New Jersey
This ‘cronut burger’ was the best thing we ate in North Jersey this week
WATCH: This new Spanish restaurant in Montclair is fantastic
On Bloomfield Ave., Tasca Bistro is wowing locals with delicious paella, hand-crafted gnocchi, sugar-dusted churros and more.
I just spent the past weekend running 8,800 feet up (and down, and up again) Mount Killington.
A brutal two days of physical activity and sleepless nights, the 17.5 mile trek is one of the biggest foot races to hit Vermont each year, and I can never resist participating. This season, though, I’ve returned sad.
While gone, I got blisters, bruises and an inflamed bursa sac, but that’s par for the course. What really did me in, however, was when I reached the finish line and paid $33 for chicken fingers.
Did I win my division? I don’t know; but I paid $33 for chicken fingers.
Did I enjoy the changing colors of the fall leaves from 4,500 feet in the air? I don’t know; but I paid $33 for chicken fingers.
Did I finally convince an Airbnb full of 20-something guys that it’s ok to watch Four Weddings? I don’t know — but I paid $33 for chicken fingers.
So, yeah. Killington hurt.
But, will I go again next year? Absolutely (I’ll just pack some takeout from Kai Yang first).
Here are four dishes I ate this week that we’re actually worth the money I spent on them.
Duck Paella, Tasca Bistro
Seven years ago, my brother moved to Valencia, and — in the time since — I’ve visited enough to really know what a good paella tastes like. A stunning coastal destination, the city is literally the birthplace of the dish, and I’ve spent at least four weeks crushing all of its tastiest foie gras-laden, truffle-infused renditions.
I say with the utmost certainty, then, that the Duck Paella at Tasca Bistro (Montclair’s new intimate Iberian spot), is the best version of the dish in the area.
Presented in a cast iron skillet, the high-end entrée features a bed of crispy-edged Valencian rice loaded with fatty duck confit. Sliced duck breast lie above that base, and dollops of herb aioli melt between each piece.
Finished with sofrito, the dish is crunchy on the bottom, greasy in the center and completely saturated with flavor.
(Plus, at only one dollar more than my FoodServiceDirect chicken fingers, it made Killington’s snack bar look like a total joke).
Go: 377 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; 973-415-0001, tascabistro.com.
Mexican Street Corn Agnolotti, Flour
If Mexican street corn is one of the planet’s tastiest foods, and pasta is one of the planet’s tastiest foods, then a marriage of the two should be utterly divine, right?
The team at Flour, a trendy Italian spot in Hoboken, sure thought so when they decided to stuff the former into the latter and cover it in cheese. Called the Mexican Street Corn Agnolotti (creative naming isn’t their strong suit, but it’s cool), the entrée is the perfect intersection between two irresistible dishes.
Featuring at least seven hand-rolled and folded rectangular pasta purses, the meal showcases layers of homemade stuffed noodles, charred corn crema, and queso fresco. A dusting of Tajin lies above the aforementioned, giving the dish a salty and subtly spicy finish — and reminding the diner of the multicultural Mexican-Italian convergence they’re eating.
(Priced at $32, this was another L for Killington).
Go: 500 Jefferson St., Hoboken; 201-345-9420, flourhoboken.com.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie, Caffe Anello
Caffe Anello co-owner Alissa Napoletano-Vitale and I became fast friends over DMs when we figured out how much we both love peanut butter. Responding to a post of an outrageous Oreo s’mores cookie cake on her page, I reached out to the entrepreneur to see if she’d make me one to send viral on @northjerseyeats.
I was pleasantly surprised when she responded with a picture of an even more outrageous version that was smothered in melty peanut butter sauce and chopped Reese’s cups, and offered to prepare both.
I replied with something along the lines of “PB IS MY FAVE FOOD,” and the rest was history.
When I arrived at the upscale European restaurant, I was delighted to see both sugary monsters sitting side-by-side; their gooey middles rich with raw cookie dough and sticky marshmallows. Napoletano-Vitale didn’t let me taste either, though, without first trying her Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie.
With smooth, chocolate chip-infused peanut butter mousse over a crushed cookie crust, the pie ate like a jumbo version of a Reese’s cup — and, as the baker suggested, it was even better than the skyscrape-ing cookie cakes that initially got me in the door.
“I’m always going to have at least two peanut butter desserts on my menu,” she said, “But the pie is everybody’s favorite.”
Go: 11 Madison Ave., Westwood; 201-786-8137, caffeanello.com.
The Cronut Burger, Dan & Day’s
Cheeseburger + donut = Instagram gimmick.
But, smash burger + cronut = perfection.
(Especially at only $13 a piece).
Go: 598 Valley Rd., Montclair; 973-893-5805, dananddays.com.
Hungry for more?
Want more on this week’s latest food news? Check out some of my best articles at NorthJersey.com/food.
And, as for next week? I have one of the most bizarre cheese videos to date dropping on @northjerseyeats — so make sure to tune in (Monday, 6/6:30-ish) for that.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can’t find her in Jersey’s best restaurants, she’s probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) — One person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting in Paterson.
The violence erupted around 6:30 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of East 29th Street and 10th Avenue.
Children nearby gasped in horror at the sound of rapid gunfire. They were just about to sing Happy Birthday to their 13-year-old friend at her backyard party, but instead of blowing out the candles, they ducked for cover when they heard gunshots in the distance.
