Nola’s Fresh Foods LLC, Roslindale, Mass. (Boston), says it’s bringing a “salsa revolution to New England” for those consumers tired of “cooked, jarred tomato paste that is passed off as salsa.” 

“If you are looking for authentic Mexican salsa that is bold, fresh and all natural then Nola's is the salsa for you,” says Nola’s founder Sherie Grillon. “Nola's only uses the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are committed to providing consumers with the best product on the market. Salsa is meant to be fresh and flavorful, great as a snack or added to favorite dishes.”

Nola’s has two refrigerated varieties: Salsa Fresca, a traditional tomato-based raw blended salsa; and Fire Roasted Corn and Black Bean. Grillon describes the latter variety as a “rich, full-flavored, smoky salsa that combines roasted corn, roasted tomatoes and fresh cooked black beans.” (“This salsa is great addition to many dishes including quesadillas and fajitas,” she adds).

Grillon grew up in New Orleans and says the Nola’s name pays homage to her hometown, “the city that developed my love and respect of food.” She worked her way up in restaurants and ended up as a cook before leaving for Austin, Texas, to attend the University of Texas at Austin.

I continued cooking in restaurants and fell in love with the bold flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine. I worked with others who shared my passion for food and taught me how to make some incredible dishes. I began experimenting with making my own salsa, and it was at this time I developed my Salsa Fresca.

She says she started Nola’s Fresh Foods in 2011 as a wholesale company supplying local Boston-area stores. Today the Xoz product is distributed throughout the Northeast. The salsas have no preservatives, sugar, oils, artificial colors or flavors. They also are vegan and gluten free.

Nola's Salsas have NO PRESERVATIVES, NO SUGAR, NO OILS and NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS OR FLAVORS. They are Vegan and Gluten Free so everyone can enjoy the best salsa available.

I grew up in New Orleans where food is a way of life, a place where before you are done with one meal, you are talking about what your next meal is going to be.

I have loved cooking ever since I was a child. One of my earliest memories is of being in the kitchen with my maw maw (grandmother) watching cooking shows on television while she prepared a meal for the family. I watched her put love into every meal she cooked for our family, and I could taste it. I believe that people can taste when food is made with love, and just as my maw maw did, I put love into all the food I cook; when I cook, my food comes from the soul.

During high school I started working in restaurants as a hostess, server and eventually as a cook. It was a natural transition for me to be in the kitchen learning even more skills from other cooks. I enjoyed that I was able to bring my food to people in my community.

When I was nineteen I moved to Austin, Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin. I continued cooking in restaurants and fell in love with the bold flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine. I worked with others who shared my passion for food and taught me how to make some incredible dishes. I began experimenting with making my own salsa, and it was at this time I developed my Salsa Fresca.

Salsa Fresca is a traditional Mexican salsa in which fresh ingredients are blended together to create a robust flavor with a little bit of heat. You can find Salsa Fresca served in almost any Mexican restaurant.

Over the past 15 years I have continued to make my Salsa Fresca and develop other recipes such as my Fire Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salsa. I have gotten great pleasure watching friends, family and co-workers enjoy my salsa during a football game, taco night or a function. After fifteen years of the bowls being scraped clean and hearing, “this is the best salsa I have ever had,” I decided it was time to share the love with others.

In 2011 I started Nola’s Fresh Foods as a wholesale company to bring my salsa to local stores. The name is a way for me to pay homage to my hometown of New Orleans, the city that developed my love and respect of food. I want to provide people with a product that they can trust, using only natural and fresh ingredients with no added preservatives or sugars.

I truly hope that you enjoy my salsas and take the time to share them with friends and family. At Nola’s we are committed to 100% customer satisfaction. If you are ever unhappy with our product please contact us immediately. We would also love to hear from you if you are happy with the product or want to share a recipe with our other cooks out there.

Thank you for your support!

Sherie Grillon, Owner