Pesto Ravioli
At an Italian deli in the borough of Middlesex, well-crafted sandwiches may reign. But in the royalty hierarchy at Sapore/Sapore Ravioli, there is one item that’s been integral to its name and reputation for more than 50 years and though it may not stand alone, it definitely stands out.
Lenora’s Tinga Chimichanga
A small café in the Bayshore borough of Keyport is where a shredded chicken version of the Tex-Mex classic does exactly right by the genre.
Quesa Burger
From the Fat Boyz Kitchen food truck, parked outside Mains Meat Market in Vineland, comes a burger whose innards seem destined to land in your lap. Summon dexterity and defy that destiny. You want to eat this monster, not toss even one particle of it in the wash.
24 Karrot Spread
You don’t have to be a carrot cruncher to appreciate a new spread on the market aimed at vegans but being embraced by all.
Biang Biang Noodles
Thick and extra-extra-wide like a belt, the noodles from northwestern China are meant to be sauced simply. They’re at their best when tossed with winter’s Garden State-grown greens.
Roper’s Way Farm Jams
Jarad Roper crafts preserves with an edgy appeal from the fruits he grows on his family’s farm. His goal: to make each more than a spread for breadstuffs.
Saimin (Not Ramen)
At Hawaii Station BBQ & Poke in Edison, the 50th state’s signature noodle bowl is a blink-and-miss-it item on a menu that rewards careful readers. And devoted eaters.
Endless Summer Burger
At Hearthly, a burger almost tall enough to play center in the NBA isn’t banking its worth on height alone. No, it’s all about quality ingredients and custom-blended beef most carefully composed.
Besos Pan Dulce
At Primavera Bakery in Perth Amboy, Mexican pastries of all stripes reign. The one whose name translates as “kisses” and looks something like a giant yo-yo will seal the deal to be your new sweetheart.
Ube Ice Cream, at Sweet Dynasty
The purple yam popular in the Philippines shines in ice cream form at this diminutive shop in Edison. Subtle and sophisticated, it’s a flavor to favor in fall.
Hot Off the Farm: Chilies
Tyler Olsson takes the chilies he grows on a small farm and makes a little bit of magic in eminently simple-to-use form.
S’mores Cake
Pretty much everything at The Artist Baker in Morristown is a Food Find because everything Andrea Lekberg and her crew bring into edible being is over-the-rainbow magnificent. But this? This reimagined classic? It redefines more than a campfire dessert.