New Rochelle Salsa to Be at Beer Tasting Event

Gearing up for the Super Bowl and looking for some snack and beverage ideas?

Well, the place to be Saturday, Jan. 26, is The Beer Necessities in the Quaker Ridge Shopping Center.

From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the owners are having a Customer Appreciation Day.

Owner Michael Grossberg, who also owns The Grape Exchange, said the event is free and will feature beer and food tastings, including a visit from Great Divide Brewery from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

"Giving back to the community is important to us," Grossberg said.

One of the vendors chosen to be at The Beer Necessities Saturday is I Love Salsa by Jessica, which is made by New Rochelle residents Jessica Flick and Michael May.

Grossberg said they were chosen because they are customers and "it seems like a perfect match for things that go with beer.

"It's also good to get other local businesses some exposure," he said.

May said the salsa company is a start up, making small batches of the product by hand in Flick's kitchen and his kitchen. 

The girlfriend/boyfriend-run company was started in December.

"We figured we'd sell the salsa for the holiday," May said.

The initial results, he said, have been impressive.

"We went from 'let's test the water' to 'we've sold over 200 jars in the last month,' " May said.

So far most of the business has been by word of mouth.

"This will be our first foray in being in a store," May said.

A Web site is in the works, he said, but orders can be placed by e-mail, with a 16-ounce jar going for $5; a 32-ounce jar, $10. There are three heat levels—mild, medium and hot—though May advises that hot is truly hot.

"We even offer a deliver service if you live in New Rochelle," he said.

Flick turns out a batch of about nine jars in a couple of hours, May said.

"The amount of love, preparation and time Jessica puts into the salsa is incredible," he said. "She wants to make sure everything is perfect."

And what can people expect Saturday when they visit The Beer Necessities?

"They can expect what we believe to be the greatest tasting salsa they've ever tried," May said.