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Featured News

NJ Photo Contest – Free Entry – Middlesex County

Spark is looking for diverse, artistic photos of your favorite areas of Middlesex County for our ‘Discover Middlesex” tourism guide.

Images chosen for these publications will be featured with full photo credit, and the grand prize winner will appear on the cover and receive a $250 cash prize, plus an “about” photography blurb.

There will also be cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place.

Photos submitted may be used in Discover Middlesex.

Photographers will get credit for any photos used along with their name and contact info/website listed in the masthead of the magazine.

Contest Rules:

  • Submit all high-resolution jpg (at least 300 dpi) photos along with your Full Name, Address, email address and Phone Number
  • Please name all files individually with your name part of the file name
  • You can submit as many photos as you like. Even if you don’t win the cover there is still a chance for 2nd or 3rd place and your photo will be inside the magazine with your photo credit.
  • Three ways to submit:
    • Share to our Google drive infosparkmybiz@gmail.com – follow up with an email with your info to colleen@sparkmybiz.com
    • Send your photos via email to colleen@sparkmybiz.com
    • Mail a flash drive or a CD to Spark Market Solutions, 65 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701

Please note that model photo releases will be needed for any children under 18 years old, recognizable appearing in the photos. Please use this Model release form: Click here

Deadline to submit photos is September 7th

Winners will be chosen for each publication and will be announced by September 30th, 2020
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Featured Uncategorized

2019 Visit Monmouth Photo Winners!

Visit Monmouth Cover by Jenifer Rutherford

 

Visit Monmouth – 2nd Place – Nancy Orlowski

 

Visit Monmouth – 3rd Place Winner – Adam Levine

 

 

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Featured

Belmar Fall Festival & Pet Costume Parade

Dress your pooch in his or her finest & shiniest: Belmar’s first annual Pet Costume Parade will take place this Sunday, October 7th at Belmar’s Fall Festival, taking place in Pyanoe Plaza and the Belmar Plaza parking lot.

Registration for the pet costume parade is from 11:30 am until 1 pm at the west end of Pyanoe Plaza, with the parade stepping off at 1:30pm sharp. Click here to register (please bring the form to the festival). Registration forms will also be available at the festival.

Prizes courtesy of Paws Pet Boutique of Asbury Park, Purrfect Partners Pet Grooming and Sweet of Belmar.

The party’s not for pets only, as the Fall Festival features live entertainment, a wide variety of craft vendors, specialties from local Belmar restaurants such as 10th Avenue Burrito, Main Street Donuts, JB Couture Cupcakes and Playa Bowls, and the area’s hottest food trucks, including Hoffman’s Ice Cream, Empanada Monster, The Little Sicilian, Kono Pizza, Empanada Monster and more.

Free admission and free children’s activities.

RAIN or SHINE

 

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Featured

90.5 The Night’s Songwriters Series

We are excited to announce the 90.5 The Night’s Songwriters Series

The FREE Beach concert series, produced by Brookdale Public Radio, 90.5 The Night, will feature great live music in Belmar this summer with a performance every Thursday.

7:00pm – 10:00pm on the Belmar boardwalk at Ocean Ave., at 5th and 6th avenues (Taylor Pavilion)

Bring your beach chairs and blankets.

Sponsored by

Belmar Tourism Commission

Spark Market Solutions

Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors

The O’Toole Family Foundation

Courtyard Marriott

 

 

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Featured News

Visit Monmouth 2018 Photo Winners

 

1st Place – Belmar Kite Festival – by Nancy Orlowski

2nd Place – Belmar Gazebo at Night – By Michael J. Colarusso

3rd Place – Crab – By Walter Bilotta

There were so many wonderful photos and we would like to thank all who entered. A lot of the contestants photos will be featured in the magazine, due out January 2018

 

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Featured News

Food Truck Stories with Oink and Moo BBQ

 

Oink and Moo BBQ will be one of the wonderful vendors at the Allaire BBQ & Brew Fest, April 29 & 30 at Allaire State Park (more details below) – Photo by Oink and Moo

 
Tell us all about your food truck, what makes you special?
We make everything from scratch! From our rubs, to our sauces and slaws, our focus remains on
providing high quality chef inspired food. Last year we were named the number one truck in America by the Daily Meal and this year CNBC listed us as their most popular food truck in America.

