A hardworking local chef is bringing big flavor to Siouxland with his new
snack shop in a North Sioux City strip mall. This cute little store features
his signature salsas and tons of other great local products, and I visited this spring with my kids to find out what the hype is all about. I was impressed with the delicious treats and the customer service and professionalism of the chef, so I'm excited to share all about it with you! Read on for the
full story of Chef Al's:
What is Chef Al's Snack Shop?
Chef Al's Snack Shop is the home of Chef Al's Sioux Salsa and other snacks and
treats from Chef James Alger and his wife, and from other great brands
especially other locally owned small businesses.
Where is Chef Al's Snack Shop?
Chef Al's Snack Shop is located at 554 River Drive in North Sioux City, South
Dakota in the Parkside Plaza shopping area. The shopping area is right next to North Sioux City's City Hall, and right across the street from the North Sioux City Community Library. There is a parking lot with free
parking in front of the shop.
Can't make it to North Sioux? You can also buy Chef Al's Sioux Salsa at Hy-Vee
in the Sioux City, Omaha, and Sioux Falls metro areas.
Who is Chef Al?
"Chef Al" is a nickname for Chef James Alger, a local caterer who spent several
years working at Hy-Vee, where he became known for the delicious salsa he
developed with coworker Daniel Nampha.
Chef Al's Sioux Salsa
The pico-style salsa Alger and Nampha developed is sold as Chef Al's Sioux Salsa
and comes in mild, medium, and hot. They also have queso and sell their salsa in
interesting specialty flavors like garlic, black bean & corn, or pineapple. They use high
quality fresh ingredients and mix it with a cement mixer, a unique touch that
lets them optimally control the mixing speed. I tried the mild and hot and found
both had great flavor and the hot did have a bit of heat to it--I admit to
being a wimp and preferring the mild! The salsas are generously sized and would
be a great addition to any party, whether watching your favorite sporting events
on tv, hosting a graduation party or having a relaxing summer cookout.
Other Products at Chef Al's
Chef Al's sells a wide variety of snacks, mostly from other locally owned
small businesses and makers. I spotted things like honey sticks from Mallett
Farms, freeze dried candy, banana bread his wife makes, and an ice cream case
with Blue Bunny ice cream from nearby Le Mars! I joked that it was like the farmer's market but inside, as there were so many local makers and bakers represented on the shelves and baskets inside the snack shop. I bought some cake truffle bites in key lime and chocolate flavors for myself and some ice cream cones for my kids and it was all so good. The key lime was my favorite and had excellent flavor and texture. My kids loved their ice cream and I thought it was very cool that the ice cream was from Wells Blue Bunny because that means that too is supporting a business from our area. Chef Alger also sells a
rotating variety of other delicious foods and surprises he makes himself beyond his signature salsa. Sometimes that's smoked
meat, hot beef sandwiches, or pasta salad, and sometimes that things like popcorn balls. It all looks so tasty!
More information about Chef Al's Snack Shop and Sioux Salsa
To get the latest info on Chef Al's and see his daily specials like those smoked meats I just mentioned, visit the
Chef Al's Sioux Salsa Facebook page.
The
Sioux City Journal also ran a great profile on Chef Al, which I found super helpful as research for this post.
Have any questions? Feel free to let me know and I'll see if I can find answers for you.
Happy snacking!
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