Summit Welcomes "Pizza Vita" with Open Arms and an Eager Appetite

Watch out Summit pizza lovers, there’s a new pizza place in town boasting it’s own twist on everyone’s favorite Italian classic. Located at 7 Union Place in Summit, NJ, Pizza Vita offers a variety of antipasti, pizzas, salads and pastas inspired by the traditional pizzerias of Naples, Italy. Owners Rocco and Adele DiBiase opened the restaurant’s doors on July 18, 2011 and since then, it has proved to be a roaring success. Driven by our eagerness to eat at the newest local cuisines, my dad, brother and I decided to check out what it is that makes this place so popular.

Here’s how we did it:

Starters:

Mozzarella en Carozza (translation: Olive oil poached mozzarella). Breaded, lightly fried and topped with a fresh, sweet tomato sauce, this appetizer is on the top of the menu for a reason. It is the perfect balance of sauce and lightly fried-cheesy goodness that is a necessity to have on your table prior to ordering any other item on the menu. Take it from someone who is normally not a cheese lover, these are a must-have item.

Meatballs: I’m normally hesitant about ordering meatballs because they tend to have a lot of filler and only a little bit of meat. However, these baseball sized-meatballs, which are impeccably seasoned and incredibly moist, have far exceeded any previous expectations I may have possessed. Served with an absolutely delicious and flavorful homemade sauce, this appetizer will make any meat lover a very happy diner.

Pizza:

Before getting into the pizzas that we ordered, I must mention what it is that sets Pizza Vita’s pizzas apart from all the others. Pizza Vita strictly uses ingredients in accordance with the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association (VPN), which was established to protect and promote authentic Napoletana pizza. Consequently, as a member of the VPN, Pizza Vita only serves D.O.C. pizza, which means that their pizza is made with only soft grain flour, water, all natural fresh yeast, sea salt, San Marzano tomato and Mozzarella di Bufala or Fior di latte Mozzarella.

So what does this all mean? It means that Pizza Vita uses only the freshest and finest ingredients (with many imported right from Italy) in order to serve up their original homemade pie! Once prepped, the pizza is cooked in a 100% wood fired oven for just 90 seconds due to its constant 900-degree temperature.

Margheritta D.O.C.: A classic margherita pizza with a chewy, lightly burned crust that is absolutely to die for. Though simple, this pizza will win over any classic pizza lover.

Padrino: Crushed tomato, hot soppresata (Italian cured dry salami), olives and provolone. A different take on the traditional meat-lovers pizza, however, it is equally satisfying and delicious. You may want to ask for extra bread to dip in the oil that drips off the pizza because I can guarantee you will want to savor every last bite.

Desserts:

All of the desserts are prepared by owner and chef Adele DiBiase, whose pastry background provided a delectable ending to this already incredible meal.

Doughnuts filled with melted chocolate, served with homemade caramel sauce: These doughnuts were light and fluffy, dusted with sugar and served hot. The melted chocolate inside is what made these doughnuts extra special and irresistible.

Despite sampling the restaurant’s many options, we barely made a dent in the menu, and left wanting to come back for more. So head on over soon to Pizza Vita and check it out for yourself! I promise you won’t regret it.

If you want to see their menu and other information before heading over, visit:

 www.pizzavitanj.com

The Jefferson Diner

Location: 5 Bowling Green Pkwy #12 (Off Route 15) in Lake Hopatcong, NJ

The first time I passed a sign for the Jefferson Diner that boasted “#1 Diner in Morris County”, I was not sold on its claims.  However, months later as I salivated over the Moussaka being prepared on an episode of Food Network’s Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives, I abandoned all doubt and made it my mission to visit. Three years later, I continue to make it a routine stop on my way home from days on Lake Hopatcong.

I’ve anticipated blogging about this place since I kicked off the Jersey Diner Series and hope that this review will be able to capture what it is that makes the Jefferson Diner so irresistible.

With a large appetite and eagerness to eat some good food, we took on the Jefferson Diner’s huge menu in search of finding what it is that makes this a Top 5 Diner in NJ.

Here’s how we did it:

Soups, Soups, Soups!

While no matzo ball will ever compare to my grandmother’s, the light, fluffy and flavorful matzo balls were a close competitor and served with homemade chicken broth. I may be requesting some for Passover in Ann Arbor next year…

Burgers and fries:

Before getting into the burgers, I have to point out that when you come to Jefferson Diner, you MUST order the sweet potato fries. Fresh sliced and lightly fried, I advise ordering an extra plate to share for the table. To go alongside our fries, we tried out two very different, yet equally delicious burgers.

The Parmigiana burger, a char-grilled (and very fresh) burger on a bun with melted mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, with an option of onion rings on the side.

The Curly Joe “Hammy” burger, a char-grilled burger on a bun topped with grilled ham and melted swiss cheese.

Both burgers were excellent, however, being both picky and a purist when it comes to burgers, I’d go for the Cool Hand “Duke” Burger, a hand rolled seasoned and pressed fresh black Angus sirloin, served on a toasted bun with melted American cheese.

Sandwiches:

Simplicity at it’s finest, the pastrami sandwich is stacked with thin sliced, smoky and peppery pastrami atop quality rye bread. A classic and no-fail diner selection.

Greek Dish:

Since watching it’s preparation on Food Network, I’ve been eager to try the Moussaka and thought that it’d be a perfect pick for the Jersey Diner Series. Stuffed and piled high with pan fried eggplant, zucchini, potatoes (all hand sliced) and chopped meat with a light cream farina layer on top, this entrée stole the meal. The sweetness of the light and creamy layer balances the robust flavors of the meat and vegetables. It is served with a Greek salad and pita and large enough to feed two people. ***HIGHLY RECOMMEND***

Although I strayed slightly away from my original meal guidelines of burgers, pancakes, omelets and a Greek entrée, it was all with good intention. Jefferson Diner’s quick service, welcoming wait staff, and palate-pleasing meals are what consecutively makes this diner one of the top rated in the state.

