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Jersey Girls Food Tours will soon offer the opportunity to explore the culinary scene in Rutherford.
Co-founder Janis Borroto has lived in Rutherford for 30 years and said expanding to the neighborhood was close to her heart.
"I believe the culinary scene is awesome [in Rutherford]. Great restaurants and owners with great stories," Borroto said.
Based in Jersey City, Jersey Girls Food Tours have hosted food tours in Rutherford in the past with great success. They plan to revisit favorites like Sabor Peru, Paisanos Ristorante, Mambo Teahouse and others.
The value of Jersey Girls Food Tours comes with the sustained relationships between the founders and chefs in the area.
For example, when the tour visits Gourmet Italian Deli Market Matera's On Park, they go to the location after-hours for an exclusive session on how to make mozzarella cheese. The group is also treated to food platters and goodie bags.
Each tour highlights the variety of options available in the Jersey area.
"The top thing for me is diversity," Borroto said.
"We don’t put any restaurant on our tours. We like consistency and fresh ingredients. Seeing their passion come through their menu and the ambiance experience, that’s where we say it's tour-worthy."
Borroto and her business partner Alessia Aron came to the food business from different angles.
Aron had previously worked for food companies like Yelp and had an interest in starting her own touring company.
Borroto was at a corporate job she felt the need to escape from.
"I thought 'I’m slowly losing my soul and need to do something entrepreneurial,'" Borroto said.
She signed up for a food tour hosted by a company that Aron was working for at the time. Although that specific tour was canceled, the two reached out to one another and shared their interest in starting their own food tour company.
Most people come to Jersey Girls Food Tours for recreational food tours, but they also offer corporate tour events for companies and businesses.
In addition to Rutherford and Jersey City, the company plans to explore food tours in Ridgewood, Hoboken and other local areas.
The first Rutherford food tour is planned for April 5, 2017. Interested parties can register through the company's website.
Updates on future tour availability can be found through Jersey Girls Food Tours' Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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