Episodes
-
Millburn deli…enough said! In this episode, I had the pleasure to sit with Andrew Morgan and Rich Nemet, the dynamic duo behind Millburn Deli. We discuss the history of the deli, the origin of their many iconic sandwiches, their expansion plans and of course, the wild day before April Fools Day 2024 prank that lit social media on fire. There’s a reason Millburn Deli is an institution in the tri-state area and beyond and will be for many generations to come.
-
In many towns, franchise restaurants are a staple, but what sets some apart is having a local touch. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dave Delinko, the owner of The Salad House of Livingston, who not only runs the franchise but is also a proud native of the area. With deep roots in the community, Dave's journey to becoming the first franchisee of The Salad House on the State Highway he drove up and down as a child is a story of hometown pride and dedication. His unwavering love for the community where he grew up and now raises his own family serves as the driving force behind his involvement and his role as an exemplary figure as the owner of The Salad House of Livingston.
-
Missing episodes?
-
Another rumor, another podcast! I sat down with THAVMA Grill's owner Alex Diamantopoulos to discuss the rumors about THAVMA closing, which it's not and won't be for a long time! Alex talks about the history of the restaurant, how he got into the business, his Greek roots and of course the delicious mediterranean food. THAVMA is in great hands and I know it will be a Livingston staple for years to come.
-
Autodidact Brewery in Morris Plains recently celebrated its first anniversary, and I had the pleasure of chatting with owner Ron Scouten. Ron's journey, from his punk rock roots to venturing into homebrewing with his partner and co-owner, Ron Cassel, culminating in the opening of their taproom, exemplifies how passion and inspiration can pave the path to success. He reminisced about the tight-knit camaraderie of the punk scene, which instilled a sense of community—a sentiment he has rediscovered within the welcoming confines of Autodidact's taproom and through collaborations with fellow brewers.Our conversation delved into the intricate art of brewing, exploring the diverse array of beer offerings and the compelling reasons why even non-beer lovers should give it a try. Autodidact transcends being merely a place to enjoy delicious beer; it serves as a vibrant hub of community and creativity.While still in its infancy, Autodidact's rapid ascent suggests it is poised to become a cornerstone of New Jersey's craft beer culture and lead the pack in innovation and camaraderie.
-
While most people think Frutta Bowls is just a "chain" type of store, Frutta Bowls Livingston is anything but that! I sat down with owner Gionna Marotta who bought this franchise when she was the young age of 22 years old. As a former athlete, learning the challenges of being a young female business owner gave her a competitive drive to prove to herself and others that she could be a successful entrepreneur. This Frutta Bowls not only gives the feels of a "mom and pop store", it just happens to be in the building that Gionna's family has owned since the 1940's. Despite the rumors that we quickly squashed, Frutta Bowls Livingston is here to stay!
-
In my first "where are they now" episode I got to sit down, again, with Bagels By Jarrett owner Jarrett Seltzer. Jarrett goes into a full and honest review of where his restaurant is now after his one year (or four year anniversary) and where he sees his future with his business. He also goes into what chefs mentor him and where he eats when he finally gets a chance to have a date night with his wife. Jarrett is known for his wild menu, outrageous food, huge personality, raw honesty and his insane work ethic. What a gift for us to be a part of this ride!
-
I got to sit down with the amazing women behind NJ Hipsturbia. Nj Hipsturbia is one of the most followed social media accounts in NJ where they deliver content that is the "pulse of the suburbs". We went behind the counter to understand how NJ Hipsturbia came to be, what their mission is and what is coming up in the future. With over 75,000 followers, these women manage to keep NJ Hipsturbia and all things NJ cool, exciting and community focused.
-
I sat down with Livingston’s own Amy Selling who is also the founder and creator of the Lulu & Lattes social media brand. Amy has developed her brand, which started out as a blog, into many territories which somehow matched the phase of life she was in. Her latest spinoff is Lulu & Lux. This brand is a vehicle to create parties/happy hours for single adults to meet in a fun setting and to bypass the awkwardness of the dating apps. We discuss her very first blog to her latest singles event on March 14th at Par 440. This could be just the beginning for Lulu & Lux and the singles scene. If Amy’s behind it, then sky’s the limit!
