Creamy Vermicelli Pasta Sauce Recipe Inspired by Savannah’s Pirates’ House
A Sauce Worth Sharing
Every home cook has that one signature recipe — the dish friends request time and time again, the one that makes an appearance at family gatherings or the meal they can prepare by memory alone. Our Signature Dish feature celebrates those recipes by spotlighting a favorite dish from someone in the community each month. After sharing the recipe and the story behind it, that person nominates someone else to keep the tradition going. This month’s recipe comes from Charlie Drawdy, a lifelong local and Realtor, who was nominated by Babbie Guscio.

Charlie’s famous fat-filled vermicelli sauce
Ingredients
- 4 ounces vermicelli noodles uncooked
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic crushed
- 1 small can sliced mushrooms
- 3 ounces cream cheese
- 1/4 cup white Zinfandel wine
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 4 ounces spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- In a small pot over low heat, add olive oil, butter, basil, garlic and mushrooms. Sauté gently while placing the cream cheese on top of the mushrooms and covering the pot, allowing the cheese to melt.
- Once the cream cheese has fully melted, add the white Zinfandel and allow the alcohol to cook off.
- Stir in the whipping cream, spaghetti sauce and salt. Cover and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until the fat rises to the surface and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Meanwhile, cook the vermicelli noodles according to package directions. Serve immediately with the sauce spooned generously over the top.


