Food

June 26, 2026

New Jersey Welcomes the World (not New York)

The World Cup is officially underway at the Meadowlands, which in case you were confused, is in New Jersey – NOT New York. So, we welcome the world to our beloved state, which contains immigrants and ethnicities from every corner of the world. In a way, it makes sense that Jersey is the host. A… Continue reading

Bergen County, Essex County, Exploring, Food, Just Plain Cool, New Jersey, Sussex County

Campino Restaurant, Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Dickie Dee’s, Franklin Mineral Museum, Franklinite, Jughandle, New Jersey, Newark Archdiocese, Revolutionary War, Sterling Hill Mining MuseumSterling Hill Mining Museum, The Belmont, Thomas Edison, West Orange
December 21, 2025

My Jersey Christmas List: 2025

We are now less than a week away from Christmas, so I better make sure to get my Christmas list to Santa. And of course, my list has its own bit of Jersey flair. It’s All About the Food First, I have to ask the big guy for some Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy and fudge… Continue reading

Cape May County, Exploring, Food, New Jersey, Shopping

Cape May, E Whitmore Art, Fralinger’s, horseshoe crab, New Jersey, Original Fudge Kitchen, Sunset Beach, Taylor Ham, TEC, Wildwood Crest
November 22, 2025

Back on the Blog

I will fully admit, I’ve been off the wagon writing posts as of late. There’s been a lot going on and I would like to share the latest news. October: Italian Heritage Month October was Italian Heritage Month; a wonderful time of year that celebrates all that is wonderful about Italian Heritage! It gives us… Continue reading

Essex County, Festivals, Food, New Jersey

family, Feast of St. Gerard, gratitude, holiday, holidays, Italian American Heritage Month, Newark, St. Lucy’s Church, Thanksgiving
November 9, 2024

Bakery Legend Passes

Growing up in North Jersey, we were lucky enough to have plenty of awesome food options. And of course we each have our favorite. For generations, Calandra’s Bakery ranks high on many lists. Sadly, the founder of Calandra’s, Luciano Calandra, Sr., passed away at the age of 94. Signore Calandra immigrated from Camporeale, Sicily in… Continue reading

Essex County, Food, Jersey Icon, New Jersey

Calandra’s Bakery, Camporeale, Luciano Calandra, New Jersey, Newark, Sicily
October 9, 2024

Italian Heritage Month: The Italian Hot Dog

Growing up in North Jersey, just a stone’s throw from Newark, a battle continues to take place that’s as old as the neighborhood of the Old First Ward – what Italian hot dog do you prefer? What is an Italian Hot Dog? Just like I’ve said countless times, I grew up with certain foods and… Continue reading

Essex County, Food, Jersey Icon, Just Plain Cool, New Jersey

Dickie Dee’s, Italian Hot Dog, Jimmy Buffs, Jimmy Racioppi, Newark
December 15, 2023

My 2023 New Jersey Christmas List

I may be a little late getting my list to Santa this year, but I hope he knows all that has been going on lately and he’ll cut me some slack. I think I’ve been a pretty good girl this year, so hopefully I’m on the fat man’s nice list. Especially when he doesn’t need… Continue reading

Cape May County, Conservation, Exploring, Food, New Jersey, Outdoors, Shopping

Appalachian Trail, Franlinger’s Salt Water Taffy, Garden State, Garden State Parkway, Jersey State Line, New Jersey, Parkway token, TEC
July 27, 2023

Happy New Jersey Day!

I am excited to (hopefully) be the first person of your day to wish you a Happy New Jersey Day! Now for me, every day is New Jersey Day, but this is one of the two days out of the year we all need to stop and pay homage to our great state. In case… Continue reading

Camden County, Cumberland County, Essex County, Exploring, Food, History, Hudson County, Just Plain Cool, Monmouth County, New Jersey, Ocean County, Passaic County, Warren County

Atlantic City, Battle of Trenton, Garden State, Giovanni de Verrazano, Hoboken, John Holland, Kittatinny, Lenni Lenape, New Jersey, New Jersey history, Newark, Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, Revolutionary War, Thomas Edison
March 13, 2023

River View East: End of an Era

Anyone from Jersey knows we all have our favorite places for hot dogs. Italian hot dog? For me it was Dickie Dee’s. A hot dog truck dog? I would go to JR’s on Franklin Avenue in Nutley. If you wanted something really special, it was Rutt’s Hut. For my husband, however, growing up in Elmwood… Continue reading

Bergen County, Food, Jersey Icon, Just Plain Cool, New Jersey

Elmwood Park, hot dogs, JR's Hot Dogs, New Jersey, River View East, Rutts Hut
January 20, 2022

The Language of New Jersey

If you live in New Jersey, you know we have a language all our own. However, if you are just a visitor, you may not know how best to communicate with us. Here are a few suggestion to help navigate a typical conversation. “How You Doin’?” Most people in other states start conversations with “hi”… Continue reading

Cape May County, Essex County, Food, Jersey Icon, Just Plain Cool, Morris County, New Jersey

BENNY, Disco Fries, Down the Shore, Eagles, Giants, Goosey Night, Hibernia Diner, hoagies, Jefferson Diner, Jets, Jughandle, Mischief Night, New Jersey, New Jersey history, North Jersey, Pork Roll, Roxbury Diner, Shoobie, South Jersey, subs, Taylor Ham
January 4, 2022

2022 New Jersey Goals

As the calendar turns and we move ahead to 2022, most people make resolutions for the new year. I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of resolutions. They are usually all the same; lose weight, spend more time with the family, blah, blah, blah. While it may sound like semantics, I prefer to make goals.… Continue reading

Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cape May County, Conservation, Cumberland County, Essex County, Exploring, Food, Gloucester County, History, Monmouth County, Morris County, New Jersey, Ocean County, Outdoors, Photography, Pine Barrens, Preservation

Appalachian Trail, cape may diamond, Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Down the Shore, Dr. Michael Giuliano, Film Photography Podcast, fly fishing, Heritage Brook Trout, horseshoe crab, New Jersey, Newark, Pine Barrens, red knot