“Just hearing it – it was scary to witness, to hear. Especially on my birthday. Like a time I’m trying to play with my friends, get together,” said the 13-year-old.
She also says she had a friend who was there who saw what happened.
“He was going to the bodega – he went running back, but he had saw two people come out of a car and then shoot, but it was like an automatic gun,” she added.
Bystanders watched in shock and panic as first responders treated the victims. One of them was lying in the street next to a car and another was on the ground next to a bicycle.
Local councilman Luis Velez says the City of Paterson has taken measures to reduce crime in this part of town – what he calls a ‘hotspot’ — in part by installing security cameras. He is encouraging the community to cooperate.
“Paterson Police is doing their job as I know, they’re doing a great job to reduce crime, but one again we, the police, nobody, not even the news media has a crystal ball to say this is going to happen now,” Velez said, “Some people see corners getting built up, they see activities and they’re afraid to come out and say something, but our police department is trained to keep it confidential and approach to bring the quality of life in this area.”
The 13-year-old hopes her next birthday party is not ruined by the sound of gunshots.
“First we thought it was fireworks, but then we heard sirens and everyone started going home because they were scared,” she added.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Let’s be honest, we didn’t need a national list to tell us this. New Jersey has the best restaurants, the best food, and some of the most talented chefs anywhere in America.
It’s something locals have been saying forever, and now the rest of the country is catching up. Still, it’s always nice to see that recognition on a big stage.
We Already Knew New Jersey Was the Best
USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list highlights standout dining destinations across the country.
From humble roadside gems to chef-driven hotspots earning major buzz, the list celebrates places that truly stand out, and New Jersey showed up in a big way.
Three New Jersey Spots Earn National Recognition
This year, three Garden State restaurants made the prestigious list:
- The Pasta Shop – Denville
- Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
- Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
And yes, that includes a Jersey Shore favorite, because of course it does.
These restaurants represent everything people love about dining in New Jersey, quality, creativity, and flavors that keep you coming back.
A Jersey Shore Standout Shines
There’s something special about seeing a Jersey Shore restaurant included among the best in America. It’s not just about great food, it’s about the full experience, the atmosphere, and that unmistakable local charm.
Anjelica’s in Sea Bright earning a spot only reinforces what shore locals already know: some of the best meals you’ll ever have are right here, close to home.
No Surprise, Just Well-Deserved
At the end of the day, this recognition feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation. New Jersey’s food scene has always been top-tier, and lists like this just make it official.
Keep Reading: Beloved New Jersey Restaurant is Closing
So whether you’re heading to Denville, Metuchen, or down the shore, you already know, you’re in for something special.
PHOTOS: Step Inside a 1970s Kitchen — 34 Things You’ll Recognize
From Tupperware jugs (you know the ones) to those ever-present knife sharpeners, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the quintessential ’70s kitchen.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
FIFA and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have become embroiled in a war of words this past week as the prospect of $150 train tickets to travel to World Cup games and plans to close parts of New York’s Penn Station have angered residents.
The recent uproar began after reports surfaced April 6 that parts of Penn Station would be closed to NJ Transit commuters not attending World Cup games for four hours before kickoff during the eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
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Moreover, round-trip train tickets between Penn Station in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup is set to be played, were announced by NJ Transit to come in at $150 per person.
A return ride on the same line typically costs $12.90, according to NJ Transit.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026.
In a press release on April 17, Sherrill said the move to increase prices was caused by FIFA’s decision to eliminate parking at MetLife Stadium. The Democratic governor said price increases happened because FIFA did not agree to cover the costs of transporting fans.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” Sherrill said.
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More: Going to World Cup at MetLife Stadium? Expect $150 train tickets and no parking
FIFA, on the other hand, has said the price increase would have a “chilling effect” on fans attending games in New Jersey and said Sherrill’s demands asking FIFA to absorb transportation costs for fans were “unprecedented.”
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup,” Heimo Schirgi, COO for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The NJ Transit logo is seen in the lobby of the New Jersey Transit headquarters ahead of a press briefing on the New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 regional mobility plan in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 2026.
What are other cities doing with World Cup transportation?
New Jersey has not been the only place where transportation costs have been the subject of discussion ahead of the World Cup. In Boston, round-trip train train tickets on the MBTA from Boston’s South Station to Gillette Stadium are being sold for $80.
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Special event trains to Foxborough for New England Patriots NFL games and New England Revolution MLS matches are usually $20 for a round trip, according to local news station CBS Boston.
Other cities have not seen increases like the ones in New Jersey and Boston. In Atlanta, for example, train fares on the city’s MARTA will be $2.50 per ride, with children able to travel for free with a paying adult.
Kansas City is offering $15 round-trip shuttle rides for fans parking in four different park-and-ride locations, as well as those coming from FIFA’s Fan Festival in the city. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is offering fans a $3.50 round trip train ticket on its Metro Train.
SEPTA in Philadelphia is also keeping its prices low, with fans set to pay the base $2.90 fare for a ride on its Broad Street Line, which takes riders to Lincoln Financial Field, set to host six matches.
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Katie Sobko from USA TODAY Network’s NorthJersey.com contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup fans going to MetLife Stadium to pay $150 for NJT ticket
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