I’ve enjoyed Del Monte “Zucchini with Italian Style Tomato Sauce” for several years. I wonder if it might not have been more than 30 years since I first tried it. *If they have been making it for that long.

I made some of this from home with zucchini, tomato, & onion (chicken broth, vinegar, Agave nectar, Splenda, marjoram, thyme, garlic powder, margarine, S&P). This turned out well. Not exactly the same flavors, but good in their own merit.

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Not sure how I found Conti’s Market in Raleigh, but probably on the Internet. I don’t recall what Rick Conti looked like, but if shown a picture, I probably could identify him. I recall we talked, and at some point he was having “woman” problems, which were affecting his business.

Below is a Google StreetView of N. Person Street, near where Conti’s Market was located. I would park in the little parking area, shown here, and walk the short distance down to the Market. *The Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop was located across the street on the opposite end of the block from Conti’s. There was also the Raleigh City Farm, a community garden, down a few blocks and to the left… and in the area Escazu, a specialty chocolate shop.

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One of the things I first bought at Conti’s was the Coluccio EVOO. I recall that it had a “peppery” flavor. After Conti’s closed, I eventually bought the Frantoia EVOO, probably at Fresh Market, but have seen it sold elsewhere. Both oils were expensive. Used them for salads and non-cooking uses. *I see I have a small bottle of the Frantoia, which I rarely use.