'Fat Bastard' Carries Family's Famed Thin Crust Pizza In South Hackensack 'Fat Bastard' Carries Family's Famed Thin Crust Pizza In South Hackensack
'Fat Bastard' Carries Family's Famed Thin Crust Pizza In South Hackensack The Giaquintos are back in South Hackensack with their trademark thin crust pizza. Anthony Giaquinto, whose roots in Bergen County's pizza scene run deep, has opened Fat Bastard and Sons at 434 Route 46, continuing a family legacy of pizzerias.  Giaquinto previously ran Tony G's in South Hackensack, The Balcony in Carlstadt, G Millz in Hoboken and Prime Time Sports Bar in Carlstadt. Giaquinto's mother, Mary Rose Giaquinto, was the longtime owner of Giaquinto's Old Judge, an institution in South Hackensack.  Now, Giaquinto is running Fat Bastard with his two sons, Dominick, a student at M…
'Better Life Out Here': Family's Staten Island Bakery Relocates To NJ After 20 Years 'Better Life Out Here': Family's Staten Island Bakery Relocates To NJ After 20 Years
'Better Life Out Here': Family's Staten Island Bakery Relocates To NJ After 20 Years A Staten Island favorite has moved its sweetness to the Jersey Shore — and it's already a hit. Bruno's Bakery opened at at 356 W. Main St., in Freehold, on Nov. 15, 2022. Mother's Day will be its last day in business in Staten Island.  The bakery is a true family affair involving chef and dad, Biagio Settepani; mom Pina Settepani; son Joseph Settepani; son Salvatore Settepani; daughter Fina Pulaj; and chef Joseph's wife and pastry chef, Daniela Settepani. Biagio emigrated to New York from Italy when he was 12 years old. He worked in his first bakery when he was 17. "Ever since then it's b…
Five-Time World Series Champion Opens Restaurant With Family In Waldwick Five-Time World Series Champion Opens Restaurant With Family In Waldwick
Five-Time World Series Champion Opens Restaurant With Family In Waldwick Charlie Wonsowicz has gone from Yankee pinstripes to pots and pans. Wonsowicz, who won five World Series titles with the New York Yankees as coordinator of advanced scouting, recently opened W's Village Grille with his wife, Leslie, in Waldwick. The family previously owned W's Grill in Oakland. For the Wonsowicz's, the restaurant is a homecoming. The family lives in Waldwick and wanted to open a restaurant in their community, their daughter Paige said. They celebrated a grand opening on Tuesday, April 4. While Charlie's natural home is at the baseball diamond, where he wore #87 for the Bo…
Fordham Grad Trades Corporate Gig For Bergen County Bakeshop Fordham Grad Trades Corporate Gig For Bergen County Bakeshop
Fordham Grad Trades Corporate Gig For Bergen County Bakeshop Baking has always made sense to Despina Kontomanolis. It's methodical, scientific, and she knew if she followed the steps meticulously, she'd get exactly the product she wanted. Baking proved to be imperative to the 36-year-old New Milford after she graduated from Fordham Business School, and began working in the corporate world in 2009. "I felt like my soul was dying," Kontomanolis said. "I was feeling like I wasn't living up to my full potential because I wasn't getting pleasure out of selling insurance or writing up leases." In 2015, she quit her corporate gig at the urging of friends…
Legendary Lehigh Valley Auto Service Shop Set To Shutter After Nearly 9 Decades: Report Legendary Lehigh Valley Auto Service Shop Set To Shutter After Nearly 9 Decades: Report
Legendary Lehigh Valley Auto Service Shop Set To Shutter After Nearly 9 Decades: Report A Lehigh Valley auto service shop considered the longest-running family business in its borough is closing after nearly nine decades, LehighValleyLive reports. Friedman’s Service Center at 1002 Broadway in Fountain Hill will complete its final auto repair by Tuesday, Jan. 31, before stopping the sale of gasoline on Saturday, Feb. 25, its current owner, Bruce Friedman, told the outlet. The shop has a rich history, first opening in 1936 by Ed Friedman before eventually landing in Bruce’s hands in 2000 after a series of familial changes in ownership, the report says. The location once housed…
Matriarch Of Iconic Saugus Restaurant Kowloon Restaurant Dies At 95: Report Matriarch Of Iconic Saugus Restaurant Kowloon Restaurant Dies At 95: Report
Matriarch Of Iconic Saugus Restaurant Kowloon Restaurant Dies At 95: Report The woman who helped make Kowloon Restaurant into one of the most iconic and beloved restaurants in Saugus has died, a news report announced on Wednesday, Nov. 9.  Madeline and her husband, William Wong, opened the restaurant on Route 1 in 1959 and grew it into a landmark establishment over the next six decades, WCVB reported. William died in 2011 at 88 years old.  Madeline Wong, a trailblazer, icon, grandmother and great grandmother -- and matriarch of Kowloon restaurant -- has passed away at the age of 95. Our hearts go out to her family. https://t.co/uwyTWqhk0A pic.twitter.com/cxIZ2…
