Tag: utica

Utica’s Famous Tomato Pie

Being that I was born and raised in the city, this very famous dish is quite foreign to me. Tomato pie is very well known in the Central New York area and gained its popularity here in the 1900’s. In Utica, one of the best places to buy tomato pie used to be O’scugnizzo’s Pizza in 1914,when the owner would make whole pies and sell them for five cents. His grandsons have kept the tradition alive by continuing to make tomato pie and pizza with a few of their own variations on the original recipe and the prices, as well.  The pie is very similar to pizza but unlike pizza, has little to no cheese. Tomato pie is a Sicilian based dish and can easily be found in Sicilian-American communities. Much like Sicilian pizza, tomato pie is served in square slices. It usually isn’t served fresh out of the oven; it sits for awhile and is served at room temperature. The ingredients used are quite simple and are as follows:

Thick, porous dough

Tomato sauce

Grated romano cheese/Parmasen Cheese (optional–but who doesn’t like a little cheese)

In the Utica area, this pie is available in almost every pizzeria. It can also be found in eateries that don’t constitute as pizzerias which, in fact, speaks highly on the dish’s popularity. A few local places to find tomato pie are:

Tony’s Pizza

Venice Pizzeria

Holland Farms Bakery & Deli

Karam’s Middle East Bakery

Minar Fine Indian Cuisine

Tomato pie is one of those dishes that you can serve at a get together or even when you’re looking for something to eat that’s not too heavy. It’s a great way to feed an appetite for under 20 bucks. 

The Utica Comets Broken Down

The Comets franchise has been around since 1932.  The Utica Comets however are very new. The Comets franchise was purchased by the NHL team the Vancouver Canucks and started their operation in Utica in 2013. Go follow the Comets on Twitter for information about the team and ticket sales.

The Comets play their home games at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, better known as the Aud. Built in 1957, the Aud can fit up to 3,800 fans for a Comets game.

In just the two short years that the Comets have been in Utica they have had huge success. Last season they were in the American Hockey League (AHL) finals. Unfortunately, they did not win the championship but they were named conference champions.

The Comets are in the Eastern Conference of the AHL and in the Northern Division. There are seven teams in the Comets division and 15 teams in their conference. Finishing best out of all those teams in just their second year in Utica gives the fans a lot to cheer for.

To show how much better they have gotten over just one year, take a look at the numbers, here.

Without a doubt the Utica Comets are among the most popular teams to follow in Utica, and for all the right reasons. Their quick success has made them a team that is nationally known in the world of AHL hockey. Utica can only hope that this success continues. Hopefully with their success it brings even more fans to their games and more championships back to this great city.

Utica College Football

On Saturday September 5, the Utica College Pioneers earned their seventh straight season opener win by defeating Misericordia University 42-28. The team looked great for their first game of the season as five Pioneers added points to the scoreboard. The weather was great and the Pioneers were getting loose early in warm ups, hosting on their home field.

UC started off with a big 50 yard touchdown run from Junior Nicodemus Gambell. Gambell fits in great with the Pioneers offense, he’s a nice speed back that will make big plays when they need it.  Jerred Beniquez, a junior, returned a 90 yard kickoff for the touchdown, setting the school record for the pioneers.

UC quarterback Teddy VanGalen, completed 18 out of 25 passes and ended the game with 263 passing yards with one passing touchdown to wide out Gregory Palmer. Palmer has been catching passes for the Pioneers for three years and is still looking to make his last year a highlight reel. Palmer finished the game with 160 receiving yards and a 62 yard touchdown which gave the Pioneers some in the first half cushion.

The Utica College Pioneers finished the game with a total 263 passing yards and 221 rushing yards, marking 483 total offense yards of the game. Defensive End Nick Woodman, Utica native, added 1.5 sacks and tied the school record for sacks at 18.0. Juwan Wilson added a team high 11 tackles for the day. The Pioneers have started off the season in a positive manner, they are now 1-0 and looking to keep the ball rolling. They are traveling all the way to Ohio to face Northern Ohio University September 12.

