Local Upstate NY Salsa with Mexican Roots Now on Amazon

This might be the best salsa I've ever tasted, and believe it or not, it's made in New Hartford, NY. Currently Chica Celita's Salsa is available in Medium heat and hot, and the salsa is authentic and comes from a family recipe with roots in Mexico. Now, as of this week the salsa is available for purchase on Amazon.

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Becky Martyniuk, a local massage therapist in New Hartford is of Mexican descent and she has her grandmother's amazing recipe for restaurant style salsa. In fact. the salsa - Chica Celita's restaurant style salsa, is named after her grandmother Celita.

Martyniuk says as part of her growing lineup of products, she now offers Chica Celita's dry seasoning, which is perfect as a rub, or seasoning used on your favorite foods, or to create a dip. The seasoning is not yet available on Amazon.

Becky Martyniuk poses with her new restaurant style salsa now available in stores. (Photo by Andrew Derminio / WIBX TSM)

"Chica Celita's Salsa is a deliciously spicy blend of all-natural ingredients that's sure to turn up the heat at any gathering. With its addictive flavor and authentic goodness, we're sure you'll be reaching for our salsa time and time again."

Jeff Stone of Mohawk Valley Garden confirmed that MVG serves Chica Celita's salsa at the Adirondack Bank Center, NEXUS, Kookie's Q and Creamery, the 72 Tavern and Grill, and their other properties.

We are happy to share our family tradition with you. Open a jar and start your party.

Becky with her grandmother, Celia. Photo courtesy of Becky Martyniuk for TSM

"Celita believed that great food should be shared with friends and family," said Martyniuk of her grandmother. "Growing up in Puebla, Mexico, this salsa recipe was front and center at the best parties for many generations. We are happy to share our family tradition with you. Open a jar and start your party," she said.

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The salsa currently comes in medium, is gluten-free, and is all-natural. The ingredients are simply tomatoes, jalapeño, pepper, spices, garlic, and salt, and there's no added sugar.

Photo courtesy of Becky Martyniuk for TSM

Chica Celita's salsa is now available in stores at Chanatry’s, Utica Bread,
Street Corner Market, Peter’s Cornucopia, DeSantis Meat Market in Barneveld, and The Lowville Cheese Store, among others.

Martyniuk bottles and produces the salsa using the services of Nathan's Co-Packing in Rochester, which is the home of Nathan's Soup and Salad.

Watch Becky promoting the salsa on WIBX's Keeler Show below.

9 New Favorites from the New Menu at Utica's 72 Tavern and Grill

The 72 Tavern and Grill, a Utica, NY sports bar and restaurant connected to the Adirondack Bank Center, has now re-opened after an 18-month COVID-19 shutdown. The grand reopening has featured previous favorites from the previous menu, and some new updated menu items. Here are photos taken by photographer Nancy L. Ford of some of our favorites tasted during the restaurant's soft opening.

Gallery Credit: Bill Keeler

Utica, NY Police Department's Top Ten Most Wanted

The City of Utica Police Department in Utica, New York has released its Top Ten Most Wanted List for the month of February 2022.

Several of those listed have previously been featured in separate posts about individual crimes, on a previous wanted list, or as the Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers Wanted Person of the Week.

The reader is reminded that all persons, either suspected of or arrested in connection to, a crime, are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of any of the individuals listed is asked to call police or the local Crime Stoppers.

The Utica Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division can be reached at: (315) 223.3510.

Calls, e-mail, and messages may also be left anonymously with Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers by calling: 1-866-730-8477 (TIPS), by visiting www.mohawkvalleycrimestoppers.com, or by using the P3 Tips mobile app. All information received by Mohawk Valley Crime Stoppers is 100% confidential.

Gallery Credit: Kristine Bellino

Utica's Chicken Riggies Dish Wasn't Invented in Utica? Say It Isn't So.

The now-famous Utica Chicken Riggies recipe has taken on a life of its own. The dish is now found well outside the Utica-Rome area and it's getting more and more popular as word spreads around the northeast. While there are many variations of the dish today, there's still only one original recipe. So, who created the first "Riggies" recipe and where did it really originate.

Gallery Credit: Bill Keeler

36 Ideas to Inexpensively Make Your Backyard Feel Like a Resort

Here are some fairly easy and inexpensive ways to make your back yard feel like you're on vacation and a beautiful summer resort. If these 5 families can do this in Upstate New York, it can be done anywhere!

Gallery Credit: Bill Keeler

Chef's Express Bakery Opens In Downtown Utica

The grand opening of Chef’s Express on Genesee Street in Utica recently took place.The bakery provides raining for people supported by the ARC Oneida-Lewis Chapter.

Gallery Credit: Jim Rondenelli