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On this episode of Behind the Counter with the Food Czar, I sit down with Rich and Jack Giacalone, better known to many as the social media sensation Brothers Cucina.

Growing up in Livingston, NJ, in a big Italian family, food was always at the center of everything. Every Sunday meant heading to their grandmother's house in Newark, where more than 30 family members would gather around the table to cook, eat, laugh, and spend time together. Those family traditions helped shape who they are today.

While Rich caught the culinary bug early on and knew food was his passion, Jack always had a knack for business. Together, they built successful ventures, including Il Giacalone's in Livingston and Trattoria Fresco in Caldwell, before eventually stepping away from the restaurant world as they focused on raising their families.

Then came an unexpected new chapter. A few years ago, their nephew Joseph started filming the brothers doing what they do best—cooking, telling stories, busting each other's chops, and bringing people together. What started as a family project quickly turned into Brothers Cucina, a social media phenomenon that has captured the hearts of people everywhere. Today, the three of them work side-by-side creating content that celebrates food, family, tradition, and the authentic bond they share.

In this episode, we talk about growing up in an Italian household, building businesses together, navigating life's pivots, and how Brothers Cucina has given them something truly special—more time with each other, more time with Joseph, and a community that feels like an extension of their family.

This conversation is filled with laughs, stories, and a reminder that some of life's best moments happen around the dinner table. 

Follow Brothers Cucina @brothers.cucina

Recording Location: The Ritz Diner Livingston NJ

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This week on Behind the Counter with the Food Czar, we sit down with Jonathan Echeverry, founder of Paper Plane Coffee, to discuss a journey that spans generations, countries, and a passion for hospitality.

Born into a family that has grown coffee in Colombia for five generations, Jonathan spent his childhood summers working on the family farm. But coffee wasn't always the plan. From growing up in his family's Mexican restaurants outside Atlanta to culinary school, acting aspirations, and life in New York City, Jonathan's path took plenty of unexpected turns before leading him back to his roots.

What started as a small coffee roasting company in 2015 has grown into one of New Jersey's most beloved coffee brands. Today, Paper Plane Coffee's flagship Montclair location has become a destination for coffee lovers, with a second location opening in Maplewood this summer.

Jonathan shares the experiences, challenges, and pivotal moments that shaped both his journey and the Paper Plane story. It's a conversation about family, entrepreneurship, creativity, and finding your purpose in unexpected places.

Follow Paper Plane @paperplanecoffeeco

Recording Location: Paper Plane Montclair NJ

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In this episode, I sit down with Dan Campeas and Day Ordonez, the husband-and-wife team behind Dan & Day’s Burgers & Shakes in Upper Montclair and the brand new Farmhouse Fried Chicken.

Their story is one of faith, timing, hard work, and community.

Dan grew up in Montclair and already owned a restaurant when Day, who grew up in Ecuador, walked in looking for a job. What started as an interview turned into a beautiful relationship, a marriage, and now an incredible partnership in both life and business.

We talk about their individual journeys, how important community is to them, and why staying grounded in their roots matters so much. Their restaurants aren’t just businesses — they’re places built to serve and connect with the people around them.

This episode is about two people who found not only each other, but also their passion and purpose. Together, they’ve built something authentic, meaningful, and deeply rooted in the community they love. And if their journey so far is any indication, this is only the beginning of what they’re capable of creating together.

Follow Dan & Days @dananddaysofficial

Recording Location: Farmhouse Fried Chicken Montclair NJ

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This episode features Ryan DePersio, a true force in New Jersey’s culinary scene.

Born and raised in Nutley, New Jersey, Ryan’s passion for food started early, shaped by family, tradition, and the influence of his mother, a recipe developer for women’s magazines. From a young age, he was drawn to the kitchen and committed to learning the craft from the ground up.

After attending culinary school in New York and working in top kitchens alongside acclaimed chefs, two formative trips helped define his path: Paris, France, and Florence, Italy. In Paris, he worked in a one-Michelin-star restaurant, and in Florence, in a three-Michelin-star restaurant—experiences that deepened his appreciation for fine dining and helped shape his culinary voice.

Ryan went on to open Fascino in Montclair, a family-driven venture that became the foundation for his career as a restaurateur—where his mother also worked alongside him as the pastry chef. Since then, he has expanded his footprint with his partners, Cory Checket and Joe Calafiore, with Battello in Jersey City, Ember & Eagle and The TillingHouse in Eatontown, and the soon to open Barchino in Jersey City.

In this conversation, Ryan reflects on the evolution of his career, the importance of team and partnership, and the passion that continues to drive him forward. This episode explores the realities of building a restaurant group, staying creative over time, and remaining deeply connected to the craft.

Follow Ryan @chef_rd

Recording Location: Battello Restaurant Jersey City, NJ

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This week on Behind the Counter with the Food Czar, I sit down with Alex Berkowitz, the founder and owner of Bagel Nook — the viral bagel concept that completely changed the breakfast game.

When Alex opened his doors in 2015, no one thought bagels needed reinventing… except him. What started as a bold idea — turning flavors like Doritos, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Oreos, and Fruity Pebbles into over-the-top bagels with equally creative cream cheeses — quickly turned into something much bigger.

But this story isn’t just about wild flavors and social media buzz. It’s about vision, grit, and believing in something before anyone else sees it.

