By Sue Baldani

When Sam El Sayed, who grew up in Egypt, opened Pita Grill & Creperie in Warren 10 years ago, his goal was to share his country’s food and family recipes with the community. “He always had a passion for cooking,” says his son Hassan, who also works in the restaurant.

While specialties include authentic-tasting gyros, kabobs, shawarma and falafel, there are also many American favorites such as burgers, chicken fingers, and fries. “Our menu is pretty diverse,” he says. “We are where American meets Mediterranean.”

The most popular items, he says, are the salads, such as the Shepherd or Spinach salad topped with choices of lamb, shrimp, falafel, chicken, salmon, hummus and more. You can basically build your own salad or platter and have it made right in front of your eyes.

When someone orders a gyro or other meat-based dish, he says, the meat is all very fresh. “You’re not getting pre-cooked food. It’s literally cooked in front of you and sliced off the spit.”

Adds Hassan, “We definitely pride ourselves on having a fresh, all-natural menu. It sounds cliche, but honestly, in order to have really good food, the ingredients have to be top quality. We try to get the most fresh, local produce whenever we can, and our meats are high quality too. We also make sure our recipes stay consistent so people get that same taste every time.”

Of course, the crêpes, whether savory or sweet, are a real treat. End your meal with a Cream, Honey and Pistachio crêpe, a Dulce de Leche with organic banana and caramel or another great combination. These can also be made gluten free.

The restaurant also offers delivery and catering. “For catering, we do two different styles,” he says. “My favorite one is the family style where you just get big plates of all your favorite dishes and then you create your own plate in your own setting at home or in your office. But, we also do a lunch option where you get sandwiches with various salads and dips on the side.”

Pita Grill & Creperie accommodates all different palates and dietary preferences, and even has an easy-to-follow chart on its website that shows which dishes are vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.

“We want to have an environment where customers feel welcome,” says Hassan. “Our portions are huge and at a price point that’s reasonable for everyone, whether it’s a lunchtime worker at one of our locations, or two people going out on a dinner date on a Friday night.”

Today, Pita Grill & Creperie has four locations. In addition to Warren, there’s one in Summit, Somerset and Metuchen. “We appreciate all of our customers and their loyal support throughout the years and we’re just very happy to be here,” he says.

To find out more and see its full menu, go to PitaGrillandCreperie.com. Along with its large array of menu options, specials are offered every day. And, for even more savings, join its Rewards Program and earn delicious rewards!

Written for The Showcase Magazine in New Jersey.

Delicious fruit bars without all the added sugar

By Sue Baldani

When Amanda Ament was in her mid-20s, she realized she was eating too much sugar. So, she challenged herself to give it up for three weeks. “I felt great,” she says. “My skin cleared, I slept better, and I had more energy.”

After experiencing the benefits of her new regimen, she added weeks, then months, and eventually years to her challenge. Her biggest problem was finding snacks, especially snack bars, that didn’t contain sugar and tasted good.

“I started mixing nuts, seeds and superfoods like chia seeds and matcha with honey and maple syrup, and baking those in the oven,” says Amanda.

When she moved to the United States from Switzerland in 2022, she eventually settled in Franklin because the area reminded her of the beautiful country she left behind. There, that same year, she founded SIMPLE^® bars and partnered with a co-packer in Nashville. To cut down on the sugar content altogether, their food scientists replaced the honey and maple syrup with allulose, another natural sweetener.

“Some natural sweeteners have an aftertaste, but not allulose,” says Amanda. “You just need a little, and it barely has any effect on insulin, so it’s good for diabetics too.” The company will be selling allulose pouches soon too for people to use at home as a sugar alternative.

Her sister, Mélanie, who has a background in the food industry and marketing, also moved to the US and joined Amanda in this new adventure.

Today, SIMPLE offers four flavors – Almond & Dragon Fruit, Almond Matcha & Chia, Walnut & Golden Spices, and Chocolate Sea Salt.

All the bars are whole grain and made with minimal ingredients. “The dragon fruit bar is really pink, so kids love it,” says Mélanie. “They’re all wrapped in clear packaging so people can see the colors and what they’re buying.” The sisters also hope to offer small bites in addition to the whole bars.

SIMPLE bars can be purchased on its website, at The Turnip Truck in Nashville, and can also be found in hotels, gyms, and various corporations, with more locations coming soon.

Enjoy!

