Cookbooks

Although the industry is all but gone today, New Jersey was once the hub of diner manufacturing, making mobile eateries that fed hungry Americans all over.

The silver Airstreams and neon signs of the classic American diner brighten New Jersey's highways and Main Streets but the intrinsic role they have played in the state's culture and industry for more than one hundred years is much more than eggs-over-easy and coffee. Diners are the state's ultimate gathering places--at any moment, high school students, CEOs, construction workers and tourists might be found at a counter chatting with the waitresses and line cooks. Locals yearn for lost favorites like the Excellent Diner and Prout's Diner and still gather at beloved haunts like the Bendix and Tick Tock Diners. Author Michael C. Gabriele offers this delicious history--collected from interviews with owners, patrons and experts--and indulges in many fond memories of classic New Jersey eateries.

No trip to the Jersey Shore would be complete without indulging in the cuisine that helps make it famous.

These foods we enjoy today are part of a long tradition beginning in the Victorian era, when big oceanfront hotels served elaborate meals. Diverse dishes and restaurants emerged during prohibition and the Great Depression, when fast food appeared and iconic boardwalk treats developed. Predating the farm to table movement, fancy and fast eateries have been supplied by local fishermen and farmers for decades. So whether you indulge in a tomato pie, pork roll or salt water taffy, take a mouthwatering historical tour and discover timeless treats from Sandy Hook to Cape May.

Sink your teeth into this frankly delicious history of Rippers, Texas Wieners, and other iconic dogs of the Garden State.

Any local will tell you that the Garden State is home to a surprising number of unique local and regional hot dog styles. Chili-drenched hot Texas wieners in Paterson. Potato-packed Newark-style Italian dogs at Jimmy Buff’s. Dirty water pushcart franks topped with mustard and sauerkraut. And juicy M.O.P. dogs (that's mustard, onion, and pickle) like the ones served at Hot Dog Johnny's. The origins of New Jersey's iconic hot dogs begin well over a century ago and include obscure holes-in-the-wall and world-famous roadside stands like the historic Rutt’s Hut.

A fun deep dive for foodies, travelers, and local history buffs, author Mark Neurohr-Pierpaoli’s travel guide to the history and traditions of New Jersey's hot dog serving styles is your next great bite!

Author John Howard-Fusco traces the roots of Cape May's delectable dishes and recipes from long ago to the modern day.

Cape May is America's first seaside resort, and with that comes a mouthwatering food history. The New York Times even proclaimed the city Restaurant Capital of New Jersey. The first settlers, the Kechemeche of the Lenape tribe, feasted on the fish and wild game in the area. The whaling industry briefly brought attention to the island, but Ellis Hughes's 1801 advertisement offering seashore entertainment with fish, oysters, crabs, and good liquors gave birth to a beachside haven. From the mint juleps to the Sunny Hall Café and the Chalfonte, culinary creativity thrives on the shore. Modern chefs like Lucas Manteca at the Red Store and Brooke Dodds's Empanada Mamas help keep the unique flair alive.

Sink your teeth into this frankly delicious history of Rippers, Texas Wieners, and other iconic dogs of the Garden State.

Any local will tell you New Jersey is home to a surprising number of unique local and regional hot dog styles. Chili-drenched hot Texas wieners in Paterson. Potato-packed Newark-style Italian dogs at Jimmy Buff’s. Dirty water pushcart franks topped with mustard and sauerkraut and juicy MOP dogs (that's mustard, onion, and pickle) like the ones served at Hot Dog Johnny's. The origins of New Jersey's iconic hot dogs begin well over a century ago and include obscure holes-in-the-wall and world-famous roadside stands like the historic Rutt’s Hut.

A fun deep dive for foodies, travelers, and local history buffs, author Mark Neurohr-Pierpaoli’s travel guide to the history and traditions of New Jersey's hot dog serving styles is your next great bite!

Discover the best of the Garden State's booming food truck scene...

Whether appearing at food festivals, catering personal and business events or just serving up lunch on the job site, New Jersey’s food trucks are some of the best in the nation. These eateries on wheels offer mouthwatering favorites alongside innovative interpretations of iconic dishes. The Jersey Roll truck and shop keeps tradition alive, slinging the Garden State staple pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich to the masses. Beach vibes and good eats are found at the Surf and Turf truck, where the BLT lobster roll offers a twist on the coastal classic. Baking some of the best cheesecakes in the region for more than forty years, Maddalena’s opened a roving dessert truck that serves the deliciously different cheesecake on a stick. Popular publication BestofNJ.com presents profiles of the best New Jersey food trucks, including easy-to-cook recipes from some of their most delectable meals.