BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – If you’re Italian and living at the Jersey Shore, you know that finding a good, authentic Italian specialty store is hard to come by. We have a few, but Berkeley Township residents no longer have to drive too far to get their Sunday dinners on.
In fact, they can now do it any day of the week at Cucina Fresca, a new Italian specialty store located conveniently next door to the Bayville dinosaur on Route 9.
Owned by Rich and Maria Panassidi, Cucina Fresca delivers authentic culinary Italian dishes, meats, pastries, pasta, and pre-cooked food to an existing Italian food desert. They sell freshly made mozzarella, freshly baked bread, and meats and even have a large catering menu.
The Panassidis bring experience to the table in Bayville. Prior to opening Cucina Fresca, they operated Giordano’s Italian Eatery in Old Bridge.
The owners said many of their products and ingredients are imported directly from Italy.
The addition of Cucina Fresca is most welcomed by Mayor Carmen Amato, an Italian American who was on hand recently to welcome the business to the community.
“We welcome Cucina Fresca to Berkeley Township,” Mayor Amato said. “We’re home to one of the largest Italian American populations in Ocean County. This local small business certainly is welcomed. From homemade specialties to imported products from Italy. I encourage all to come and visit Cucina Fresca.”
Online, the reception to Cucina Fresca has been nothing but positive. Customers are raving about the quality of food served and the freshness of their products.