Behind the Counter with the Food Czar

Send us Fan Mail Chicken nuggets have been an American favorite since their introduction in 1983. But have you ever visited a restaurant entirely dedicated to them? Enter The Nugget Spot, a unique concept that started in New York City and has since found a new home in Chatham, NJ. In this episode, I sat down with owner Jason Hairston to dive into the story behind this simple yet ingenious restaura...

Send us Fan Mail Do you remember the joy of eating Zeppoles at the Jersey Shore boardwalk as a kid? The irresistible smell, the cloud of powdered sugar, and, of course, that unforgettable taste? In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the vibrant and charismatic Maria Pucillo, the visionary behind Boardwalk Zeppoles in Livingston, NJ. Maria's journey to building her wholesale...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sat down with Josh Berman, better known as @joshsfoodnstuff on social media. With nearly 60,000 followers, Josh has become one of New Jersey’s most prominent food reviewers, and I was eager to learn about the journey that brought him here. From a desk job to becoming a certified sommelier, from his passion for cooking and baking to filming honest, in-the-moment...

Send us Fan Mail Belgiovines Italian Deli in Montclair, NJ has been a cherished community favorite since it opened its doors in 2008, thanks to the Dimatteo family. In this episode, I sit down with Petey Dimatteo, the next generation to help manage this thriving local institution. Petey shares the story of his family’s journey to owning the deli, his own career path, and the passion that led him t...

Send us Fan Mail This episode shines a spotlight on  Table to Table , New Jersey’s first food and most successful food rescue organization. Dedicated to reducing food waste and feeding those who need it most, Table to Table partners with restaurants, supermarkets, and other food providers to rescue fresh, high-quality, and nutritious food. This rescued food is then delivered to Table to Table&apos...

Send us Fan Mail Some might say lightning in a bottle doesn't exist, but after listening to this episode with Dom Calise, owner of Bucky’s Pizza, you’ll think twice. What began as a pop-up at local breweries and events in the summer of 2023 quickly turned into a beloved destination for pizza lovers, thanks to their unique and mouthwatering Detroit and NY style pizzas. Now, Bucky’s has a brick...

Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the profound power of a mother's love for her daughter, whose life was tragically cut short after a courageous battle with cancer. It highlights the strength of community, coming together to uplift and support each other through the darkest times. It’s a story of transforming grief into action, turning tragedy into a movement that gives the “gift of life...

Send us Fan Mail Although some may jokingly call me the “mayor” of Livingston, I had the privilege of sitting down with the true Mayor, Al Anthony. In this special Election Day episode, we focus on community matters in a non-political discussion. We delve into the role of the town council, the exciting developments happening in town, and how you can get involved. We also highlight the incredible w...

Send us Fan Mail Do you recall the thrill of the ice cream truck’s bells ringing as it made its way to your house? The joy of dashing outside with money in hand is a memory many hold dear. That nostalgic experience has been reimagined with Scream Truck! In this episode, I chat with President Jason Black about how this timeless concept has been modernized. We dive into the delightful array of ice c...

Send us Fan Mail Do you remember back in 2022 when Wonder Trucks brought gourmet meals from world-renowned chefs and top-tier restaurants straight to your doorstep? Well, those mobile restaurants have evolved into something even bigger—Wonder, a new type of food hall featuring 20 diverse restaurants, all curated by some of the best chefs from across the country is now focused on opening brick and...

Send us Fan Mail Bagel Nosh in Livingston may have opened its doors in 2022, but it feels like it’s been a cherished part of the community for ages. This warmth is thanks to the incredible owner, Diala, with whom I had the pleasure of speaking for this episode. Diala shared her remarkable journey from Jordan to America, arriving with no knowledge of English and a dream of building a better life. T...

Send us Fan Mail 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 instit...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 reminisce...

Send us Fan Mail 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 s...

Send us Fan Mail 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 h...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 mak...

Send us Fan Mail 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 a...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 enjo...

Send us Fan Mail 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! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow, lea...

Send us Fan Mail 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...