So head on over soon, I promise you won’t regret it.

If you want to check out their menus and other information before heading over, visit:  http://www.jeffersondiner.com/Home-page.html

On An Island Down South...

Although I created the ‘Jersey Diner Series’ with the intention of exclusively visiting New Jersey’s finest, I couldn’t help but to write about an amazing diner experience I had this past weekend while on vacation.

Harold’s Diner, located on Route 278 in Hilton Head Island, SC, proudly flaunts their motto “Eat here, or we both will starve” and is a place coveted by locals and lucky tourists alike. Take a seat at the counter with caution…you’re likely to be criticized and ridiculed for your inability to order properly off of the “fill-out-your-own-card” style menu. But not to worry, there is not a single thing on the menu that is not worth trying.

The experience was definitely something different. Dining with my grandparents, dad and brother at a loud, hearty place was different than any of the gourmet meals we had throughout the trip. But, being the chatty and curious bunch that we are, we attempted to make friends with the tough-to-please owner while laughing over the many funny and crude bumper stickers that lined the walls (my favorites being “raising children is like nailing Jello to a tree”)

Of all the breakfast foods ordered, the hash browns stole the show. Soft and warm chunks of perfectly seasoned and griddled potatoes rounded out our plates of omelets, fried eggs and bacon. Usually, I rate the quality of my eggs and potatoes on a ketchup scale (the less ketchup used, the better the food) and I can safely say, this was a no ketchup meal. The omelets were fluffy, yet had the just-right ratio of egg to vegetable, and all of the breakfast meats were juicy and given a fresh crisp on the griddle.

The only downside? There were so many places on the island to try and so little time, that we were unable to make a trip back for lunch. However, since we dined just as the menu was switching from breakfast to lunch, I was able to check out what others were ordering. The burgers (in particular the famous H burger), the cheesesteak and onions rings all looked mouth-watering good. If I hadn’t been so full, I might have gone in for a second round.

Regrettably, I forgot to bring my camera along for the trip so all the pictures shown have been taken from online. Maybe this will give me a reason to road trip back down to Harold’s sometime soon… any takers?

The Clinton Station Diner

Location: Exit 13 off Route 78 West in Clinton, NJ

Coming from the Westfield area, Clinton is not exactly right around the corner. But to kick off the Jersey Diner Series, my cousin Dan, my brother Michael, and I, felt the 30-minute trip down Route 78 was necessary.  

The Clinton Station Diner hosts two different dining ambiances that both overlook a scenic area of 78: one half is a927 Blue Comet observation train car and the other is a much more cozy, family dining atmosphere lined with model train tracks suspended from the ceiling. The waitstaff was extremely friendly and happy to serve all their customers. We were also impressed by how quickly our rather large order was served (we did get some stares for ordering enough food for six even though there were only three of us).

Now onto the food. Clinton Station Diner had a fairly standard diner menu, with breakfast served around the clock, however, there were a few items that set this place apart from other diners.

Burgers and fries: The burger was juicy, flavorful and char-grilled to perfection. Their fries, hand cut from fresh potatoes, were wedge-sliced with a great balance of crunchy outside and soft, warm inside.

Hungry and ready for a challenge? Clinton Station Diner offers a prize of $5,000 to any ten people who can finish “The 8^th Wonder”, a burger that weighs in at 105lbs including the bun and toppings, in one hour.

If you’re interested in a small taste of their delicious burgers, try the “Nano Bites”, 0.4oz of the same ingredients in their larger burgers.

Pancakes: A perfectly portioned order of fluffy, light and buttery short stacks. 

Omelet: Greek omelet filled with feta cheese, tomatoes, onions and kalamata onions served with well-done hashbrowns that I could’ve mistaken for my grandmother’s latkes. Great way to start, or end, the day.

Greek Entrée: Spanakopita: flaky crust with the just-right balance of warm spinach and feta. Served alongside a Greek salad which on it’s own would be a delicious meal. **Best dish of the night**

Before leaving, we finished off this feast with two desserts: a chocolate mousse bomb and a vanilla shake. Although the shake was a little thin for my liking, the weight of the mousse bomb definitely compensated for it. Both desserts were amongst the many good-looking treats displaced with the other bakery selections.

If you want to check out their menu and other details before heading over:

http://www.clintonstationdiner.com/index.htm

Introducing: The Jersey Diner Series

If there’s one thing I missed about my home state, it is the diners. There are more diners in New Jersey than there are in the other 49 states combined. Each diner has its’ own distinct feel, specialty dish and waitstaff personality. This summer, I have made it my mission to find out what it is that makes Jersey diners infamous. I am prepared to travel north, south, east, west, from the shore, to the farms and the suburbs to find which diner reigns supreme.

I’ve chosen 4 diner classics: burger & fries, a Greek entrée (either spanikopita or moussaka), pancakes, and omelettes.

I’ll get to know the waitstaff and learn their personalities (every Jersey diner-goer remembers their favorite diner waitress…the one with the long fake nails, big hair, and too much makeup, who loves calling you “sweetie” or “hun”). Sure, this will only add to the workouts I have planned for this summer to keep in bikini-ready shape, but I know in the end the extra calories will be worth it.

So here it begins, my mission to find to find which diner has what it takes to be the ultimate Jersey diner.