Community News

• Hudson Kitchen is looking for food vendors for the 4th Annual Riverview Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 11th. 
• Congratulations to Ahri's Kitchen on their one year anniversary. To celebrate, they're offering a dollar off every item until 4/27 and will be having their ribbon cutting on 4/28 with free seaweed soup and a gift certificate with every purchase. 
• As part of their ongoing article series highlighting food in New Jersey, Saveur recently explored Jersey City's Filipino food. 
• Bone In Food is moving their kitchen back to Jersey City this week. Because of the move, they are only offering provisions this week and no prepared meals, but they'll have them ready again in time for next week's deliveries.

PAFCOMNJ Celebrates Filipino Culture with Tipanan

This Friday 4/1, PAFCOMNJ (Philippine American Friendship Committee, Inc) is holding a cultural and food-based event "Tipanan" from 6-9pm.

Your Memorial Day Weekend

It's Memorial Day Weekend in Jersey City!

The Jersey City Food Truck Rally is back again tomorrow in the lot across from Madame Claude's on Brunswick between 4th and 5th Streets. This week, ME Casa Express, Chopping Block, and El Chilango will be there along with Peace.Love.Pops and Gaby's Kitchen, serving up empanadas! The rally begins at 3pm and runs until 9pm.

Philippine Bread House

Jersey City is considered to be one of the most diverse cities throughout the country. This blend of communities and ethnicities is one of our greatest strengths and in the wake of the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan, I wanted to highlight the substantial Filipino community in Jersey City.

A couple of months ago, I reviewed Fiesta Grill, a Philippine restaurant close to Journal Square in an area with a large Filipino influence and population. Another extremely well-known spot in the area is Philippine Bread House, a large bakery primarily featuring rows and counters of baked goods to go although there is a small seating area and some hot savory options as well.

During my visit, I picked up an ensaymada and a mini taisan loaf. Both are sweetened, yeasty breads as is typical of most Filipino baked goods and sweets.

Lunch at Fiesta Grill: All About the Pork

Let me preface this review by saying I am not Filipino and while I’m familiar with Filipino food, I am far from an expert and so may very well have no idea what I’m talking about.  Am I inspiring confidence yet?

I’d walked by Fiesta Grill several times before finally deciding to stop in for lunch.  It’s very cafeteria/buffet style where you just go up to the counter, point, pay and they give your food in Styrofoam bowls (which I'd love if they switched to plastic) on a plastic tray.  When I went, I stared at the approximately 16-20 chafing dishes of food they had out on display for about 5 minutes which really didn’t make my choice any clearer. Approximately 75% of it was pork and while everything has a name, there’s not much by way of description. I ended up asking the (brusque but very polite) woman behind the counter what their most popular dishes were and going with that. She recommended I get the combo: rice, 2 main dishes, and a drink – all for $7! – and suggested I try the pork adobo and lechon paksiw.