-- Best New Jersey Food Shops
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* Bakeries  *  Pies  * Peanut butter/jams  *  Poultry  *  Meat 
*  Chocolates   *  Ice cream   *  Cheese 

This highly subjective list of primarily small specialty food shops  has been compiled from personal recommendations, user input and reviews and rankings published by other Web and media sources. These other state-focused sources include NJ.com, NorthJersey.com, AsburyParkPress.com,  NewJerseyMonthly.com, JerseyBites.com,
BestofNJ.com, as well as national sites such as  Eater.com, Epicurious.com, Yelp.com, TripAdvisor.com, The Daily Meal.com and Facebook.com.  The list will be periodically updated and supplemented, and we welcome  comments and suggestions.

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- Bakeries

Image: Antoinette Boulangerie

Antoinette Boulangerie (Red Bank)

French pastries, tarts, macarons, croissants, danishes and quiches> Custom cakes on two-day notice> Executive pastry chef Gina Roselle Broschart, Rutgers alum and graduate of Culinary Institute of America> Highest 5-star rating in 30 reviews, TripAdvisor.com>  "...coconut macaroons here are pure, simple bite-size coconut bliss" Pete Genovese, NJ.com
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Sweet Melissa Patisserie (Clinton)

Operated and owned by Melissa Murphy Rafano and husband Chris Rafano, previously in three Brooklyn locations for 16 years before moving to NJ in 2016, also operates out of Stockton Market Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays> Croissants, tarts, eclairs, donuts, cookies and cakes.

Argentina Bakery (Union City)

Cakes, pastries, and breads, empanadas and sandwiches> Whipped cream and custard made on-site featured in many items, cakes baked daily including popular Dulce de Leche caramel-flavored cake, also custom sheet cakes, layer cakes, and wedding cakes> Pastries decorated with fresh fruit, butter cookies topped with sprinkles and jams, white chocolate-topped caramel cookies, Argentine danishes like facturas de grasa and manteca. 

A Little Cake / Le Petit Gateau (Park Ridge, Hillsdale, Montvale, Woodcliff Lake)

Italian, French and American baked goods, custom cakes, pastries, and cupcakes> Established by Leo Sciancalepore and John Chayka in 1999> Highest average 5-star reviews from reviewers on TheKnot.com; 4.8 of 5 stars from 486 reviews on WeddingWire.com

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Curiosity Doughnuts (Stockton)

Cited as one of ten best doughnut shops in US, according to book authored by co-owners of Philadelphia-based doughnut and fried chicken shop, Federal Donuts>  Founders and co-chefs husband and wife Alex Talbot and Aki Kamozawa, husband-and-wife chefs also authors of blog and cookbook/memoir Ideas in Food> "...unparalleled doughnuts (shatter-crisp on the outside, like a croissant, with a hint of creaminess in the center" 6/16/2017, Eater.com> Also custard and fried chicken>  Open Saturday and Sunday at Stockton Market

McMillan's Bakery (Westmont)

Breads, cakes and other baked goods, cited as one of ten best doughnut shops in US, according to book authored by co-owners of Philadelphia-based doughnut and fried chicken shop, Federal Donuts>  4.5 star average review of 5-star highest rating from 45 reviews on TripAdvisor.com

House of Cupcakes (Princeton, Clifton, East Brunswick)

First place winner in 2011 Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars”> Founders and co-owners husband and wife Ron and Ruthie Bzdewka> Features cupcakes and custom cupcake cakes made of multiple arrays of cupcakes in special designs for events, occasions, also variety of cookies> Over 30 varieties of cupcakes including carrot cake, brownie cheesecake,  peanut butter,  salted caramel, lime>   Rated 4 of 5 stars by over 150 reviews on TripAdvisor.com

Bruno's Bakery and Gelateria (Freehold)

Owned by Settepani family since 1973, originally in NY City, then expanded to Staten Island and in 2022 to NJ> Modern-day Italian bakery offering Italian and French desserts with a full breakfast, lunch or dinner menu> Specializes in occasion cakes, wedding cakes, catering and in-house parties with signature Panettone. and “Cake of the Century,” Chocolate Pear Royal chocolate mousse cake with layers of hazelnut crunch and pear mousse.

Pies

Mr. Tod's Pie Factory (Englewood)

"Tod Wilson's banana cream pie may be my favorite single pie of the past ten years; it's that good" Peter Genovese, NJ.com> Founded 2002 in Englewood by Tod Wilson, promoted as "The Sweet Potato Pie King," also features fruit pies including apple, blueberry, peach,  as well as pecan, pumpkin, coconut, sweet potato and cheesecakes. 