SimpleBars.com

Written for Franklin Lifestyle magazine in Tennessee.

Enjoy Flavorful Mexico City cuisine close to home

By Sue Baldani

When Jennifer Teutli began offering authentic and delicious Mexican food in 2014, she did it from a small stand at local farmer’s market. “I was born and raised in Mexico City, so the flavors and seasoning are very important” says Jennifer. “Being at the market was a great way for people to get to know us and our food.”

The demand for her cuisine kept growing, and so did the business. “People started asking us to cater their parties, and it was very exciting because in Mexico, a typical luncheon, or “Taquiza,” would have beautiful Mexican pots and baskets and a lot of colorful decor and flowers. I really wanted to present our catering services that way because it was definitely new and original.”

She rented a commercial kitchen and then designed and added on a taco truck. “We participated in food festivals, farmers markets, and did lots of catering,” she says. “We also sold our packaged food out of wine stores in Chatham and Summit.”

Chef James Laird from Serenade restaurant in Chatham was an avid customer of the farmer’s market and of Jennifer’s offerings. Later, he had Mexican Spice cater his staff’s holiday parties and they all became friends.

Everything was going so well, then COVID hit. “Our catering and wine store business evaporated. We were not set up to be open to the public. I figured the most fun people were going to have in those days was getting take-out.”

Jennifer and her sister Andrea, who had just arrived from Mexico City, ran a fundraiser on a cool crowdsourcing platform that supports women (ifundwomen.com) so Mexican Spice could move to a new location where they could provide takeout and delivery. People were incredibly supportive, and in just three days, they raised enough money.

“We opened our restaurant on Main Street in Chatham two months later in September in a little place on Main St. that I’d always loved, and it turned out amazing,” says Jennifer. “We honor our donors with beautiful hand-pounded metal hearts made by artisans in Mexico City that hang on our Miracle Wall.”

Today, Mexican Spice has an additional taco truck and a mobile margarita/cantina truck. Although Andrea is no longer involved in the day-to-day business, Jennifer has a lot of help from her staff.

“They’re like my family,” she says. “They’re very hardworking. I don’t consider this my business, but our business.”

Mexican Spice caters many private events such as corporate meetings, high school graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries. “It’s not just about providing food – our clients trust us with their most special celebrations, and Mexican Spice becomes part of their memory. That’s a big honor and responsibility.”

All the food is fresh, flavorful and healthy. “The salsa chipotle we make is inspired from my husband’s grandmother,” she says. “Our zucchini soup is very traditional for a homemade lunch. Our salsa Verde is iconic of Mexico. The guacamole recipe comes from my mother.” 

She and her staff cook from scratch every day. “I’m very particular about keeping the authenticity of the flavors, colors, textures and presentation.” 

Jennifer is also on the Board of the Chatham Chamber of Commerce, helping coordinate events like A Taste of Chatham, which includes all the restaurants in The Chathams and beyond.

Recently, she and Chef Laird came together for a special Collaborative Fusion Dinner using Mexican ingredients and French techniques. Held on March 6^th, it was a huge success, and it also raised $1200 for the Chatham Methodist United Church Food Pantry.

Jennifer and her husband Eugenio have raised their three kids, Rodrigo, Nico and Diego in Chatham, and absolutely love the town. Nico, who’s 20, works in the restaurant and Jeronimo, the father of her niece and nephew who recently moved from Mexico City and has ample experience in the food and beverage industry, is now the manager at Mexican Spice. At one time or another, many family members including her mother, father, sisters, kids, nieces, nephews, aunts, and even her grandmother, helped in the restaurant. It’s truly a family business!

Stop in and enjoy some incredible Mexican food. You’ll keep coming back for more.

http://www.MexicanSpice.net.

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

By Sue Baldani

In 2016, Kimberly Anwar founded Magic Family Getaways as a way to assist others while also spending more time with her family. “I used to work for a French bank in NYC as a client relationship manager, but being a mom of three, I wanted to change to a career that I could do from home,” she says. “So, I just took a leap of faith.”

Kim dove right into the industry and taught herself everything she needed to know. Helping people travel to the happiest place on earth also made her very happy. Today, she is licensed in every state and has 40 other agents around the country who can book vacations to not only Disney destinations, but to anywhere in the world.

“We are a full travel planning agency now, and help people before, during, and after their vacations. We’re their vacation advocate; you don’t get this kind of personal service when you book online.”

