No Dearborn prepared food.They are owned by a NY group that owns Fairway Markets. Lots of prepared foods there are many locations for them
Primarily around the deli counter and fish department. As you know I don’t cook and as I do really like Dearborn I have the prepared foods here as good or better. Bakery gets high marks for freshly baked goods and packaged goods. Prices are comparable or better It can become intimidating but after going there a few times I feel more comfortable there. Also there seems to be an abundance of cashiers and checkout is a breeze. I’m becoming a regular there and I am cutting out Wegmans as my go to but I continue to use Wegmans for my pharmacy.
For those of us who are lost, can you please tell us which store you’re talking about? Thanks!
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The new ShopRite in Old Bridge on Route 9.
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Both Dearborn Farms and ShopRite are owned by the Saker family. The Aberdeen ShopRite has all sorts of freshly prepared Italian, Asian, and other dishes, and what doesn’t sell is in a half-price case on its last day. On shopping day, our main meal has been “ShopRite pot luck” (eggplant Parmesan, chicken burrito, Cajun blackened salmon, etc ). I am going to hate losing these.
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Yeah the Freehand ShopRite has the same deal as Aberdeen but it’s not the best option because it is in desperate need of a good renovation, very dated
Ok I finally went to Asbury today after much procrastination to visit my friends who have a booth at the Christmas Market. It was incredibly depressing as far as being a fun experience Same old warmed over cheaply made overpriced stuff The “ tree” continues to be an embarrassment. Looks like a bunch of Amazon boxes. It’s the 3 or 4 year for it and it’s not a joyful experience
Ya want joy? I went to Livotti’s in Freehold. What a party they have going on there.
Amazing display of some really high end stuff Samples galore enough staff to handle the crowds. Really enjoyed spending way too much money but wow it’s been a long time since I’ve been knocked out by a Salumeria.
If you can imagine it they had it. It was the door slam on the depressing Asbury experience.BTW couldn’t they salt more than 10 feet of boardwalk?
That’s an lawsuit waiting to happen.
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The new Old Bridge ShopRite replaced the old Old Bridge ShopRite just south of it, and that one was really in need of renovation. Like I said, some pluses (bigger selection, wider aisles [yay!], more small carts, decent app synchronization), some minuses (loss of my “pot luck”, a lot more walking).
Heads up for the Rosie’s (pizza) fans. If you missed it, the Middletown location opened yesterday. Located in Kings Commons shopping center Shoprite/the old Sears spot/next to Nicholas creamery.
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As has been discussed, the Old Bridge shoprite is not a saker shoprite and noticeably different from the Saker ones. They are the village/sumas Shoprites. They are going for more of a Wegmans type vibe and I don’t like it. They don’t have the incredible clearance deals that the saker ones do, and I hate when I end up in one of them!
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Didn’t realize that. They do have some discounted prepared foods (“Gourmet Garage”–who thought that was a good name?), but they seem to be only 30% off, not 50% or 70% like Aberdeen, and only a few by 10AM. (They mark stuff down 10PM on the penultimate sale day). I did get some prepped but raw baby scallops at 30% off today.
The fact that the app puts my list in aisle order, the surplus of the smaller carts, and the wider aisles are big pluses for me. We’ll see who has the better Passover selection, though.
Chef James Avery has sold Black Swan in Asbury Park to Barco Brands, the folks that own mediocre restaurants such as Deal Lake, The Break, Baseline Social
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Adding to the mediocrity , great business plan🍷
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Noooooo! I thought he was keeping Black Swan.
I hope he can now concentrate on the cooking since he is staying on as executive chef.
Maybe he can improve the food at the other places, of that is part of the plan
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That’s good to hear. Fwiw the Break is 100% gutted, will have two bars, and is going to be a different concept. I think they’re renaming it as well.
Yes one of the bartenders from Deal Lake is at Homesick now, said the name would be changing, it was called the break because they knew it would be something else when the renovation took place
I was in (non-food) a few meetings with the team as they opened the Break; their original intention was to open for the summer and then close after Thanksgiving that year to do the renos to the HVAC and elsewhere in the layout. Methinks they couldn’t afford to be closed as quickly as they’d hoped - but I’m glad they’re finally doing it.
Yes I recall that was their plan but money may have been an issue
Milk Sugar Love Bakery and Creamery is opening at the Shoppes at Sunset in AP this summer… right next door to Booskerdoo. I’ve never been to the Jersey City location but I’ve certainly read great things about it. This could be dangerous… I can walk there.
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Hopefully they are good. We have gotten spoiled by this guy in New Orleans who makes the best ice cream I have ever had.
So much so I don’t go for I’ve cream in NJ. Will have to give it a try. Hope it makes it in that location
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