Tommy DeVito may no longer be the starting quarterback of the New York Giants, but the Week 14 NFC Offensive Player of the Week has already won the hearts of football fans across the country for his stellar play while putting his Italian heritage on full display. Now, with an undeniably powerful and recognizable brand, DeVito is set to capitalize on his newfound fame after agreeing to an endorsement deal with Rao’s Homemade.
The brand of pasta sauces created by the iconic restaurant of the same name in Harlem, New York wasted no time inking “Tommy Cutlets” to a deal, and the partnership has already taken shape as seen in the following video on Instagram Reels:
The NFL quarterback proudly announces that Rao’s Homemade is the “official sauce of Tommy Cutlets” before showing his audience how his family leverages the sauce to compliment his mother Alexandra’s famous chicken cutlets recipe. DeVito and his mom provide a step-by-step walkthrough of how she makes Tommy’s favorite dish.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 2 Eggs
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan
- 2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 jars of Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce
Directions:
Step 1: Slice chicken breasts in half, horizontally, and pound with a mallet until thin.
Step 2: Beat 2 eggs in a mixing bowl.
Step 3: Add salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp parmesan into the egg wash.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, pour the Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs.
Step 5: One piece at a time, lather the thinly sliced chicken breast in egg wash, until fully coated, and then into the breadcrumb mixture, coating all sides.
Step 6: Heat up 1 cup of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and fry cutlets until golden brown on each side.
Step 7: Once cooked, remove from the pan and allow the cutlets to drain on paper towels.
Step 8: In a medium saucepan, pour 2 jars of Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce and simmer on medium-low heat.
Step 9: Plate chicken and pour ½ cup of Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce, the signature sauce of Tommy Cutlets, onto the breaded chicken.
Step 10: Serve with grated parmesan on top.
As for the sauce itself, DeVito praises its simplicity and authentic taste with “whole Italian tomatoes, fresh garlic, basil, and onion in each bite,” while his mom characterized the sauce as “a staple in the DeVito family.”
“It’s been a wild few weeks and now we’re able to enjoy our family together and enjoy Rao’s Homemade,” says Alexandra in the reel.
Finally, the video closes with the NFL quarterback spilling a little sauce in his lap right before Alexandra tells her son not to worry and offers to do his laundry, as all Italian moms would.
The timing of the partnership is interesting, as the news comes the same week that his TD LLC filed trademarks for “Tommy Cutlets” and “Passing Paisano.” DeVito plans to use these phrases to sell everything from chicken cutlets, pasta, pizza, tomato sauce, clothing, and more.
Alongside his agent and recent National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame inductee Sean Stellato, you can expect to see plenty more Italian-American-themed partnerships and merchandise in the near future.
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