Ellie’s Party Salsa, Salsa Producer, Catering Company And Home Based Micro-Kitchen Participates In San Diego Food Justice Project Cohort 2
Ellie is a mother of two, living on her own, navigating rising costs, all while holding firmly onto the hope that Ellie’s Party Salsa will soon be a staple product in groceries across San Diego and beyond.
The dream began years ago. Amongst friends and family gatherings, Ellie would share her salsas and dishes low-key experimenting flavors and recipes. Their responses confirmed what Ellie already knew: her salsa recipe is favored by many, making it a sellable product.
“I would go to Costco and buy the salsa. I’m not kidding you, I’d take the Costco salsa and my salsa and I’d serve them side-by-side. The response was always the same…people preferred my salsa over Costco’s.”
Ellie’s Party Salsa includes a selection of guacamole salsa, chipotle salsa, birria salsa, and the classic pico de gallo salsa paired best with Ellie’s Party Salsa tortilla chips. When Ellie is not home preparing salsa, she is catering large events making tinga, enchiladas, tostadas, arroz y frijoles—classic Mexican dishes. The best part of Ellie’s Party Salsa? You can order online and enjoy the dishes alongside Ellie at her home, where she will prepare and serve you like a guest!
“I just grab some chicken, shred it into a bowl, and I add Ellie’s Party Salsa Chipotle sauce, and there you have tinga! Or you can warm up tortillas and make cheese enchiladas using the same Ellie’s Party Salsa Chipotle Sauce.”
Still, a recipe and a dream are not enough for establishing a longstanding, formidable corporation in San Diego, like Ellie envisions.
“More than 40 years ago I owned and operated a restaurant, but I don't know everything my dad knew. The permits, the accounting, the taxes… They (San Diego Food Justice Project educators) are actually teaching us about taxes today. I want Ellie’s Party Salsa at every party. I want it to be in every home, in Costco, all the local markets. But I need capital so I can get the equipment I need.”
For Ellie, forming part of the third cohort is an opportunity to access knowledge and pathways toward manifesting her business dream. And the evident need for consistent and intentionally-driven support and capital amongst City Heights and San Diego county business owners is a fundamental underpinning for the San Diego Food Justice Project initiative, a project our Economic Development team leads with local organizations and Miramar Community College. Novice entrepreneurs not only need support in learning tax regulations, business account management, inventorying, and reporting, they also need guidance, encouragement, and funds to begin operating.
“I met the mentors recently. They came in and presented themselves. I spoke with Cameron (one of many mentors working one-on-one with entrepreneurs) and we instantly connected. She assigned me homework on that day, and immediately I thought, “I like this girl!”
The San Diego Food Justice Project, along with our Economic Development team’s efforts as coordinators and mentors, is evidence of a strong effort amongst our community to meet imminent financial and educational needs for local and non-local business owners. Starting with a business education curriculum and one-on-one mentorship with organizers, the project and its coordinators hope it will drive business owners in the direction of realizing their business goals, rather than holding onto the dream of owning a sustainable business.
Are you interested in learning more about how you can access resources, like the San Diego Food Justice Project? Send us an inquiry or, if you are a food-related up and coming or established business owner, submit a preliminary application for the fourth cohort of San Diego Food Justice grant recipients.