The restaurant and dining stories we feasted on this year
Normally, covering a restaurant beat is a mix of trying to get the scoop on new places coming in, sharing the stories of independent business owners and what inspires their offerings, and the delicious food itself — whether its South Jersey’s best cheesesteak, vegan cream or gnocchi as soft as a cloud.
But nothing is normal in 2020. So even though we did our best to write about new places coming in (and new ones are still coming in), culinary inspiration and memorable cuisine, this year meant food writers reported on the heartbreak of overnight closings, the cancellation of long-planned events or expansions, and the efficacy of hand sanitizer and air purifiers.
From new restaurants and breweries launching mid-pandemic to chefs and restaurateurs reimagining t their business models again and again.
Here is a look at some of the top food and drink we covered in a year of culinary news like no other:
January
We toasted the new year at South Jersey’s first cidery, as Armageddon opened its doors in Somerdale. The business, housed in a small warehouse space near Flying Fish Brewing Co., offers core and seasonally inspired ciders and also makes mead. While the pandemic proved challenging to the new business, it has nonetheless offered innovative taste profiles and added outdoor seating in July.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/01/08/armageddon-brewing-open-near-flying-fish-somerdale-hard-cider-mead/2832489001/
We also began the year chasing Gordon Ramsay around South Jersey. And it was worth hiding out in parking lots and following false leads in the rain, as we got the scoop on the “Hell’s Kitchen’’ star’s redo of the well-loved Botto’s Italian Line Restaurant in Swedesboro. The family-run restaurant and Italian market took lots of advice to update their décor and menu, and basked in the Hollywood glow for a bit.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/picture-gallery/life/2020/01/24/newly-renovated-bottos-italian-line-restaurant-gordon-ramsay-redecorated/4559778002/
February
There’s power in numbers, and that’s what downtown businesses in Haddonfield celebrated in February. In a month devoted to love, they united to share promotions and raise all boats. Oh, and they also celebrated the borough’s first Restaurant Week.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/01/31/haddonfield-food-businesses-unite-host-restaurant-week-promote-dining-scene/4627630002/
Speaking of collaboration, a sea of pink boots came together in February to brew one beer in the name of women brewers everywhere. Women’s Brew Day was celebrated at Cherry Hill’s woman-owned Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing Co., with brewers, baristas and other team members from the region’s dozens of breweries working side by side in the brewhouse and raising a pint to great beer.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/02/04/nj-breweries-100-plus-women-come-together-make-beer-womens-brew-day-cherry-hill/4648977002/
March
The food beat is about a lot of novelty. Cuisines trend. Dining tastes change. But a classic is always a classic. And that’s why when Jim Marino brought his long-time Collingswood dining concept, Bistro di Marino, down to Washington Township, the community gave him a warm welcome. And his regulars proved they were willing to drive south for even more of Marino’s classic pasta, seafood and meatballs. Look for a third location for Bistro di Marino coming to Marlton soon.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/03/02/collingswood-favorite-bistro-di-marino-right-home-washington-township/4895205002/
When Gov. Phil Murphy shut down indoor dining in March, every restaurant in New Jersey had to figure it out. South Jersey restaurant owners got busy reimagining their business models, whether that meant selling dry goods and groceries, upping their takeout game, learning the term “curbside pickup’’ or baking a whole lot of Irish soda bread.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/03/17/coronavirus-irish-soda-bread-trunk-drops-and-booze-delivery-how-south-jersey-restaurants-coping/5058355002/
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/2020/03/31/nj-restaurants-coronavirus/2898389001/
April
If April had a theme, it was “we’re all in this together.’’
In between the drive-by birthday parties, community chalk art and balcony serenades, New Jersey’s craft brewers did what they do best – brewed beer for the cause. Brewing projects raised money and awareness for the struggling hospitality industry.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/04/07/all-together-project-new-jersey-breweries-raise-funds-hospitality-workers-struggling-covid-19-crisis/5104839002/
Lots of businesses pivoted to help in the rising crisis caused by COVID-19. Distilleries made hand sanitizer; dressmakers made masks for hospital workers. And it wasn’t only businesses who got creative for a cause. All over New Jersey, ingenious neighbors turned Little Free Libraries into neighborhood food pantries … whether for a hungry neighbor or just someone who could not find toilet paper at the store.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/04/10/south-jersey-helpers-free-little-library-does-double-duty-food-pantry-haddon-township-coronavirus/2944242001/
More:Meet Hira Qureshi: She’s ready to share the best stories about food & drink in our region
May
Much of our food reporting this year focused on the struggles family-owned restaurants endured as they tried to adjust to COVID-19-related restrictions and new regulations. The owners of Denim BYOB in Haddonfield had to figure it out as indoor dining was shut down and then resumed on a limited basis, and takeout and outdoor dining became keys to survival.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/05/11/denim-byob-haddonfield-copes-covid-19-lockdown-takeout-delivery-expansion-plans/3104410001/
Desperate times call for fascinating measures. Such was the case when Philly restaurateur Stephen Starr decided what we all needed was vampires delivering our pizza.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2020/05/22/would-stephen-starr-pizza-delivered-vampire-shake-up-lockdown/5238909002/
June
