Lauren Giselle Musni

New Jersey

Food and Culture Writer at NJ.com

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Articles

Popular N.J. pizzeria closing for good after more than 60 years

6 days ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni

Torna Pizzeria, a Hoboken pizza shop known for slinging saucy Sicilian pies, is closing this summer after more than 60 years of business. The pizzeria, which opened back in 1960, recently posted signs on their storefront and throughout the shop announcing the closure. Torna Pizzeria’s last day of business will be July 24. “With a heavy heart, we announce that Torna’s Pizza will be closing doors on July 24th,” the statement on the sign said.
It was ‘Chinatown by the Sea.’ Inside a Jersey Shore town’s unknown history.

1 week ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2024. Bradley Beach, known for its scenic shorefront and foodie-friendly Main Street, also maintains a rich — if not unlikely — cultural heritage: The small Jersey Shore town was once known as Chinatown by the Sea. The migration of Chinese immigrants in New York City to the beachfront enclave began in 1941, with a woman named Lee Ng Shee, according to the Bradley Beach Historical Society.
The 23 best Filipino restaurants in New Jersey, ranked for 2025

1 week ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni |Saleah Blancaflor

New Jersey’s diverse culinary landscape wouldn’t be complete without the cuisine of The Philippines, especially as the state’s growing Filipino population now tops 118,000 residents. In 1960, the U.S. Census only counted 1,451 Filipinos in New Jersey. But the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which ended the cap on how many immigrants were allowed to enter the country, changed all that.
New Jersey’s 25 best Mexican restaurants, ranked

1 week ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni |Peter Genovese |Jeremy Schneider |Christopher Burch |Murjani Rawls

¡Bienvenidos! New Jersey might be thousands of miles from Mexico. But that doesn’t mean the state doesn’t have a vast array of Mexican eateries. And we’re not just talking tacos, burritos, quesadillas and birria. In New Jersey, you can get dishes like smoky mole poblano, savory enchiladas verdes and tangy sopes topped with fresh salsa — delights that truly capture the essence of Mexico’s culinary heritage.
New Jersey’s 23 best Thai restaurants, 2025 update

2 weeks ago | nj.com | Peter Genovese |Lauren Giselle Musni

While Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisines seem to grab most of the Asian culinary spotlight in this country, don’t sell Thai food short. Fifty percent of all Thai restaurants outside of Thailand are in the U.S. and Canada; with about 5,300 Thai restaurants in America alone. What makes Thai food so appealing? The mixture of sweet, sour and spicy; the predominance of vegetables and the generous use of herbs are among the major factors.
The driver of the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile just broke a N.J. food record

2 weeks ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni

It started with hot dogs, detoured through pizza, and ended in the record books. Connor Wolff, a Pittsburgh resident who drives the famous Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, rolled into Pete & Elda’s Bar and Carmen’s Pizzeria in Neptune City on Tuesday. And he left the owner of a state record. Pete & Elda’s, the iconic Jersey joint known for thin-crust pizza, is home to the legendary “Whole Pie Eater’s Club” challenge — a deceptively simple test of appetite and pride.
One N.J. woman’s fight to save a beloved ’40s diner - and every diner in the state

2 weeks ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni

There’s no doubt New Jersey loves its diners. But unfortunately, diner culture is on a slow decline. It started with the closings of many 24-hour diners with now only 15 of them left in the state. But that isn’t the only endangered diner species. According to NPR, the Garden State has lost a total of 150 diners in the past decade. This year alone we have already lost spots like The Americana Diner in West Orange, Bendix Diner in Hasbrouck Heights and Roadside Diner in Wall.
Smelly customers stay out! N.J. bakery urges some patrons to use drive-thru

2 weeks ago | silive.com | Lauren Giselle Musni

One of South Jersey’s best bakeries is asking customers who wear strong perfume or cologne to avoid the main line and stick to the drive-thru. Century Bakery in Bridgeton made the unusual request on Facebook earlier this month as several of their cashiers suffer from asthma, and the scents some customers were wearing triggered an attack. “We kindly ask that if you wear strong perfumes or colognes, please utilize our drive-thru service.
Smelly customers stay out! N.J. bakery urges some patrons to use drive-thru.

2 weeks ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni

One of South Jersey’s best bakeries is asking customers who wear strong perfume or cologne to avoid the main line and stick to the drive-thru. Century Bakery in Bridgeton made the unusual request on Facebook on April 16 because several of their cashiers suffer from asthma, and the scents some customers were wearing triggered an attack. “We kindly ask that if you wear strong perfumes or colognes, please utilize our drive-thru service.
The hottest restaurant in a top N.J. food town is closing. Here’s why.

3 weeks ago | nj.com | Lauren Giselle Musni

In less than a year of business, Tasca in Montclair earned statewide acclaim for its modern Iberian cuisine. The intentionally inauthentic Portuguese and Spanish fare, featuring dishes like piri piri quail with blue cheese crema and lemon saffron gnocchi with octopus bolognese, was a hit in the highly competitive food town. After a rave review, NJ.com named it the best restaurant of 2024. But now, it’s closing.