New Jersey

A plate lands on the table carrying fresh rigatoni, meatballs, spicy sausage, braciole, country-style ribs, ricotta, and enough…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

A folding table covered with tarnished silverware might not look promising—until you spot a century-old serving spoon hiding…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

The first wave barely reaches shore before somebody’s Labrador charges into it like an unpaid lifeguard. Ten seconds…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

A weathered Volkswagen Beetle sits half-buried in a flood of yellow blooms, looking as though summer swallowed it…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

A falcon sweeps over a cheering arena in Lyndhurst while, a few counties away, thunder cracks above dinner…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

A bleached tree trunk lies twisted across the sand, its roots lifted toward the sky like antlers. Beyond…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

A shopping cart rattles past a mountain of winter coats while, two aisles over, someone discovers a mid-century…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

A tulip-shaped glass of dark amber tea arrives beside a plate of baklava, while a few feet away,…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 11

A row of bare tree trunks rises from the northern end of Monksville Reservoir like the remains of…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

A pair of sandstone towers rises above the Highlands like a medieval fortress. Farther south, a red-and-white beacon…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

A slice cut from a 27-inch pizza does not behave like ordinary boardwalk food. It hangs beyond the…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

Walk a few downtown blocks and dinner can change direction three times. Smoke from a steakhouse grill gives…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

The first clue that summer has properly arrived in South Jersey is not a date on the calendar.…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

A cheeseburger, fries, and a soda used to be the dependable meal you ordered without checking your bank…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

The first clue is the smoke drifting across a gravel lot on Route 33. The second is the…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

One minute, you are standing on the Boardwalk folding a hot slice in half while a tram car…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 10

A paper plate lands on the table carrying something that barely qualifies as a hot dog anymore. Two…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

A warm cider doughnut can derail an otherwise disciplined shopping trip in seconds. One minute, you are examining…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

The first clue is usually the parking lot. Cars circle slowly, diners hover near the entrance, and anyone…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

A plate of crisp fried calamari, a bubbling baked ziti, and a glossy order of sesame chicken do…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

A brick turret rises above the corner of Franklin Avenue and High Street, looking more like part of…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

A 30-foot Buddha appears beyond the trees in Franklin Township. In Newark, twin Gothic towers climb above Branch…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

Three dozen brioche doughnuts went into the fryer on an unusually quiet Sunday morning in Montclair. The bakers…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

A fishing boat noses into a Jersey Shore harbor, deck stacked with the morning’s catch. A few hours…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 9

The apple cider donuts are made daily, but that does not mean they sit around waiting for you.…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 8

A dot no larger than a poppy seed can turn a perfectly good summer hike into several anxious…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 8

A few steps from the Asbury Park boardwalk, a black pony silhouette hangs above a building where an…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 8

A million-dollar house barely raises an eyebrow in these corners of New Jersey. On certain streets, it is…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 8

A spoon cuts through maple ice cream and comes back carrying a cube of challah, a few cinnamon-sugared…

By Duncan Edwards · Aug 8