-
Since 1969 Livingston Bagel has been serving the best bagels, tuna and spreads to Essex County. But this bagel store is much more than the food. It's about tradition, family and being part of a community as a place to lean on when in need and a place to celebrate the best moments in life. I sat down with owners Dan and Brooke Blue to learn about the history, food and what makes Livingston Bagel the institution that it is!
-
Sonny's Bagels has been a South Orange, NJ institution since 1971. Jason Miller took over as owner 6 1/2 years ago. I sat down with Jason to learn how he went from a finance guy who liked to eat bagels to a bagel shop owner who now masters bagel making and all the accoutrements while keeping Sonny's true to its roots. Jason takes pride in his products, customer service and the community which has seen many generations of families. He is a true mensch!
-
Turano's Pizza Kitchen is celebrating its 5 year anniversary in Livingston, so it was a perfect time to sit down with owner Dave Turano! Dave talks about his rise to becoming a successful restauranteur in a town that welcomed Dave from opening day. There have been many obstacles but Dave Turano has persevered! It takes a good man to make a great mark and even better pizza and Dave does just that!
-
I went behind the counter with Chef Mel at a Mother's Touch Bistro in Livingston to talk about soul food and where Chef Mel learned to cook with all that love! If you don't know what soul food is then this is the episode for you! All I can say is Chef Mel is the soul behind her soul food and there are amazing things for her and her bistro down the road... I hope you enjoy!
-
Bonvini's Restaurant and Pizzeria was a landmark in Livingston in the 1950's till the 1990's. It has been brought back to life by the next generation of the Bonvini family. This is a story of respect for generations that came before us, the love of family and an amazing pizza pie!
-
Since 1976, I have been lucky to call Tyler Hill Camp my home away from home. And even more so that my three kids get to do the same. Whether you have been a lifelong camper at any camp, packing trunks currently for your child's first summer or 10th summer or maybe you never went to camp at all and are curious what the hype is about...this episode is for you! I sat down with Tyler Hill Camp Directors Andy & Wendy Siegel in the canteen to get a "behind the counter" glimpse of what it takes to set up a village of campers and staff for 7 weeks and of course we discuss food too! This was such an honor and treat for me and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I do!
-
Many of us have been lucky to have amazing grandmothers in our lives but did you have a Nana whose tuna recipe is so good that you built a restaurant around it? I sat down with Nana's Deli owner, Jason Dworkin to hear about the origin of Nana's and the famous tuna that brings deliciousness from coast to coast!
-
This episode is amazing for those who have nostalgia for the good old days in Livingston and for the newer generation of Livingston residents
and even those who love a good diner! David Feldman, the Vice President of the Ritz and I discuss how the Ritz became the Ritz, the menu, recipes, Guy Fieri, The Sopranos and so much more! I hope you enjoy this is as much as I do!
-
I sat down with two generations of special Livingston people who give their time and energy to share their passion and power to spread the word of curing rare cancers through their efforts of fundraising and awareness with Cycle for Survival. Len and Sandy Goodman, whose daughter started Cycle of Survival while she was fighting for her life, have continued to honor their daughter and her legacy by being true advocates in helping people beat cancer. Melissa Eisen, while younger age, is an old soul whose spirit and energy shine through as she is a fundraising powerhouse for her Cycle for Survival team, Ellen's Army. She is motivated to honor her mom and her legacy through being the captain of her team. In addition , she has created another fundraising effort called $5 Fridays to help the food insecure. You will hear how these amazing people inspire and continue to fight the fight for their loved ones!
-
I was lucky enough to sit down with Livingston's own Joey Cioffi. His million dollar smile, huge heart and his work ethic have been passed down from his parents and Joey never takes that for granted. He gives all he's got to the less fortunate and those in need and to be the same role model to his own family. The Salad House may be fueled by food but Joey is fueled by his family and the community around him. Joey is the gift that keeps on giving!
-
I sat down with Anthony Marra Jr and learned how Anthony cemented his place here in Livingston. His love of this community and his family is what drives him and he saw first hand how supportive this community can be in times of need. You many never meet a nicer or more humble guy than Anthony!
-
We are lucky as a community to have amazing people who look out for one another. I sat down with co-founders of Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors Stacey Rubinstein and Melissa Pritsiolas. In addition to running an emergency fund, LNHN runs a food pantry that helps families in town with food insecurity. If you would like more information after this episode please check out their website www.LNHN07039.org or email [email protected]
- Show more
