Taste of Middlesex draws thousands to Pines Manor, showcases Edison's restaurant diversity

The Taste of Middlesex returned to the Pines Manor on Monday, drawing a rotating crowd organizers estimated at more than 1,000 people to sample dishes from over 50 restaurants across Edison and neighboring towns. The event, organized by the local chamber and held at the Pines Manor ballroom, showcased everything from brick-oven pizzas and Ethiopian platters to in-house roasted coffee and a range of desserts.

Mayor Sam Joshi, who attended the event, framed it as an economic and cultural showcase for the township. "Edison is the restaurant capital of New Jersey," Joshi said, urging residents to "dine local" and support the borough's diverse dining scene. The mayor thanked the Pines Manor and the Chamber of Commerce for hosting the annual festival and noted the event’s role in introducing newer restaurants to a wide audience.

Vendors used the festival to promote services and catering; many described private-event offerings and hours. Mike of Sips N Soul Cafe in South Plainfield said his business roasts coffee in-house and donates its proceeds to community causes: "100% of our net proceeds go to support the fight against human trafficking," he said. Other vendors highlighted recent openings and expansion plans — for example, several booths noted new locations in Woodbridge, Somerset, Metuchen and North Brunswick.

Longstanding restaurants also featured signature items: Chef Paul of the Pines Manor demonstrated a crispy southern chicken slider; Ray of Luciano’s in Rahway served arancini; and Filomena Polo of Maggiano’s described papette pasta with mushroom marsala cream. Family-run operations emphasized authenticity and community ties, while newer concepts such as 8 Indian Bistro and Albatross highlighted fusion menus and full-service entertainment options.

Organizers and elected officials credited the festival for building community ties and economic activity. Chamber volunteers, Pines Manor staff and SNS Advertising’s Karen Marino were singled out for recruiting vendors and making logistics run smoothly. Attendees experienced live music, DJ sets and a mariachi band while judges prepared awards for best food and presentation.

The festival closed with awards and plans to return next year. The host urged viewers to save the date for the 30th annual Taste of Middlesex and reminded patrons that many vendors accept bookings for private events and caterings through the contact methods they displayed at their booths.