Exploring Rutherford with Jersey Girls Food Tours!

May 11, 2017 newjerseyisntboring

Back in February, I joined Jersey Girls Food Tours on a trip around Jersey City..so when I heard they were doing a tour in Rutherford, New Jersey I knew I wanted to tour a different city through their foodie eyes again!

Co-owner of Jersey Girls Food Tours, Janis Borroto, grew up in Rutherford, so taking the tour with her through her hometown was a very special treat. As someone who had never dined in Rutherford, I was looking forward to seeing what restaurants she had picked as part of the tour.

Stop 1: Sabor Peru (8 Highland Cross)
This fantastic Peruvian restaurant was started by a husband and wife who had no restaurant experience when they decided they wanted to bring their love of Peruvian food to Rutherford! Now it’s one of the most popular places in town! We enjoyed Ceviche, Chaufa, and spring rolls while drinking house made Sangria (they are BYOB, so bring some wine!).

Stop 2: Paisano’s (132 Park Ave)
This family operated Italian restaurant has been a Rutherford landmark for almost 30 years! It’s a gorgeous restaurant that has so much seating inside, as well as a beautiful outside eating area as well. Everything there is made fresh from their delicious homemade bread…

To their homemade pasta! Sooooooooooo good. (pictured here is Spinach Ravioli)

Stop 3: Big Bowls Little Plates (16 Glen Rd)
Big Bowls Little Plates is a fast casual restaurant featuring….big bowls and little plates!

Their big bowls are traditional and unique takes on vegetarian and non-vegetarian noodles and rice that are big enough to share! Their little plates consist of dumplings, buns, wontons, appetizers, and more! We got a full spread of things to try…and everything was amazing!

Plus they have a sauce bar! (for no extra charge, so many to choose from)

Stop 4: Erie Coffee Shop and Bakery (10 Franklin Pl)
As part of our tour we got an exclusive visit to Erie Coffee Shop and Bakery which was actually closed to the public when we stopped by.

Erie sells locally roasted coffee from Cafe Grumpy in Brooklyn and makes hand crafted, small batch baked goods (which we got to sample their best seller, a mini olive oil citrus bundt cake). As a bonus we got to speak to owner and pastry chef Renee Faris who only uses the best ingredients and makes all her baked goods by hand (including cake!).

Stop 5: Matera’s on Park (72 Park Ave)
Another private visit! We got to hang out with the owners of Matera’s on Park, an Italian deli that serves AMAZING cheese, meats, homemade soups, personal pizzas, sandwiches, and more!

We also got a mozzarella cheese making demonstration and ate fresh mozzarella cheese! As a cheese fanatic, I was in heaven.

And Last But Not Least, Stop 6: Mason’s Cellar (23 Park Ave)
In a dry town like Rutherford, you need a liquor store for all the BYOB restaurants that you’ll inevitably visit. Mason’s Cellar is the place to be! Not only were they are last stop on the tour, but they supplied the liquor for every restaurant we stopped at!

We had a private hard cider tasting with co-owner Michelle Izquierdo, who provided us with local cider from Jersey Cider Works. Mason’s Cellar does private tastings and events, plus they have an amazing collection of liquor, wine, and beer from you to choose from.