A Longstanding Passion Blooms

For anyone who knows us personally, if there is one thing you can say about us, it is that we love food. Sweet, salty, spicy, tangy, hot, cold....the list goes on. While our physical travels may have been limited over the past few years, our tastebuds have certainly been on their own adventures, having their passports stamped time and time again at each new restaurant we try. One day, on a relaxing stroll through Hillsborough's Duke Farms, Alexis and I chatted about how I felt as though I needed to do something new and exciting with my life. I was stuck in a rut and desired a new, creative outlet. Alexis shared that she felt as though she needed some outlet as well and with that, we got to work. When discussing ideas for a potential project, of course, food came up, as well as the many local restaurants we frequent and their impact on our lives.

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So, with that in mind, we feverishly brainstormed. How could we make this passion for food and beloved restaurants into an impassioned expression of love and, perhaps something more? After hashing out ideas on a park bench outside of Duke Farms' stately greenhouse, we concluded that we could create Setting the Tables to act as a "love letter" to our home state. We plan to celebrate food and cuisine, of course, but perhaps more importantly, we want to celebrate and appreciate the hardworking people who make these culinary havens survive and thrive (even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic). It is from that idea which Setting the Tables was born. It is our hope that while taking this journey ourselves, you will join us as we visit local establishments in Central New Jersey (and beyond) and learn more about the food and people behind the counter.