Why did you decide to open a food truck?
It comes down to a love of great food. Josh founded Oink and Moo in 2012, shaping the menu off of his favorite American BBQ styles from around the US. Soon after, Sean and Jon partnered with him, taking the company to the next level. Currently we have 3 trucks and opening our second restaurant in the next month. Hopefully we won’t be slowing down any time soon.

What’s your most popular menu item?
That’s a tough one. It surprisingly depends on the day. Our baby back ribs are really the show stopper, but we have been given awards for our chipotle chicken tacos, chili and sliders as well. I think the key is that our menu has something for everyone, including vegetarians.

Tell us about a favorite or memorable event you’ve participated in.
We have been able to participate in some really cool events. We catered for the Macy’s 4th of July Fire Work Show one year which was awesome. We are also vending at this year’s NFL Draft in Philly which I think will go down as a top event for us. Did I mention how great all of Spark’s events are?

What’s the best part about having a food truck?
Food Trucks have changed the catering game. They provide flexibility as well as a quality product. Having the ability to take your business to customers is a unique aspect, but it also has its down sides. I don’t think people realize how involved running a food truck really is.

Do you do weddings and/or catering?
Yes!! You name it and we cater it. Weddings have been very popular in recent years. Food trucks are catching on, plus they make venues that cannot provide food still a possibility. We can bring the truck right to your office, into your driveway or backyard. Corporate lunches have been a great way to increase our client’s employee engagement.

Where can we find you on the street or do you have restaurant?
Our truck locations change daily, but our schedule is posted on www.OINKandMOObbq.com.
Our restaurant is located at 54 Broadway, Florham Park NJ and we are opening another at 910
Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Voorhees NJ in the next month! We are excited to expand our South Jersey reach. Make sure to follow us on social media to find out when our opening day will be.

Facebook: OINK and MOO BBQ
Twitter: @OINKandMOObbq
Instagram: @oinkandmoo_bbq
website www.OINKandMOObbq.com
#oinkandmoobbq #meatfleet #OMQFoodTruck #OMQVoorhees #OMQFlorhamPark

Oink & Moo BBQ was justed rated #2 Food Truck in the Nation! 

http://www.thedailymeal.com/travel/slideshow-101-best-food-trucks-america-2017/slide-102

 

Allaire BBQ & Brew Fest details…

https://www.facebook.com/events/670349493171379/

Categories
Featured

Visit Monmouth 2017 Photo Contest Winners

 

vm-17-cover-final-01

both-winners1st Place – Fireworks by Jess Naylor of Jess Naylor Photography
2nd Place – Asbury Park by Michael S. Miller Photography of Visions Photographic Workshops
3rd Place – Long Branch by Jenifer Rutherford Photography
There were so many wonderful photos and we would like to thank all who entered. A lot of the contestants photos will be featured in the magazine, due to be out to the public in January.

 

Categories
Featured

Photo Winners of the 2016 Explore Ocean Guide

 

Explore Ocean WinnersCongratulations to our winners…

Cover Photo – Fisher Girl – Bob Cuthbert, Toms River, NJ

2nd Place – Ferris Wheel – Michele Kiely, Pearl River, NY

3rd Place – Jumpers – Mary Motsay, Lavallette, NJ

 

 

Categories
Featured News

Food Truck Stories with Cupcake Carnivale

Jeffrey, tell us all about your food truck, what makes you special?

Cupcake Carnivale is one of the first mobile sweet trucks that graced

the food truck scene in New Jersey back in March of 2012. We

specialize in artisan, gourmet cupcakes made from scratch. We only use all

natural and premium ingredients in our product. For example, our chocolate is

imported from Belgium or France and our Vanilla comes from Madagascar.