'Can We Party Today?' Larchmont Man Convicted In Father's Murder-For-Hire At McDonald's 'Can We Party Today?' Larchmont Man Convicted In Father's Murder-For-Hire At McDonald's
'Can We Party Today?' Larchmont Man Convicted In Father's Murder-For-Hire At McDonald's A Westchester County man has been found guilty in the murder-for-hire killing of his own father, who was shot to death while sitting in a McDonald’s drive-thru. Anthony Zottola, age 44, of Larchmont, was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn Wednesday, Oct. 19, of murder-for-hire conspiracy in the October 2018 killing of 71-year-old Sylvester Zottola in the Bronx. The man who Zottola hired to pull the trigger, 36-year-old Himen Ross, of the Bronx, was also convicted Wednesday following the pair’s six-week trial, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. Zottola and …
North Jersey Mom's Babka Business Gets Brick And Mortar Store North Jersey Mom's Babka Business Gets Brick And Mortar Store
North Jersey Mom's Babka Business Gets Brick And Mortar Store A North Jersey mom who had help from her husband and daughters launching a charitable babka business at the height of the pandemic is moving into a storefront. Hoboken's Michal Prevor started Babka Bailout to help pay her housekeeper's rent at the height of the pandemic. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, Prevor will hold a grand opening for Babka Bailout at its new digs on 476 Central Ave. in Jersey City from 1 to 4 p.m. Babka is a dough filled with chocolate then rolled up or braided and baked.  Babka BailoutBabka Bailout Babka Bailout offers a variety of flavors including Nutella-Oreo, cereal…
Baltimore Native Fulfills Dreams Of Opening Gyro Shop Inspired By Uncle's Spot In Greece Baltimore Native Fulfills Dreams Of Opening Gyro Shop Inspired By Uncle's Spot In Greece
Baltimore Native Fulfills Dreams Of Opening Gyro Shop Inspired By Uncle's Spot In Greece Opening his own gyro shop has been on Mike Tolos' mind ever since he visited his uncle's spot in Greece as a kid. It was a hole-in-the-wall type place in Thessaloniki, and as soon as Tolos walked in, he was hit with the aroma of pork and chicken roasting on the skewers. What the former Baltimore resident enjoyed most about visiting the shop, though, was seeing the love that his uncle put into it, because he felt the same passion himself. "My uncle did it from love," said Tolos, 39, of Bergen County, NJ. "The dedication that he has fell on me." Tolos signed the lease for Jersey Gyros on M…
Legendary Route 46 Pizzeria Sold After 64 Years In Business Legendary Route 46 Pizzeria Sold After 64 Years In Business
Legendary Route 46 Pizzeria Sold After 64 Years In Business An iconic family-owned pizzeria has been sold after 64 years in business. Pizza Town USA on Route 46 in Elmwood Park made the announcement last week on Facebook. "Pizzatown would like to thank everyone for their loyal patronage over the last 64 years," the wrote. "We have sold our family business but we can assure you that the product will not change. Please support the new owners the same as you supported us over the years. Thank you all very much." Pizza Town has been manned by Michelle and Bruce Tomo, whose dad, Raymond, opened the popular eatery. Raymond died in 2019 at 93 years …
New Hong Kong Eatery 'Rubato' Putting Modern Spin On Popular South Shore Bakery New Hong Kong Eatery 'Rubato' Putting Modern Spin On Popular South Shore Bakery
New Hong Kong Eatery 'Rubato' Putting Modern Spin On Popular South Shore Bakery A family restaurant with strong a reputation on the South Shore will continue their legacy under a new name. Rubato, a new Hong Kong-inspired eatery, will be replacing Contempo Bakery & Café in Quincy, which was owned and operated by Joyce Chan for 22 years. Chan is now passing down the family business to her son Laurence Louie, who is looking to capitalize on his mother’s success by offering his own modern take on the space. Light airy fried dough stick, perfectly paired with congee or hot soy milk. The recipe handed down from Contempo to Rubato.Taken by Matt Li “We want to pay…
Beloved Owner Of Popular Western Mass Pizzeria Dies Beloved Owner Of Popular Western Mass Pizzeria Dies
Beloved Owner Of Popular Western Mass Pizzeria Dies The beloved owner of a popular Western Massachusetts pizzeria that has become an institution has died. Domenic Sarno, the owner of Red Rose Pizzeria in Springfield, died this week. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno issued a statement on his death saying Caputo "brought a hard family work ethic to start with a small family pizza shop to then create the legendary and iconic Red Rose Pizzeria." Caputo opened Red Rose in 1963 along with his wife Edda.  The mayor went on to say: "Nick being always the gentleman, never strayed from his values of family, quality food, and customer service. Yo…