Kimberly still partners with Disney and has earned the distinction of an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. “That’s something to be proud of. We’re trained on all of their products including Adventures by Disney, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Lines.”

She appreciates the travel advisors on her team, and loves to share her passion for this wonderful career. Kim is thankful for her family’s help too. “My husband helps on the back end, my brother is our webmaster, and there have even been times when my kids ran the social media. It’s truly a family-run endeavor.”

26 Park Street, Suite 2201
Montclair, NJ

973-969-2080

MagicFamilyGetaways.com

Written for Suburban Essex Magazine in Fairfield, NJ.

By Sue Baldani

Maddy Zamel always had a passion for clothing. Even as a little girl, she would go into her mom’s closet and play dress up. A few years ago, she decided to embrace that passion.

“There were a couple of things that led me to a new way of living,” she says. “One was I lost my mom unexpectedly in January of 2020, and that made me come to the realization that life is too short. You can’t just be working around the clock and not really prioritizing what’s most important.”

The first thing she did was move out of Manhattan after living there for 20 years. “I wanted fresh air, a house and a yard for my dog, George.”

Her sister Pam, who lives in Milford, recommended she check out Clinton.  “I fell in love with the town and moving here in August of 2020 was my first step on my new path.”

But then, in January of 2022, Maddy was diagnosed with breast cancer. “That was the final awakening. I realized that I needed to pursue my dreams and my passions.”

The following summer, she found that opportunity. “I was walking George in town and he literally pulled me across the street to this store that had a for rent sign in the window.”

She immediately called her sister Pam. “I asked her, ‘Is it crazy for me to even be thinking about this when I’m in the midst of chemo?’ and she told me that it was exactly the time that I needed to do this.” Her other sister Linda was also on board.

Maddy moved forward and opened Lady of Leitrim (pronounced Leetrum) last March. Leitrim is the town in Ireland where her mom grew up. “It’s a way to pay tribute to her. It’s wonderful because people always ask about the name and I get to share her with them.”

She wants her boutique to be so much more than just a clothing store. “I really want it to be a shopping experience where you come in and the sounds, the scents, the colors, and the fabrics make you feel transported.

“When trying on clothes, I love to see women really connecting to themselves and feeling their beauty, their strength and their confidence. It’s about providing a space where women can feel comfortable and supported.”

Maddy loves sourcing products and focuses on brands of clothing that are made well and fit well. The fabrics also have to be beautiful and feel good against the skin.

“I like to have a fun mix of everyday clothing that people can wear at home and some special pop pieces for dressing up and going out,” she says.

The boutique also carries jewelry and handbags, and with spring and summer coming, there will be some great totes for the beach.

“I just want to keep moving towards what feeds my soul,” says Maddy.

To feel and look your most beautiful, stop into the boutique and visit Maddy, or shop incredible styles online. LadyofLeitrim.com.

Published in The Showcase Magazine in Warren, NJ.

Make a difference in your community

By Sue Baldani

Founded in 1938, the Rotary Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains has been helping support local communities, our neighbors, and those in need around the world through a broad range of educational, humanitarian and cultural programs. Its mission: To provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

“The club was formed to get together and be a force to do good,” says Mary DePaola, who became a member back in 2009 when she was serving on the Scotch Plains Township Council (she later became the mayor).

Its 47 regular members and six honorary members come from all walks of life and professions and have many different passions. “If you have a passion, come to the Rotary,” says its president and former Scotch Plains mayor, Al Smith. “We have the group that can help you get it done.”

The club is always looking for new members who want to carry out its mission. The group meets four times a month and at different times of the day and evening, so it’s convenient for all schedules. To learn more and/or become a member, go to FSPRotary.org.

Upcoming events:

El Centro Food Pantry in Plainfield– food distribution the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of every month

Mental Health Crisis and How You Can Help presentation at Darby Road on February 28 at 6:30 pm

50/50 Raffle – Tickets sold at various locations around town from April through May

Find more details about these events on its Facebook page
Facebook.com/FSPRotary?ref+ts

Written for Scotch Plains Lifestyle magazine in New Jersey.

By Sue Baldani

Xplosive Entertainment has been providing upscale DJs, games, and “event enhancements” for fun and unforgettable events for almost 20 years. While it offers a wide variety of options for every kind of celebration, it’s best known for producing bar and bat mitzvahs leaving guests, young and old, with cherished memories for years to come.