Delicious Orchards (Colts Neck)

Known for apple and other fruit pies, origins in 1911 as apple orchard, later roadside fruit stand, now 60,000 square-foot retail market specializes in fresh fruits and vegetables, wide array of baked goods all made on site, as well as poultry, meats and cheeses with deli, prepared foods and grocery sections>  Rated 4.6 of highest 5 stars by over 700 Google reviewers.
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The Pie Store (Montclair)

​Founded by British native Samantha Codling, best-known  for savory pies like cheese, potato and onion, steak, Cornish pastries, also fruit such as apple, blackberry, raspberry, with Key Lime  "apparently become the stuff of legend" 11/18/2012, NJMonthly> 4.5 of 5 stars from 118 reviews on Yelp.com

Peanut Butter/Jams/Spices
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Cape May Peanut Butter Company (Cape May)

Offers varieties of fresh ground nut butters, including Honey Roast, Butter Scotch, Capu Cino, Choc Choc, Natural, Almond, Sunflower, Cashew, and Organic, over 40 flavors of jam including carrot cake, habanero, oatmeal stout, India pale ale and of course, grape and strawberry, as well as sandwiches featuring peanut butter with bananas, other additions and peanut butter dog treats> Also baked goods, candy, specialty coffees> Products also offered at some 20 resellers in NJ, NY, PA> Certificate of Excellence, highest 5-star average rating from 364 reviews in TripAdvisor.com.

Image: Cape May Peanut Butter Co.

​Jalma Farms (Ocean View)

Family farm in Cape May county on site first settled in 1680's, with natural stand of plums going back to  original settlers> Follows old family recipe using beach plums with sweet tart flavor, can be eaten as fresh fruit or made into a food product such as jam, jelly or syrup> Jam flavors Beach Plum, Beach Plum Hot Pepper, Aronia Berry and Aronia Berry Hot Pepper> Pepper varieties include jalapeño, habanero>  Orchard of over 10,000 Black Aronia Berry bushes> Markets online and through retailers in Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, Morris and Mercer counties. 

Goodies Gone Wild (Ocean City)

Small shop on Ocean City boardwalk which stocks over 500 different types of hot sauce, also over 200 specialty sodas, selection of marinades, gourmet Cotton Candy in 50 different flavors, condiments, spice rubs, BBQ sauces and edible insects.

Poultry
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Griggstown Farm (Franklin Township)

Preserved poultry farm and small retail store on back road in Somerset County just north of Princeton operated for some 40 years by George and Joan Rude> Poultry grown naturally and processed in own USDA processing plant, with some produce grown on farm used in prepared foods made in on-site kitchen> Extensive wholesale distribution to restaurants, supermarkets and specialty food shops> Also features poultry pot pies, fruit pies and prepared foods such as sausages, chili, soups, sauces. 

George Rude, owner of Griggstown Farm, talks to his turkeys

Goffle Road Poultry Farm (Wyckoff)

Raised and processed fresh live poultry and eggs for over three generations> Founded 1930, owned and operated  by Silvestri family for three generations, current owner Joseph Silvestri> Adheres to free range poultry methods prohibiting any use of steroids, antibiotics or animal by-products, all products home grown and naturally processed> Offers wide variety of poultry from turkeys and chickens to game items such as pigeon, squab, quail, pheasant, goose, guinea hen, duck and gourmet capon> Specially prepared items include chicken sausage, chicken and turkey chopped meat and chicken thigh and breast cutlets. 

Meat
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John’s Meat Market (Scotch Plains)

Prime grass-fed beef, including own 21-day dry-aged steaks, along with  lamb and free-range, hormone- and antibiotic-free poultry> Founded 1939 by John Losavio, now operated by  second and third generations of Lovasio family> Features prime oyster cut London broil aged four weeks, also carries D’Artagnan game, pork chops, organic and free-range poultry, sausage, pot pies, barbecued ribs, Italian entrées> 'John's Meat Market: The Ultimate Local Butcher,' SeriousEats.com, 4/2014 

Nick's Meat Depot (Edison)

Beef, lamb, veal, chicken, pork> Founded 1981, family-owned traditional butcher shop> Products include Kobe Wagyu Burgers, Short Rib Burgers, Black Angus Chuck, Boned-In Rib-Eye, New York Strip, Porterhouse T-Bone, Filet Mignon, Skirt Steak, Flank Steak> 4.9 of 5 stars from 119 reviews on Facebook 
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Fossil Farms Market & Kitchen (Boonton)

Farm-raised game and all-natural meats> Founded 1997 by brothers Lance and Todd Applebaum offering farm-raised ostrich and bison free of hormones and antibiotics, remains family-owned and operated> Expanded product line to offer wide variety of farm-raised game and all-natural meats to restaurants, food service distributors and home cooks> Now also offers Angus and Wagyu beef, elk, venison, quail, goose, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, boar, duck, pork, alligator> Partners with other farms and ranches  following approved animal and husbandry.   
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Chocolates
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Matisse Chocolatier (Englewood)

