I’ve lived in Upstate New York almost all my life – I even lived in Utica for almost a year… And yet, I’ve never even HEARD of these two treats until recently. While watching the PBS show “The Sweet Life” with Chris Xavier I’ve become aware that she hails from an hour or so north of me. (Sorry, no active website yet…) She made this great looking dish called Utica Greens? Escarole, prosciutto, cherry peppers… YUM! While reading a couple recipes and articles, I heard tell of another Utica classic - Chicken Riggies. I’m guessing that its foundation was originally Penne a la Vodka (it has a similar pink sauce – tomatoes and cream), yet this uses sherry and adds hot peppers, mushrooms, and of course, chicken Neither dish is for the “faint of heart” where heat is concerned! WHEN I make these for our crowd, I’ll make one batch with cherry peppers, one with a milder version, like Fresnos… Blasphemy for sure, so I may never be allowed in Utica again! But hey – I was working 60-70 hours per week while I was there… Perhaps THAT explains my oversight?