A family restaurant that nourishes the body and feeds the soul

By Sue Baldani

Growing up, Frank Castronovo enjoyed helping his father Francesco in the family restaurant. Today, he and his four brothers have followed in their father’s footsteps. “An immigrant from Sicily, my dad had a passion for authentic Italian food,” he says. “He felt that opening a pizzeria was a great way to bring his culture and his food to the United States.”

Master Pizza, which opened its first location in Livingston in 1990, is doing just that while staying true to its motto, “Fast, Fresh & Delicious.” One day, when Frank wanted to make his sauce even better, he brought in his Sicilian mother, Dorotea.

Frank’s wife, Marylee, explains, “My father-in-law is deceased, but my mother-in-law is still alive. She’ll be 87 this July, and she’s an amazing cook. When Frank struggled with his sauce, he picked her up and brought her to the restaurant. While she was in the kitchen with him, adding a pinch of this and a pinch of that, he wrote it all down. Afterwards, it was perfect.”

Some of Master Pizza’s most popular offerings include Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Nonna Pizza, Chicken Parmigiana, and Sunday Meatballs. “We focus on quality ingredients,” says Frank. “Everything is made fresh, from our dough to all of our sauces. We take pride in using decades-old family recipes.”

For the past two years, the restaurant has been voted Best Pizza in Essex County. “It is a huge honor,” he says. “We are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers for their support. It tells me that people recognize the love and effort we put into what we do. At the end of the day, it’s so rewarding to me to know we have made people happy.”

Over the past 35 years, Frank and his staff have heard everything from “This is the best pizza I have ever had” to “Local gem” and “My go-to spot for pizza”. “We have seen kids grow up and now come back with their own kids to have a slice of Master Pizza.” The restaurant is primarily take-out and delivery, but also provides catering for all types of events.

Marylee, who handles the accounting and other duties, also coordinates donations and sponsorships. “The most rewarding thing for me in this business is to see how many people and organizations we’ve helped,” she says. “I truly feel like we’ve been so blessed in this business and with the community.”

Over the years, Master Pizza has supported school events, given back to St. Barnabas Hospital, provided gift cards and pizza kits for various fundraisers, and sponsored many local sports teams. This ongoing support comes not only from its Livingston restaurant, but also from its West Orange, Union, and Carlstadt locations.  

Frank and Marylee are grateful for their team, and even their children help out with social media, contest ideas, and marketing. “We are proud to be a family-run business that has grown with the community,” says Frank. “We have always tried to evolve while staying true to our roots.”

When he first purchased the business in 1990, its tagline was “At Master Pizza, every pie is a work of art”. “It really is how we approach the business. We try to give the customer everything they ask for and more.”

379 East Northfield Road

Livingston, NJ, 07039

973-992-4500

MasterPizzaOnline.com

Written for Inside Livingston magazine in New Jersey.

Discover books and so much more in a modern and friendly atmosphere

By Sue Baldani

When reading a book, it all starts with the first chapter. For Sophia Maoli, it’s the story of her dream. In December of 2023, she opened the doors to Chapter One, an independent bookstore in her hometown of Mendham.

“Everyone is so happy to have a bookstore here again,” she says. “I had a customer come in and tell me how she used to shop at the previous bookstore as a kid, and now she’s coming to this bookstore and bringing her own child.”

While the store is cozy, it’s also very modern and bright. “My big thing was that I wanted it to feel new and clean, so there are a lot of whites happening in the store. The walls are light and the shelves are white because I wanted the books to really pop off the shelves.”

Instead of aisles of books, which can feel cramped, the shelves border the walls, so it’s easy to find the perfect book. The kids’ area has comfortable seating with small chairs and a rug, and a bunch of stuffed animals for kids to cuddle. Many want to take them home, which is an option because they’re all for sale.

Along with books from in-demand authors like Kristen Hannah and James Patterson, she has a nice array of local authors. “When I choose which books to order, I try to feed off what the community is asking for when they come in,” she says. She also has subscriptions to websites with the best sellers and what is predicted to be a hot book in the upcoming months. “My booksellers also stay very up to date with popular books.”