Family owned and operated business purchased by Lucille and Vlado Skroce in 1995> Specializes in gourmet chocolate favors and platters, hand dipped chocolate fruits, barks truffles and cordials> Private party room, lessons in chocolate making to design, create own chocolates, talks on history of chocolate> Custom chocolate favors for holidays and special occasions.​​

2 Chicks with chocolate (Metuchen, Middletown)

Evolved from home kitchen-based business selling to neighbors in Queens NY founded by Elyissia and mother Barbara Chinchilla> Flavors include Dark Chocolate Truffle, Marshmallow Fluff, Sea Salt Caramel, Cookie Butter, Milk Chocolate Ganache, Champagne Ganache, Honey Jack Cramel> Metuchen location offers classes in chocolate making and recipes, also carries cupcakes, chocolate and full coffee bar> Ranked in Top 5 NJ chocolate shops by Asbury Park Press 9/5/2017.

Red Bank Chocolate Shoppe (Red Bank)

Founded 2000, owned and operated by Amy Berry> Individual handmade chocolates and specialty combinations in cookies, pretzels, barks, marshmallows, graham crackers, even chocolate-covered bacon> Gift baskets, corporate sales and custom orders> Ranked in Top 5 NJ chocolate shops by Asbury Park Press 9/5/2017

Mrs. Hanna Krause Candy (Paramus, Toms River)

Hand-mixed chocolate cooked in copper kettles over open flame stoves, centers hand dipped in highest grade milk, dark, or white chocolate> Established 1929 by Alfred and Hanna Krause in NY State as complement to family's gas station, continues in third generation of family ownership> Specializes in custom designs, chocolate as US flag, sports team and corporate logos, cartoon characters> Also jelly beans, fruit slices, gummy bears, licorice, other candies.

Ice Cream
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Applegate Farm (Montclair)

One of largest retail outlets for ice cream on East Coast, also sells pies, donuts, chocolates> Operated as farm since 1848, since 1991 owned by Jason Street and family> Flavors include Madagascar Vanilla, Butter Pecan, White Pistachio, Colombian Coffee, Mint Chocolate Chip, Rocky Road, Rum Raisin, Vanilla Peanut Butter> Rated 8.9 of 10 stars on Foursquare.com, 3 of 5 stars on Yelp, 

The Bent Spoon (Princeton) 

Small shop with frequent long lines located in Palmer Square in central Princeton offering ice cream, sorbet and yogurt, specializes in own unique blends and flavors> Popular flavors include Wild Turkey, Brown Clove, Habanero Banana, White Chocolate Caramel, Basil, Blood Orange, Chocolate Hazelnut, Coffee Cookie, Vanilla Sea Salt> Ranked #2 in 2022 of 10 Best Ice Cream Shops in America by Livability.com>  4.5 of 5 stars from over 1,000 reviews on Yelp.com.
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Owowcow Creamery (Lambertville)

Opened only Nj location 2014 with two previous stores in PA, ice cream blended at farm in Bucks County PA> Named as best NJ ice cream shop in 2016 by NJ.com; one of top 27 ice cream shops in world 2014 by Buzzfeed; highest 5-star average rating by 177 reviews and Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor.com> Features traditional and custom flavors such as lemon-blueberry, caramel mocha, honey lavender, Tahitian vanilla.  

Holsten’s Brookdale Confectionary (Bloomfield)

First opened 1939 as Strubbe’s Ice Cream parlor, then became Martin & Holsten’s, and finally Holsten’s> Features old fashioned atmosphere, recipes and flavors, also sells fudge, candies, milk shakes, hamburgers> Also became known as site for final scene of 'The Sopranos' HBO TV series depicting Soprano family dining at table with sudden final blackout.

Cheese
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Valley Shepherd Creamery (Long Valley)

Farm with over 700 sheep and goats on 120 acres, produces its own line of some 30 sheep’s-milk and mixed-milk cheeses, also own yogurt,  butter, grass-fed lamb, as well as imported goods and specialties including olive oil, vinegar, gelato, charcuterie, bread, cookies, honey, jams and preserves> Sells at on-site Sheep Shoppe along with several NJ farmers’ markets, Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and Park Slope Shop in Brooklyn> Tours, cheese-making classes and cheese and wine tastings.

Summit Cheese Shop (Summit)

Specialty food store in hand-cut cheeses founded 1967> Offers wide selection of European and domestic cheeses along with locally baked breads, fine olive oils and vinegars, mustards, jellies, cookies and crackers from all over world> Selection of imported meat, domestic salami and pate, as well as  specialty sandwiches> Highest 5-star average review from 36 reviews on Yelp.com. 

Olsson's Fine Foods (Princeton)

Gourmet food shop with special focus on cheese> Conducts cheese education and cheese-making classes both on- and off-site, sponsors cheese of the month club, also prepared grilled cheese sandwiches, mac & cheese, soup, catering> Located in Palmer Square in central Princeton  

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