Unique Sports In Utica

The city of Utica is home to a number of sports teams at many different levels. For the size of Utica, being home to an American Hockey League (AHL) team, a college team and multiple high school teams is quite impressive.

Probably the most famous of teams in Utica, the Utica Comets are an NHL affiliate team with the Vancouver Canucks. The Comets started calling Utica home in 2013 and play their home games at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

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Utica is also home to Utica College, a Division III collegiate school that houses multiple men’s and women’s sporting teams. Founded in 1946 and affiliated with Syracuse University,  Utica College is now a private institution. The Pioneers have had growing success in their sporting programs and now have one of the biggest inflatable domes to play and practice sports in the entire country!

utica+college+dome

No matter what age, anyone can find a sport to entertain them in Utica.

 

 

 

Heaven On a Plate

riggiesToday’s special features every Central New Yorker’s favorite entree to eat, and cook. This Italian-American pasta dish was first originated right here in upstate New York. Sadly, the creator of this masterpiece is unknown, although there are everyday cooks out there trying to steal Jane Doe’s creation (my mom is one of them). Chicken Riggies is an Italian/American pasta dish that can be made multiple ways. Usually, you will find a plate of riggies consisting of chicken, rigatoni pasta, mushrooms and hot or sweet peppers in a spicy creamy tomato sauce. The dish serves to be one of the most famous entrees Utica has to offer. You can find Chicken riggies on almost any local restaurant menu each made differently for your taste and for reasonable prices. One bite of this flavorful pasta dish will have you begging for more!

Local Chicken Riggie Hotspots

Delmonico’s Chicken Riggies- Rigatoni Pasta, Mushrooms, Bell Peppers, Onions, Olives, Hot Peppers and Chicken in our Special Light Sauce…..$15.99

https://goo.gl/maps/8FYqK

Chesterfields Chicken Riggies- Tender, bite-size pieces of chicken served with rigatoni, Romano cheese, sweet and hot cherry peppers, and red onions in a spicy white wine marinara sauce…..$14.99

https://goo.gl/maps/IAKeR

Secret Garden- First place winner in the annual riggie fest…..$15.45

https://goo.gl/maps/8UFCu

Babe’s Macaroni and Grill- Rigatoni with fresh mushrooms, marinated peppers and onions, olives and chunks of chicken tossed in our secret sauce…..$12.99

https://goo.gl/maps/MJL9X

Ventura’s Restaurant- Rigitaoni and chicken tossed in our homemade vodka sauce…..$ 15.99

https://goo.gl/maps/x9Cd0

Teddy’s Restaurant- Sweet pepper, mushrooms, onions, black olives and chicken with rigatoni in a light wine sauce…..$15.99

https://goo.gl/maps/GP6Fq

 Make Your Own

1 16 oz package rigatoni

2 lbs skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed

salt

pepper

garlic powder

3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 white onion, diced

1 can olives

1 package mushrooms

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 green pepper, seeded, sliced

3 roasted red peppers drained

crushed red pepper flakes

1 28oz can crushed tomatoes

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup parmasean cheese

Directions

1 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the rigatoni pasta, and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain and keep warm.

2 Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt, pepper and garlic powder and cook in the pan until lightly browned on all sides, and no longer pink in the middle. Once cooked add in onion, mushrooms, olives, remained on medium heat. In a tall add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, can crushed tomatoes and 1/2 cup heavy cream stir, add in the green pepper, crushed red pepper,  and roasted red pepper. Leave on medium heat.

3 Stir the chicken and vegetables cook until slightly softened, cook. Drain and add to pot of sauce. Bring to a simmer, then stir last half of heavy cream. Simmer 2 or 3 minutes, then stir in the pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese to serve.

Annual Riggiefest 

The first annual Riggiefest was held in Utica, NY, in 2005 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. It is a contest between local restaurants that feature their version of chicken riggies, which determines what restaurant has the best riggies . The winning restaurant will win the prestigious “Riggie Cup”.