Yes, they did it again. The Lazzarone family, a longtime Reno clan, bested about 40 other cookers from around the West to win the pasta sauce contest at the 37th annual Eldorado Great Italian Festival, Sept. 6-7 in downtown Reno. This year marks the third win for the Lazzarones in the last five years. The family emerged as the top cooker in the 2014 and 2017 competitions and also placed third in 2015.

@RGJTaste, food writer Janelle LaSalle and Ivano Centemeri, executive chef of the Eldorado Resort Casino, rated the sauces on appearance, aroma, flavor and consistency. Judging was blind. The judges praised the Lazzarone meat sauce for its inviting aroma, balanced flavor (including deft use of herbs), and its ability to coat pasta properly.