You may not be able to tell by my last name, but I was raised in an Italian family. Needless to say, food is very important to me. I learned early on the power of food. It brings people together, makes them happy, and spurs some of the best conversations one can have. In other words: trust me on my recommendations. The way food is manipulated, plated, and served down the shore is very special; to truly get the Jersey Shore experience, it is essential to try some of the restaurants I have picked.

On a mild August Friday in downtown Saratoga Springs, Broadway teems with nocturnal creatures of all cultures. There are Big Apple ballers competing for the affections of stilettoed beauties, graying bluebloods who summer in the historic upstate hamlet, hippie folk musicians strumming Dylan for tips, college-aged chalk artists coloring in the sidewalks, and a magician with three mismatched ropes in his hands.