“In our world, there are dozens and dozens of competitors, but they’re not all on the same level,” says Michael Langsner, vice president and self-described event ignitor, who has also spent years as a DJ and former banquet manager. “What makes us different is a level of polish, class and charisma, that we put forth based on our experience and how selective we are in who we hire and how we train.”

In addition to its DJs, its talent pool includes MCs, dancers, and live musicians. Behind the scenes, experienced technicians handle the lighting and sound and help make the magic happen.

Xplosive also offers a fun inventory of games. “There’s everything from air hockey and foosball to ping pong tables,” he says. But, there are many unique custom-built items such as giant-sized versions of these standard games, like a 20-person foosball table or an LED illuminated pong table.

The company’s Photo-tainment is also a hit, and uses the latest technology to produce high-quality photo booth experiences. Audio guest books are also hot right now. “Imagine a voice recorder disguised as a retro rotary telephone to record guests messages which are shared with the hosts later on.”

Novelty food kiosks are another unique offering. These may include fun foods from the venue itself, or favorites from popular chains.

For bar and bat mitzvahs, having a nationally-recognized magician, or mentalist, during the cocktail hour is a highlight for both kids and adults. Xplosive also offers what’s called a “Silent Disco” where guests wear provided headphones. “We always jump on the trends of what’s cool, but this is also a great solution for two different scenarios,” says Michael. “One is outdoor parties with noise ordinances, and two, for parents who may have very different musical interests than their kids.”

Xplosive provides entertainment all over the tri-state region as well as out of the area. “We’ve found ourselves in around 15 different states and three countries so far.”

Every detail is tailored to the preferences of the host or guest of honor. Michael and his extraordinary staff consider themselves industry experts, as they host a podcast with over 100 episodes called “Mastering Mitzvahs” and they’re often asked to present at conferences and trade shows.

Its upcoming event expo is NJ’s largest mitzvah party showcase taking place on Sunday February 11th in North Brunswick at B’nai Tikvah.  “It’s a live, interactive opportunity for families to come and try the games, experience the photo booths, win prizes and join a live mock mitzvah.”  Register at SuperBowlShowcase.com

Whether your party is for 50 or 500, Xplosive Entertainment guarantees to elevate expectations. 

XEevents.com

Written for The Showcase Magazine in New Jersey.

A place for delicious food, great conversation and a commitment to community

By Sue Baldani

Gregory Kay and Ronnie Vojka, owners of Fabio’s Bistro on South Avenue in Fanwood, believe in more than just serving a good pizza or a plate of chicken parmesan. “Our recipes are made with love,” says Greg. “It’s a place where friends become family.”

In business for seven years, the casual, homey atmosphere makes it a fun place to hang out, eat delicious food, and have great conversations with family and friends. Or, walk in to pick up some take out and be greeted by a warm and friendly staff who will often greet you by name.

“I want to believe Fabio’s stands out because of the quality of food, the quantity of food and the people customers meet while dining here,” he says. “We use the finest of ingredients in all of our menu items, and take pride in our dishes so we won’t change our flavor. Our pizza is a big hit – we make several different styles. In 2023, we were voted #1 on the Slice app in the country which consisted of over 18,000 pizzerias.”

The amazing pizza varieties include the Thin Crust Brooklyn Square pie, a Broccoli, Zucchini and Mushroom pizza, a Margarita and Fresh Mozzarella, a Buffalo Chicken and a Taco pizza. There’s even a gluten-free option for those who desire.

For dinner, start off with some mouth-watering appetizers such as the fresh and flavorful Bruschetta, Sweet Mussels Marinara, Hot Fried Calamari, or Meat Rice Balls. Then, move on to the entrees which range from the traditional Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Marsala to an Italian Surf and Turf and Shrimp Oreganata. Meat lovers and vegetarians alike will find many things to love about the menu. And bring the kids – there’s a great children’s menu with all their favorites.

Of course, there are also salads, soups, hot and cold subs, wraps, calzones, stromboli, chicken fingers and so much more available. You’ll never be disappointed in the number of options.

Fabio’s is also a wonderful local place to hold small celebrations such as birthday parties, graduation celebrations, and anniversaries. “In the summer, we also have outdoor seating which enables us to have a few more guests,” says Greg. And, if you’re having a private party at home or a large event at a venue, Fabio’s Bistro can provide catering for those affairs too.

