JerseyBites.com

Hit the Trail of New Jersey Beer

Recently, I took a drive up to Maine to visit family and, while I was there, I capitalized on the opportunity to visit a few of the many Portland-area breweries. It has been many years since my first visit to Maine Beer Company, and back then, its tiny taproom was perched overlooking the brewery and warehouse. These days, that warehouse is itself part of the tasting experience, complete with sleek decor and a large and somewhat curious fountain. A view from the old tasting room to the new one at Maine Beer Company.### Worth 1,000 Words I noticed something else as well. Everyone was taking phot...

Myron Mixon Pitmaster Barbeque Opening December 13, in Hoboken

Five-time World Barbeque Champion Pitmaster Myron Mixon brings his unique flavor and competition-style Q to Hoboken with the opening of Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster Barbeque. This is Myron’s second outpost of the eponymous spot (the first is located in Old Town Alexandria, VA) and offers guests the opportunity to enjoy his award-winning smoked meats in a classic roadside-style venue. The SpaceMyron Mixon’s Pitmaster Barbeque occupies a 1,300-square-foot space on Washington Street in downtown Hoboken, allowing seating for up to 42 guests indoors, plus picnic tables outside that can accommodate up to...

Fourth Creek Relish to the Rescue

It’s been a long time since I’ve written about Fourth Creek’s sweet red pepper relish. It was their first product and I absolutely fell in love with it. I’m a huge red pepper jam fan. If I use my imagination, I can find 101 ways to work it into my favorite recipes. If you’re making lamb this Easter, it’s the perfect accompaniment. Ditch the mint jelly and instead add some fresh, finely chopped mint to this Rumson, New Jersey, company’s red pepper relish. I doubt you will ever eat lamb without it again. The Fourth Creek product line has expanded over the years, with several new and exciting rel...

Atlantic County's Top 3 Sandwiches: A Search by Todd Noon

Aside from my late father’s liverwurst-and-mustard-on-white that, incredibly and revoltingly, he would often dunk in hot tea, I have encountered few sandwiches that I have been unwilling to eat and enjoy. Sandwiches are my favorite food “thing.” Having grown up in Cumberland County, working for many years in Cape May County, and now living in Atlantic County for the past 32 years, I have found some great sandwiches in this oft-overlooked corner of the state: sandwiches so outstanding that they deserve recognition and a strong recommendation that you try them for yourself. Over the next several...

Two River Mushroom Co.: An Interview With Founder KC Sullivan

Mushrooms have really been making headlines lately and no, I am not here to talk about the psychedelic variety. Last year, I was introduced to the Two River Mushroom Co. through one of my restaurant clients and I was instantly intrigued. It never occurred to me to think about how mushrooms show up at the grocery store or on a plate at a restaurant. So when I learned there was a local mushroom farm, it really caught my attention. Enter KC Sullivan: science teacher by day, mushroom farmer by night, weekends, and pretty much every other waking moment. Two River Mushroom Co. founder KC Sullivan sh...

Curry Up Now Celebrates First Anniversary at Hoboken Location

The Hoboken, NJ, location of Curry Up Now celebrates its first anniversary on February 25. Akash and Rana Kapoor, along with cofounder Amir Hosseini, conceptualized the popular eatery. As a result of their hard work, Curry Up Now’s mission is to serve authentic Indian flavors through nationally recognized corporate and franchised units. Curry Up Now’s chef and owner, Akash Kapoor. Photo courtesy of Curry Up Now.### Brief Background Akash Kapoor grew up in Ranchi, India, where he learned the joys of cooking from his mother Bably, who was a successful self-taught chef. Kapoor spent five years in...

One Restaurateur's Struggle, Shared by Many

As we’ve covered for nearly 11(!) months, the restaurant world is struggling. Understatement. Through it all, local spots everywhere have found creative ways to pivot to outdoor options—including in frigid temps—and their teams are working hard to keep everyone aware of what they’re up to—even in cases when what they’re up to keeps changing. Their survival hangs in the balance and, ultimately, a lot of this comes down to the public really hearing from the owners, getting a sense of what’s at stake. About two months into the public health crisis, for example, Dave Fletcher, owner of Cedar Bean’...

When and Where to Find Rahway's “Takeout” Restaurant Week 2021

Rahway Restaurant Week 2021, the seventh annual community culinary celebration organized by the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership, will be held January 18 to 22. In order to comply with current protocols and restrictions on indoor dining, faithful foodie fans are invited to support Rahway eateries by enjoying takeout orders. Ann Marie Williams and Amy Garcia Phillips, managing directors of the Rahway Arts and Business Partnership, noted that even during a pandemic, Rahway’s restaurant scene is still a foodie’s favorite. They invite patrons to bring their appetites and enjoy Rahway’s upcomin...

Jersey Pizza Joints: Delivering a Shift in the Facebook Landscape

Was it just me or did any of you also expect a giant reptile to emerge from the banks of the Hudson River to take a nibble out of Ryan Seacrest just as the New Year’s Eve ball dropped? Maybe I’ve spent too much time on Netflix during the quarantine, but I think we can all agree that 2020 was that kind of year. Still, it wasn’t completely bad; in between binge-watching reruns of Veronica Mars and nonstop breaking news updates I was introduced to the Facebook group Jersey Pizza Joints. A New Look for the NewsfeedA friend invited me to join the group in early August. Within a matter of days, my f...

Oktoberfest, Jersey Shore Style

Like so much else this year, the world’s largest celebration of beer was canceled. The Volksfest known as Oktoberfest isn’t happening in Munich this year. Here’s what occurred to me: At least you don’t have to go all the way to Germany to enjoy the signature beer style that’s served at the event.In fact, it just might be a short (Uber) ride away.Oktoberfest is a Marzen lager beer. It’s traditionally brewed in March (“Marzen”) and aged (or laagered) through the summer to before being served at the fall festival. It’s a tad stronger than the Vienna-style lager it’s based on. Oktoberfest is malt ...