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Owner: Deborah Smith
Launched in 2007, Jersey Bites began as a home to Deborah’s growing collection of recipes, but soon grew into a hub for food news throughout the Garden State. Blogging for nine years about food in New Jersey led Deborah to her latest adventure: authoring The Jersey Shore Cookbook, Fresh Summer Flavors from the Boardwalk and Beyond (Quirk Books, 2016). In addition to her duties as Head Biter (we mean that affectionately) and author, Deborah owns Foxtrot Media, a full-service digital marketing company that specializes in content development, social media marketing and search engine optimization. DSmith@JerseyBites.com
Editor: Rachel Bozek is a writer and editor based in suburban Essex County. She loves interviewing chefs and restaurateurs—especially the ones who love New Jersey. She grew up in Bergen County, and has lost track of how much time she’s spent on LBI and in the Wildwoods. After graduating from James Madison University, Rachel spent 10 years at Nickelodeon, where she was an editor at Nickelodeon Magazine. Now she does a range of editorial and marketing work, including writing and editing for audiences of all ages, kid-friendly content, marketing research, and of course, Jersey Bites! Through it all, her search for the perfect pancake continues. You can find her at her website, rachelbozek.com.
Contributors
Peter Culos is the editor of “Beer Bites,” Jersey Bites’ coverage of breweries, bars and good beer in the Garden State. A graphic designer by day, and a lifelong New Jersey resident, Peter was first introduced to the novel idea that beer could actually have flavor during several visits to the UK. He’s been riding the craft beer bus ever since. It has been called the ultimate social lubricant and Peter’s philosophy on beer is, “I’d rather split my last good beer with a friend than drink the whole thing by myself.” Besides beer he also likes history, dogs, Jeeps and painting. In the past, he has written a History and Art blog for the Weider History Group and occasionally contributes to his own blog, history-geek.com. Life is short. Drink good beer.
Michael C. Gabriele has been a writer for Jersey Bites since June 2015. He’s written two books on the Garden State’s diner history (The History of Diners in New Jersey and Stories from New Jersey Diners – Monuments to Community), both published by The History Press. His other books are The Golden Age of Bicycle Racing in New Jersey, and New Jersey Folk Revival Music – History and Tradition. A lifelong Garden State resident, he is a 1975 graduate of Montclair State University and has worked as a journalist, freelance writer and author for more than forty years. Gabriele is a member of the board of trustees for the annual New Jersey Folk Festival at Rutgers University, a member of the executive board for the Nutley Historical Society, and serves on the advisory board of the Clifton Arts Center.
Alexa Chavarria is a full-time publicist based in NJ/NY and a freelance journalist focusing on food, events, and features. Alexa’s passion for traveling has led her to find a love for discovering hidden gems that have the perfect combination of delicious food, refreshing cocktails, and a great ambiance. You can find Alexa’s restaurant and travel journey on Instagram @alexa_chav_rria.
Veronique Deblois, Food & Wine Chickie: Veronique is a food and wine writer based in Morris County. As the author of the popular blog, Food & Wine Chickie Insider, Veronique shares recipes, wine and restaurant reviews and insight into the travel industry of which she’s a 15-year veteran. Follow Veronique on Twitter or like her Facebook page.
Marina Kennedy is a lifelong resident of New Jersey and delights in cooking and dining out. With a Russian and Italian background, she grew up with parents and grandparents who loved to cook and shared unique family recipes with her. She focuses her articles on delicious, healthy meals and is proud that her four adult children also enjoy cooking. Marina and her husband, Chuck, have had the pleasure of meeting chefs and restaurateurs throughout the metropolitan area and enjoy a wide variety of gourmet cuisine. She looks forward to sharing her culinary experiences with readers of Jersey Bites and looks forward to receiving recommendations and comments from her readers in Somerset County and beyond.
