when a family here on our street who are Italian and maintain tradition call it "gravy". At the end of the day, who cares....to each his or her own.

[aln]

OKAYYYYY~~
I think we beat that to death with a SAUSAGE......... or do you call it a BOMBER?

[Helene2008]

I think my Irish husband started this argument at the TOTV luncheon....he calls it gravy. I on the other hand (whose mother was born in Rome, Italy and father born in Caserta, Italy) call it sauce. But at least we all agree....it's macaroni not pasta....

[tony]

Well, I don't know, Helene.

My wife made sauce, meatballs, sausage and pork for Christmas dinner.

My son, grandson and I made pasta. We just happened to cut it into macaroni.

My grandmother, though, always called it "ma-ca-DON." And we all understood her.

We did have a difficult time with her pronunciation around Christmas. She would talk about "sundy clothes." I was older when I realized nobody else pronounced Santa Claus like that.

[billy2fish]

My poor misguided wife calls it sauce,she thinks because her mother and father were right because they were born in Italy. All my Italian friends and family call it gravy as do most Italians from the lower parts of New York almost all of New Jersey and almost most of New England. If it's got meatballs sausage pork pepperoni IT'S GRAVY the Italians who call it sauce make their gravy from ketchup sweet basil and oregano.poor misguided souls.

:

[Helene2008]

I think my husband has been drinking the sauce...

[angel222]

In Long Island New York its definitely called gravy by all Italian Americans I've ever known...I'm not Italian myself but have been cooking Italian since I was married at 21....to me, the best thing is that it doesn't matter what you call it as long as it tastes great! Charlene

[Whalen]

http://italianfood.about.com/library...y/aa060200.htm

This about says it all, sauce/gravy, whatever you call it, it's still one of my all time favorite foods.
Especially if made my someone's Grandmother!

[redwitch]

I've lived in Joisey. I've lived on the Island. Heck, I've even lived in Rome. I've been in many Italian homes. The first I ever heard spaghetti/tomato sauce called gravy was here. However, I think I'll go with whalen's article. From now on, I make ragu, not sauce.

[njgranny]

They call it gravy there.

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by njgranny

They call it gravy there.

NJG.... I always knew I liked you!!!!but are you from New Jersey or Philly??? Doesn't matter, you call it gravy and that's all that counts.... Good choice.

[Rokinronda]

Originally Posted by kathiei

njg.... I always knew i liked you!!!!but are you from new jersey or philly??? Doesn't matter, you call it gravy and that's all that counts.... Good choice.

gravy!! Yes!

[KathieI]

Ronda, YES!!!!
(Aren't you all sorry I learned how to dazzle....)