From day one to now 11 locations (and nationwide shipping through Goldbelly), Alex has built Bagel Nook into a true empire — one rooted in passion, creativity, and nonstop hustle. His flagship in Freehold, NJ is where it all began, and where his heart still is, even as the brand continues to grow through franchising.

This episode dives into the mindset behind the madness, the lessons learned along the way, and what it really takes to turn an idea into something lasting.

If you’ve ever had a dream that felt a little crazy… this one’s for you.

Follow Alex @the_bagel_nook

Recording Location: The Bagel Nook Freehold NJ

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In this episode, we sit down with Gustavo (Gus) Gutierrez — the high-energy entrepreneur behind Cubita Cafe and the growing fleet of Cubita Food Trucks.

Gus grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey knowing he needed to find a path that would keep him focused and out of trouble. After discovering a culinary program built around hands-on experience, he dove into the restaurant world — starting as a dishwasher at a Cuban restaurant in Hoboken where he learned the business from the ground up.

That drive eventually led him to Le Cirque in New York City and later to becoming a corporate chef overseeing more than 15 restaurants at Newark Airport.

But when COVID shut everything down — and he learned his wife was pregnant — Gus bet on himself. He started perfecting empanadas and selling them to anyone willing to try them. When demand exploded, his wife pushed him to open Cubita Cafe in Nutley.

Today that leap has grown into Cubita Cafe, four Cubita food trucks, and a massive warehouse operation — all fueled by Gus’s “all gas, no brakes” mentality.

In this episode, Gus talks about leadership, relentless learning, and why in cooking — there is no such thing as perfect, only practice.

Follow Gus @hudsonchef

Recorded at Cubita Wholesale Bloomfield NJ

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This week we sit down with Staci Puleo — the heart and hands behind Staci’s Sandwich Joint — whose journey into the food world is proof that it’s never too late to start something completely new.

Just over a year ago, Staci was a stay-at-home mom thinking about what her next chapter might look like when her kids got older. With zero restaurant experience, she took a leap of faith and opened a small sandwich shop in her own community in January 2025 — built on nothing more than a vision of creating a happy place where friends, families, and neighbors could walk through the door and feel at home.

What happened next is something she never could have predicted.

Less than a year in, her now-famous chicken Caesar sandwich went viral on social media — and suddenly there were lines out the door, a growing fan base, and a business that hasn’t slowed down since.

But this episode isn’t just about a viral sandwich.

It’s about confidence found later in life, learning in real time, pushing past fear, and discovering that you are capable of far more than you ever imagined.

Staci’s story is sweet, empowering, and deeply relatable — a reminder to anyone listening that you can try new things, do hard things, and build something beautiful in your own backyard.

Follow Staci's Sandwich Joint @stacis_joint

Recorded at Staci's Sandwich Joint Verona, NJ

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In this special Mother’s Day episode, I sit down with Deborah and Sam Stymest, the mother-and-son duo behind Sam’s Table in Montclair, New Jersey.

What started during COVID as a backyard, socially distanced dining experience for neighbors—seven courses, shared from a distance but deeply connected—quickly became something people truly needed. A way to gather, to feel a sense of normalcy again, and to connect through food.

From there, Sam’s Table evolved into pop-ups across New Jersey and New York City, before finding its home on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair.

Today, Sam’s Table is an intimate 26-seat restaurant offering a four-course, monthly seasonal menu, where every detail feels thoughtful and every guest experience feels personal.

Sam, a trained chef, is the creative force behind the menu, while Deborah runs the front of house and business side. What makes this story so special is their relationship—the pride, the trust, and the role reversal, as Deborah shares that in the restaurant, Sam is the boss.

At its core, this episode is about more than a restaurant.

It’s about food, family, and the connections that bring people together.

Follow Sam's Table @samstablenj

Recording Location: Sam's Table Montclair NJ

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This week we sit down with Allie Chernick, the founder of Allie’s Banana Bread, whose signature banana bread — made from her Grandma Sheila’s cherished recipe — turned into one of NYC’s most buzzed-about baked goods.

From growing up in Rhode Island to studying photography at Syracuse and building a career at Ralph Lauren, Allie followed a creative path — all while quietly becoming the person everyone knew for her banana bread. What started as baking for friends soon took on a life of its own, leading her to make a bold leap from her full-time job into entrepreneurship.

Now with her loaves landing on JetBlue, FreshDirect, and doorsteps across the country — plus standout collaborations along the way — Allie shares the story behind the pivot, the pressure, and the early signs that her side hustle was becoming something much bigger.

This episode is about trusting your gut, honoring your roots, and turning what you’re known for into a brand.

Follow Allie's Banana Bread @allie'sbananabread

Recording Location: Greenpoint, NY

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This week’s episode explores reinvention, resilience, and listening to the pull you can’t ignore. We sit down with Matthew Chappina, the creative force behind Perla Oyster Bar in Maplewood, NJ.

After starting out in theater, Matt found his true calling in the kitchen—working through restaurants in Brooklyn and NYC before launching a sandwich concept that gained momentum, then stalled during COVID. Burnt out and ready to walk away, he followed a new instinct instead.

That instinct led to a pandemic pop-up oyster bar, a surprising hit that reignited his passion. In 2023, Matt took the leap and opened Perla, a space that reflects his winding path and creative vision.

This conversation dives into burnout, pivots, betting on yourself, and how the right idea often finds you when you’re finally ready to listen.

Follow Perla @eatperla

Recorded at Perla Oyster Bar Maplewood NJ

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