Adam Horvath Born and raised in New Jersey, Adam has the good fortune of being born in South Jersey and raised in North Jersey. He grew up working in many neighborhood restaurants, from dishwasher to cook. He likes to say, “I was wearing an apron when my high school friends were fine tuning their tolerance for peach Schnapps and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Adam has a love for indigenous and local foods and when he is not working 50-hour work weeks, he is busy working on his own food/travel blog: foodigenous.com! And while you’re at it, check out his IG.
Todd Noon has been writing about food and drink for several years, having been a freelance writer for the late Ed Hitzel’s Restaurant Magazine and for Flavor Magazine—a publication of the Press of Atlantic City. He is also a nationally published author who has spoken across the country on a variety of economic development topics.
Prior to his current career as a professional grant writer, Todd led three lives. In his first life, he served as Chief of Staff and Press Secretary for a New Jersey State Senator, Interim Chief of Staff for an Assemblyman and a Legislative Aide for a US Congressman, where he handled matters related to defense, foreign affairs, national security and the environment. Todd’s second life took place in the private sector, where he worked in sales and program development for two major southern NJ tourist destinations. In his third life, he served as an executive director for a Downtown Improvement District.
Todd, a husband and father to two daughters, attended West Virginia University and graduated from Stockton State College (now Stockton University) with a degree in Political Science. He is a writer at heart and is currently working on a biography, a musical, several short stories, and an inspirational book about overcoming fear based on his recent mission trip to Haiti.
Susan Weiner has lived in New Jersey most of her life and currently resides in Middlesex County. She says this is the perfect place for a foodie to live — she has easy access to most of the state’s restaurants and she’s never too far from anything. Susan was the food editor at the Asbury Park Press for many years, and now loves dining out and writing about food. Email her at sweiner0628@outlook.com and tell her what restaurant she should try next.
Mark Neurohr-Pierpaoli is a high school English and History teacher by day, worldwide wanderer by summer vacation. He consumes all manner of road foods, street meats, and regional specialties with gusto as he adventures with his family around New Jersey and beyond. When he’s not eating or traveling, he’s digging into the history and culture surrounding his perennial favorite foods: hot dogs, sausages, and other sorts of strange, encased meats. Tag along with Mark as he shares his research about the best hot dog serving styles and stands in his latest series, “I Never Sausage a Hot Dog!” You can also check him out on YouTube.
Gina Glazier is a full-time teacher turned full-time mom with a full-time appetite. A contributor to Jersey Bites since its early years, she is back on the culinary scene after taking some time to be with her twin girls and son back at home.
Gina finds inspiration for recipes from her vast cookbook collection, her favorite Food Network stars, and the inevitable Google search. Beyond cooking, she is passionate about the restaurant world and all it has to offer. Beyond her articles on Jersey Bites, Gina’s recipes and restaurant reviews can be found on her weekly blog, ahungyteacher.com. Day-to-day delicious adventures are found on her Instagram, @ahungryteacher.
Gabrielle Garofalo is a born and bred Jersey girl who spent much of her life in Essex County, with the exception of a fabulous 12+ years in Manhattan. In 2010 she migrated south to Monmouth County, where she loves raising her family near the beach and thoroughly enjoys the amazing local food and drink scene. Consulting for the better part of her career with expertise spanning advertising, marketing, experiential, branding, promotion, and events, she’s been passionate about entrepreneurial pursuits since 1999. Throughout her career she’s led massive projects for top brands including Vanity Fair, O, The Oprah Magazine, CNN, and Courageous Studios, helped produce the first-ever New Yorker Festival, managed talent and sponsorship integrations for the Billboard Music Awards, and produced New York Magazine’s annual food event, Taste of New York. Two years ago, she and a business partner purchased Harvest on the Harbor™, an annual food and drink festival in Portland, ME. Her latest creative venture is her new column, “A Lady Walks into a Bar…,” which appears every other Friday and showcase specialty drink and food reviews from bars and restaurants throughout Monmouth County and the northern part of Ocean County. Find her on Facebook and Instagram. A Lady Walks into a Bar™ is owned and trademarked by Gabrielle Garofalo. Photo by Allison Michael Orenstein.