Sophia enjoys bringing in really cool authors like New Jersey native Harlan Coben and Jesse Watters from FOX News. “Recently, we had [actor] Keenan Thompson come in to sign his memoir, When I Was Your Age. He was so nice and was great with everyone who came in.” The store also has a shelf full of previously signed books for purchase, which is a big hit.

People can also join three book clubs. One is the Romantasy Book Club, which she runs, and it’s all romance and fantasy books. Another is called the Anything Goes Book Club, which encompasses all genres. The Silent Book Club, where people can bring in their book of choice and then read silently for an hour, allows for companionship while pursuing what is usually a solitary hobby. At the end of each book club session, participants get 10% off their purchases that night.

Customers love taking part in these as well as other events. In May, she had a cartoonist visit and teach people how to draw, and plans are in the works for more fun events this summer.

In addition to great books and events, Sophia offers an incredible array of curated merchandise. “There’s a local company called Summer Love Designs, and we sell a lot of their jewelry. We also carry Little Words Project^®, puzzles, journals, bookmarks, notebooks, and kids’ toys.” Many of these have a book theme, such as stickers that amusingly state, “What happens in book club stays in book club.” There are also some hair accessories and greeting cards, so it’s a one-stop shop for gifts. Of course, holiday-themed items are always in demand, including Christmas ornaments and menorah candles, Valentine’s Day items, Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts, teacher gifts, and graduation items.

Chapter One has a welcoming atmosphere with employees who are knowledgeable, avid readers capable of offering helpful recommendations for customers and their family and friends. Speaking of family, she’s fortunate to have a lot of help with the business. Her father, Tom Maoli, her mother, Stephanie Caravela, and her stepfather, Rick Pina, actively support her endeavor.

Sophia, who is also an actress, singer, and dancer, hopes to one day open many more chapters, with a Chapter Two, Chapter Three, and so on. Since she loves baking, she also aspires to one day include a bakery on site.

“My goal in the future is to be the biggest independent bookstore in the country and be the place that people want to come to because they visited or saw it on TikTok or Instagram,” she says. 

Sophia wants to show people why buying books at a local, independent bookstore is much better than ordering books online or going to one of those large commercial bookstores. So, come visit Chapter One, get a personalized experience, and live your best story while you browse, converse with staff, and meet others. You may even get to pet her little dog Lulu, who sometimes visits.

ChapterBookStores.com

@ChapterOneMendham

Written for Chatham & Short Hills Lifestyle magazine in New Jersey.

A blending of atmospheres to fit every occasion

By Sue Baldani

In business for almost 30 years, Cucina Calandra has a newly renovated dining room boasting a modern décor and a beautiful fireplace. But, it still maintains a fun, family atmosphere.

“We’re blending the two atmospheres so if you want to come for a date night, it has that vibe, but if you want to come with your kids, it’s also a perfect place to do so,” says its vice president, Thomas Calandra. Thomas’ grandfather, Luciano Calandra, founded the restaurant.

The children’s pizza station, always a popular attraction, has been updated as well. “We expanded it by adding a step-up platform where kids can stand and watch the station in action. While they’re there, the pizza man hands out dough and a chef’s hat.”  There’s now a television in the dining room too, and on certain nights, the restaurant will offer kid-friendly shows and movies.

“One Sunday a month, we’re going to have family events, whether it’s a magician, balloon artist, or face painting,” he says. “These things serve as a distraction for the kids to give parents a break while eating, but they also bring families together.”

The restaurant also has special weekday events, such as Tuesday risotto night, Thursday burrata bar, and Sunday family gravy. The new modern look also makes Cucina Calandra a wonderful place to hold all types of parties.

Stop by and check out all that’s new, and enjoy some delicious Italian food with your family and friends in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere.

Cucina Calandra

[Located inside Best Western Plus Fairfield Executive Inn Hotel]

216 U.S. Highway 46 East Fairfield, NJ 07004

973-575-7720

CucinaCalandra.com

Written for Suburban Essex Magazine in New Jersey.