Chicken riggies
 | |
| Type | Pasta |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | New York State |
| Main ingredients | chicken, peppers, rigatoni, tomato sauce |
Chicken riggies is a re-named "localized" Italian-American pasta dish claimed by natives to have originated in the Utica-Rome area of New York State, however it is simply a very common chicken Rigatoni variant. It is a pasta-based dish usually consisting of chicken, rigatoni and hot or sweet peppers in a spicy cream and tomato sauce. It should be noted that the dish as stated is in no way "original" or different to dozens of Chicken Rigatoni recipes.
Supposed Beginnings
The "origins" of renaming Chicken Rigatoni "riggies" have been disputed and lost in time and seems to be dependent upon local Uticans' braggadocios love of "fame" and notoriety, mixed with a gutteral local dialect that tends to shorten whole words for "hip" effect. Most of the chefs from the Utica area seem to have a claim to the dish, yet there seems to be no clear idea who was the originator.[1]
In one version of the origin, Bobby Hazelton came up with chicken riggies when he and Richie Scamardo owned the Clinton House restaurant in the strip mall in Clinton. In another version, a chef from Dominique’s Chesterfield Restaurant in Utica invented riggies in the 80s.[1] Despite ALL versions of the story not predating "chicken rigatoni"... nor similar Chicago variants by decades... the claims of local origin continue.
Riggiefest
The first annual Riggiefest, a Not-For-Profit, was held in Utica, NY, in 2005 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Riggiefest is a contest which determines what restaurant makes the best riggies in the area. The best riggies will win its creator the prestigious "Riggie Cup", with no actual value. All money made during the fest is donated directly to the YWCA.
See also
References
- ^ a b Kahler, Colleen Passalacqua (22 April 2009). "Controversy surrounds chicken riggies' origin". Utica Daily News. Retrieved 18 December 2009.[dead link]
Further reading
- Dellecese, Dave (24 September 2007). "Locals overreact as Rachael Ray teaches nation how to cook chicken riggies". WKTV. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
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