We also sell other freshly baked goods and desserts if one is not in the

mood for a cupcake.

 

Why did you decide to open a food truck?

I have always wanted to own my own dessert business and with the

popularity of Food Trucks on the rise, I thought now would have been

the perfect time to take that chance. That was almost 4 years ago and our

cupcake truck has obtained a large following all over NJ and the

Philadelphia area. I am very grateful for all the support and repeat

business our followers (old and new) have given me and my cupcakes through the years.

 

What’s your most popular menu item?

My Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake (Valrhona Chocolate Cupcake

topped with a rich chocolate Chip Cookie dough topping and topped with a

swirl of Belgium Chocolate Buttercream Frosting) is my biggest seller.

 

Tell us about a favorite or memorable event you’ve participated in?

There were two. My most memorable event was when I sold over 1000 cupcakes

for the first time which was at the Jersey Shore Food Truck Wars in

Monmouth Park, NJ back in 2012! It was so surreal looking out my service

window and seeing an endless line of people excited to try my cupcakes!

And also being chosen by Zagat back in 2013 as one of the “Top 10 Must

Try Food Trucks” in the Country. Our Cupcake Truck was the only food

truck from New Jersey and Philly to be a part of that list as well as

the only sweet truck.

 

What’s the best part about having a food truck?

The best part of owning and operating a food truck is that I get to

interact with my customers while showcasing my menu at any given

location. It brings me a lot of joy meeting my customers in person

rather than working in a kitchen at a restaurant behind the scenes. My

customers can put a face to my brand while providing them with the

“food truck” experience, which has become a foodie phenomenon in this

country.

 

Who is Mama Carny?

My mom’s name is Pat, otherwise known as “Mama Carny” She has been a huge

supporter since day one and she actually has a cult following of people

that come to my truck just to see her! Now that she’s getter older,

(80 yrs old) her visits have been less frequent since “Food Truckin’”

entails so much hard work. But when she does make an appearance, followers

flock to my truck. Mama Carny has been an integral part of my business because

of her amazing personality and her maternal nature and kind nature to my customers.

She loves working outside my truck and just talking to anyone that comes our way.

 

Do you do weddings and/or catering?

Yes, Cupcake Carnivale caters to any type of event, both corporate and

private parties. You can send an email at info@cupcakecarnivale.com

for more information on how our catering service works or you can call

directly at 609-751-8484

 

Where can we find you on the street or do you have restaurant?

To find our cupcake truck, you will need to follow Cupcake Carnivale on Social

Media (i.e. Facebook or Twitter) to find our location on any given day,

week or month. We are working on opening our very own a Brick and

Mortar shop soon!

 

Thank you Jeffrey!

Stay connected with Cupcake Carinvale

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cupcakecarnivale

Twitter: @cupcakecarny

Instagram: @cupcakecarnivale

#Carnyvore #CupcakeCarnivale

If you would like us to tell your Food Truck Story, contact us at colleen@sparkmybiz.com

 

 

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Featured Latest

Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival Winners!

 

amanda bananas

Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival Winners at Monmouth Park Racetrack May 23-25, 2015

Guiltiest Pleasure – The Cow and the Curd – Wisconsin Battered Fried Cheese Curds & Poutine combo

Ethnic Excellence – Oink and Moo BBQ – Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Best on a Bun – Fork in the Road – Bourbon chipotle Marinated grilled skirt and flank steak with avocado, lined arugula on muffuletta

Cutting Edge Cuisine – Kim Chi Smoke Barbecue – Chonut Brisket Donut

Most Seductive Sweet – Five Sisters Catering Creperie – Reese’s Explosion

Top Truck – Dark Side of the Moo – La Cinghale – slow roasted wild boar with fennel, arugula, Asiago Fontina cheese wild boar bacon, cherry tomatoes, truffle aioli

People’s Choice – Amanda Bananas

Congrats to all of our winners!

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/05/10_great_nj_food_truck_dishes.html

Photo: NJ.COM