After watching the Oscars a few weeks ago I thought I would visit an iconic film that won some statues back in 1973. Having earned its place as one of the best American films ever made, The Godfather is the epic story of the Corleone family, it’s patriarch, and the repercussions the family business has on his children. It is one of the most referenced and quoted movies of all time; it also has some delicious food scenes!
At one point in the film “Fat Pete” Clemenza, Don Corleone’s right hand man, teaches Michael how to cook a red sauce just in case he has to cook for “20 guys someday”. At first it just sounds like a delicious sauce recipe, or perhaps a filler scene in the film but it actually carries a lot of significance to it in terms of the big picture.
It is at this point in the film that Vito has been shot and Sonny is managing the family. However, the fact that Clemenza mentions that Michael may be in charge of feeding guys someday is a foreshadowing of how Michael will eventually be in charge of the family. The statement can be taken as a literal cooking for the guys, but also in a more abstract “putting food on the table” kind of way. The head of the family is in charge of his guys livelihood. Clemenza is referencing the fact that Michael will be in charge of feeding and supporting the guys in the family at some point.
I also feel that the cooking aspect here is to reinforce the idea of gang as family. Families share meals; it is central to bonding as a cohesive unit, that they cook for one another is a manifestation of them taking care of and providing for one another. This reinforces the idea that they are a real family. Eventually, Michael will be cooking for/leading the Corleone family.
Also note that we never see Sonny provide for his guys in this manner which might be an allusion to his unsuccessful run as head of the family.
Clemenza teaches Michael to make a sauce and later how to perform a hit. Both are integral parts of the Mafia culture in which Michael is about to be a part of; cooking for the family is introductory while protecting and killing for them is more advanced. It seems that Clemenza is in charge of teaching Michael how to grow up in the ranks like an older brother would, reinforcing the family notion.
When Clemenza tells Michael how to make the sauce there is not a lot of hand-holding. He tells him the ingredients and how simple it is; a little oil, some garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, sausage, wine and sugar. I, on the other hand wanted to pass on a little more specificity for this recipe to you. The measurements can totally be changed or played around with to your tastes.
I have made pasta sauce a billion times. I usually use a bit of canned tomato sauce and add to it accordingly. I was nervous about a recipe that didn’t list the canned sauce as an ingredient. I was skeptical that this would come out too thick. I was glad to be proven wrong here. The texture was great and the taste had greater depth to it since it was not water down with the extra sauce.
For my meats I used meatballs and Italian sausage. I like the hot variety but you can use whatever you prefer. Although I feel like the spicier sausage added a lot of flavor to the sauce which I really enjoyed!
I was also curious as to why Clemenza adds the sugar. After speaking to a couple of Italian friends of mine they say that it cuts the acidity of the tomatoes and helps bring out the other flavors. I don’t know if that is correct but I am not gonna question it. Whatever the sugar does in this recipe, it works.
Overall, I liked this sauce better than my usual go-to sauce. I plan on making a bunch of this and freezing it. I guess when Clemenza was intending on teaching Michael a little about how to manage the family he had no idea he would be inspiring a suburban mom on how to manage weeknight dinner.
“Fat Pete” Clemenza’s Red Sauce:
1 Tbs olive oil
2 cloves of garlic minced
8oz tomato paste
32oz crushed tomatoes
1 pound Italian Sausage
6 frozen meatballs
1/4 cup red wine
1 tbs sugar
- Cook sauage over medium high heat until browned-about 5 minutes. Remove from pan.
- Cook the garlic in the oil for 1-2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, and tomato paste. Bring to a boil.
- Add sausage and meatballs, wine and sugar. Simmer 1 1/2 -2 hours
- Cook pasta according to directions and serve sauce over the pasta.
Sharon:
I enjoyed your interpretations of the Michael Corleone/Pete Clemenza “cooking-for-20-guy” scene from the Godfather. Before I read your posting, I never considered that the scene might be an allusion to Michael’s future as head of the family.
I, too, found Clemenza’a use of sugar an interesting addition to his recipe. Sugar is frequently found in store-bought sauce (gravy) from the jar. Now that you have broken down a recipe – which includes sugar – I’ll have to give your’s a whirl and see how it comes out.
I landed on your website while doing an Internet search to find a video clip of the Michael Corleone/Pete Clemenza cooking scene. It is refreshing to read someone reference one of the greatest movies ever – and more specifically – this particular scene. Clemenza (played by Richard Castellano) is always a master in front of the camera and he comes off completely natural as a cook . . .and the scene never fails to make my mouth water.
Thanks for posting and I will poke around ReadWatchEat.com a bit more and see what other interesting things I can find.
Thanks,
Larry
Do we remove the garlic from the oil after cooking 2-three minutes ?
I didn’t, but you can do that if you prefer!
Clemenza’s sauce is my basic family recipe for red sauce (gravy, since it has meat)
I make my own meatballs or just use good ground beef and brown it loose, along with the sausage
I don’t measure anything, I grew up with 2 Italian grandmas making this sauce
I add oregano seasoning and fresh basil, salt and pepper.
Sometimes I brown pork neck bones then cook them in the tomato sauce til the meat falls off the bones. I shred the meat into the sauce.