The Food Of Newark NJ

Before anything yes I was born in 1971 my Sicilian and Irish grandparents came to Newark via Ellis Island between the 1880s and early 1900s. They lived their whole lives in Newark and in Kearny. My Sicilian Grandparents moved to South Florida in 1971 while my mom and dad moved to Maplewood in 1970.

My other uncles and cousins would either pass away by the late 1979 early 80s or have moved to other areas by then. My one cousin Joe moved to Irvington and became a police officer in 1979.

My whole life was spent in Newark and Kearny, yes I went to school slept and played with my friends a lot of days in Maplewood/South Orange but My Mom, Dad, Uncles and Cousins were always taking me back to the old neighborhood to see my other uncles and cousins or being that Maplewood was so close to the old neighborhood like 15 min away if we wanted a taste of the old place for lunch or dinner we would hop on 280 get off at first st and there we were.

I actually had two childhoods growing up and the amazing food and the iconic eateries of Newark NJ were a very very very huge part of it.

Dickie Dees…

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Located at 380 Bloomfield Ave in Newark this is where I had my very first Double Dog. It was 1978 I was 7 years old and I was visiting my Uncle Don’s Exxon Gas station on Park Ave and my cousin worked for my Uncle so for dinner I hopped in his huge black ’65 Impala SS and we headed to Dickie Dees.

I had no idea what I was in for all I know it was two weeks after Thanksgiving and I was freezing my ass off but once we got inside all I could smell was Pizza, Sausage and Peppers and I was in heaven not to mention it was very warm and inviting.

The guy says “what’cha want” (This is Newark actually pronounced NORK and you are not getting a Chili’s type greeting…… EVER) My cousin says ” Tree Double Dogs” (This is how Nicky Newarkers say three I will describe and Nicky Newarker in another post) Then the guy says “Tree Comin Up”

For the next 10 min I witnessed the most amazing poetry in motion. He takes the two Sabrett Hot Dogs outta the fryer slaps them in the bread adds either Ketchup or Spicy Mustard sometimes both. Then goes over to the greasy griddle and takes the peppers onions with huge chunks of potatoes and slides them all on top the dogs stuffed in the bread.

We got back to my uncle’s Exxon and I was with everyone and took my very first bite and it was the most amazing thing I had ever eaten in my entire young existence next to my moms cooking. The Hot Dogs and the greasy peppers and onions were phenomenal I couldn’t even get my mouth past the huge potatoes I had to eat them separately.

Needless to say on the way home to Maplewood I fell right asleep lol.

Calandra’s Bakery…

Now literally right smack across from Dickie Dees at 204 1st ave you have Calandra’s Bakery and for years and I mean years before I was born my family got everything there. Italian Bread, Cannolis (Gannol the Nicky Newark North Ward Way) and every other kind of Italian pastry you can think of we got from there.

Every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner we had to have their bread which meant that every Thanksgiving I had to be up at 8 or 9 to go with my Uncle to get some bread and cannoli’s if my cousin didn’t bring them.

Even as kid at my aunt Alice’s or Uncle Joes the literally lived less than 5 min away there was always something from Calandra’s in their house we lived on them we really did. Screw going to the A&P or Pathmark and get that white wonder bread shit.

But in the early to mid 80s this would all change to Calandra’s being only once in a while and for holidays as my mom would go on a health food kick and reduce or thick bread consumption. Can’t say I blame her my little fat ass was having Italian Bread and butter as a snack before bed so yea we were eating a tad too much lol.

Well that is it for now from me, I want to thank you all for following us and our posts. I love my childhood and the way I grew up, was it perfect not by a long shot. But the food from Newark was a very awesome part of my upbringing it really was.