As the world reeled from the death of George Floyd and protestors took to the streets, the nation’s craft breweries responded by brewing one beer in support of Black Lives Matter. Black is Beautiful was released in many incarnations at breweries throughout New Jersey, with brewers putting their own spin on the Imperial stout.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/06/17/breweries-sign-onto-black-is-beautiful-beer-collaboration-blacklivesmatter-new-jersey-delaware/3190853001/’
While some restaurants in our market – Little Hen in Haddonfield, for instance – turned their fine dining eateries into fine food markets in response to the pandemic, Valente’s Italian Market in that borough went the other way, transitioning to a fine dining restaurant – Valente’s Cucina – and offering a large outdoor dining space in Kings Court.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/06/23/valentes-italian-specialties-haddonfield-offers-outdoor-dining-transitions-byob-restaurant/3225265001/
July
Would the craft beer industry, which had seen exponential growth in South Jersey in recent years, survive the pandemic? The disruption in tasting room sales and the abrupt stop to events hurt, for sure. But brewers were determined to meet the challenges and continue to brew what they do best.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/local/2020/07/02/nj-craft-beer-looks-to-future-after-covid-19-disruption-wersquore-in-uncharted-waters/42041641/
Feeding the homeless isn’t easy in the middle of a pandemic. But while the folks at Cathedral Kitchen in Camden could not feed its usual guests in the thoughtful and welcoming dining room setting they were used to, they could still offer them meals and lots of other support. Which meant all the more in a year where hunger spread like never before.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2020/07/21/cathedral-kitchen-increases-outreach-needs-volunteers-feeds-hungry-south-jersey/5469407002/
August
Want to stand out in a takeout crowd? Hit your backyard smoker and offer breakfast for dinner. And not just breakfast but breakfast inspired by cuisines from all over the globe, as the owner of Macona BBQ did this summer, just as takeout fatigue set in.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/videos/life/2020/08/25/breakfast-dinner-macona-bbq-collingswood/5629651002/
When Lickety Splitz came to Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade, with its boozy frozen treats, it marked a trend of alcohol-infused goodies that help beat the heat. We had fun exploring the adults-only frozen confections popping up all over New Jersey and beyond.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/2020/08/26/nj-restaurants-boozy-popsicles/3336131001/
September
The doctor is in. Actually, the veterinarian is in, and he’s making beer. Dr. Brewlittle’s owner had hoped to open the doors of his Maple Shade brewery around St. Patrick’s Day. It took a lot longer thanks to the pandemic, but open it did this fall. The craft brewery is a fun addition to the downtown — with outdoor seating and growlers to go.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2020/09/03/dr-brewlittles-beer-co-new-maple-shade-craft-brewery-open-friday-outdoor-service-takeout/5667902002/
When tragedy struck in Beirut, the Lebanese-American population in New Jersey reeled. And then they got busy lending a hand to survivors struggling to put their lives together after the port explosion. One of Cherry Hill’s most popular restaurants helped launch a new non-profit and plan a unique event to give back.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/09/30/lebanese-americans-form-charity-aid-victims-beirut-explosion-normas-collingswood-forgotten-boardwalk/3558442001/
October
As the weather cooled off, thoughts turned to holidays and how we would manage them in a pandemic.
We spent lots of time writing about holiday takeout options and how to cook a smaller turkey, but we also got nostalgic about our own family traditions.
For me, that meant pierogi:
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/food/2020/10/06/national-pierogi-day-how-make-where-buy-best-nj/3592424001/
November
Even South Jersey’s most lauded restaurants are struggling. Knowing winter would mean most outdoor dining would get shut down, the owners of Farm & Fisherman Tavern fine tuned their pizza skills and launched a side business – out the backdoor. Back Door Pizza didn’t take long to become a local Instagram darling. Order early or miss out.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/11/03/back-door-pizza-farm-fisherman-spins-off-second-business-cherry-hill/6126642002/
One South Jersey food business has gotten more media attention than any other these last few years, and it’s been all about the pickle. The owners of Elsie’s Pickles in Haddon Township have enjoyed long lines outside their shop ever since opening and attracting the attention of everyone from George Takei to the “Good Morning America.’’ And now, you can own a franchise.
December
One of the joys of this job — besides boozy popsicles and breakfast for dinner – is watching small businesses succeed. In gathering gift ideas for our readers, we learned about lots of Black-owned food businesses worth our support, whether we were seeking vegan cookies or definitely not vegan cheesecakes.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/you-can-shop-for-holiday-gifts-while-supporting-black-owned-businesses-in-south-jersey/ar-BB1bJC22?ocid=hplocalnews&srcref=rss
What better way to round out a year of less-than-great restaurant news than with a look at these intrepid restaurants opening in such a challenging year. Pandemic or no pandemic, there are a lot of new places hoping to satisfy your cravings in South Jersey. Please do your best to support them.
https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2020/12/14/new-restaurants-open-around-south-jersey-dining/3779809001/
Tammy Paolino is Features Editor for the Atlantic South region of the USA Today Network. She’s an award-winning reporter and editor who loves to cover trends, diversity, the arts, food and drink. Reach her at [email protected] or 856-486-2477 or on Twitter @CP_TammyPaolino. Help support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier-Post, Daily Journal, Burlington County Times or one of our sister publications.