Feedback from customers has always been very positive, but if anyone does express a concern, Greg and Ronnie will do their best to make things right. “We take their input to heart because ultimately that’s what keeps us going,” says Greg. “What makes owning a business in Fanwood special is that Fanwood and Scotch Plains are really remarkable towns. They are smaller in size and families are involved in local events, organizations and town happenings. Everyone seems to know everyone.”

He and Ronnie also enjoy speaking and keeping in touch with the people who keep the towns operating, such as those in the town hall, local dignitaries, and mayors, and those who ensure the safety of the community like the police officials and officers, fire chiefs and firefighters, and EMTs.

“Everyone is always stopping in and checking on us,” says Greg. “Anytime we need anything, we know we’re a phone call away from assistance or direction. It doesn’t get better than that.”

The Bistro is also a big believer in giving back. “We try to be involved with the community as much as possible and support Scotch Plains/ Fanwood’s organizations, events and teams,” he says. “We know the hard work our local clubs, sport teams and organizations put in to make our town even better.

“We get approached by many and do as much as possible to make everyone happy. Since all of our customers are like family to us, we do all we can to help them out. We love doing for our community – our community is our family.”

He and Ronnie also help feed veterans on an ongoing basis. “Since they opened their doors, Fabio’s has provided ongoing support to these brave men and women, and because many of them experience food insecurity, it’s a lifeline and a safety net,” says veterans advocate, Steve Hackenberg. “Ronnie and Greg, and the customers who put their dollars into the donation jar, have made a tremendous impact in these veterans’ lives.”  

The owners are very excited for the future and have big plans in the works. “We’ve purchased the former Sheelen’s Crossing [located right across the street],” says Greg. “Because of the support from the community, we’ve outgrown our footprint at our current location. We have been planning this for some time and now it’s time to make it happen.” They hope to have the new location up and running by December 2024.

To revisit, discover and enjoy all that Fabio’s Bistro has to offer, go to FabiosBistroMenu.com, call (908) 274-2038 or order on the Slice app. Whether you dine in, take out, or have it delivered, you’ll be in for a real treat.

Buon appétito!

Written for Scotch Plains Lifestyle magazine in New Jersey.

Connecting through storytelling

By Sue Baldani

While Jill Fordyce loves being a lawyer, she always wanted to write a novel one day. On January 30, that goal was realized when her book, Belonging, was released.

What drew you to writing?

For me, story is the most powerful thing we have as far as understanding each other. To be able to create a story from things I’ve either observed or experienced and be able to put that out there just always felt really, really important to me.

Describe your style of writing.

I feel like I learned more about writing from listening to music and lyrics than I did from studying literature. When I was first writing this book, I wanted it to feel the way a favorite old song makes you feel, and for it to feel universal so people could connect their own experiences to it.

What inspired you to write Belonging?

My original inspiration for the book was this idea of a childhood friendship that was so deep that it kind of guided each of the parties throughout their lives, across distance and time, and even death. And, I wanted to tell that story from Jenny’s [the protagonist] point of view because it was also important for me to write a book that conveyed the experience of growing up in a home with an alcoholic mother in a very intimate and realistic way.

Since I have experienced alcoholism in my own family, when I recognize a young girl who has those same types of traits as the character – being very independent but also needing a type of nurturing she maybe did not receive as a child – I wanted to be able to speak to her through story and character.

How do you want people to feel when they read Belonging?

My biggest hope is that they feel less alone by really being immersed in Jenny’s life and finding her as somebody they can relate to. One of the themes of the book is forgiveness and this ability to forgive the alcoholic in your life and move forward with grace and peace in your own way. I hope that the book itself conveys a sense of warmth and hope.

You live in California, but bought a home in Leiper’s Fork in 2018. Why was that?

We just love it here – it’s so beautiful and peaceful. It also has accessibility to all the arts with the music and great literary communities nearby. I love the village and being close to downtown Franklin as well. It’s such a friendly place.

My next book, which I’m working on now, will actually take place in Middle Tennessee.

You can find Belonging at Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold. Jill will also be at Bound Booksellers in Franklin on February 10^th from 1:00 pm to 2:00 p.m.

BarnesAndNoble.com/w/belonging-jill-fordyce/1143762745?ean=9798888451748

Written for Franklin Lifestyle magazine in Tennessee.