On The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Joe Gorga (husband of Melissa Gorga, brother of Teresa Giudice) surprised his wife by taking her to a pizza and pasta restaurant in the middle of the day. When they arrived, Melissa said it was” cute.” When Joe told her he bought the restaurant (and plans to change the name), Melissa was shocked. “You bought a restaurant without telling your wife — who does that?” Joe replied, “I’m an entrepreneur; that’s what I do.” Melissa says very clearly (to the camera): “I don’t want to own a restaurant.” When Joe introduces Melissa to the chef, Nick, it doesn’t help that Nick tells her, “He’s (Joe) nuts.” But Joe explains to Melissa “It gives my father something to do.” Joe and Teresa’s father is a widower; they lost their mother Antonia (who loved to cook) in March. Joe’s father has been making homemade pasta since he was a little boy.
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What Joe describes as “fast food but gourmet” is now being served at Gorga’s Homemade Pasta & Pizza located at 360 Route 10 in East Hanover, New Jersey. (It’s about 25 miles west of New York City.) Just months after opening the doors, Gorga’s sold out of all of its sauces. The appetizer menu includes Papa’s Baked Mussels ($12); Mama’s Old School Polenta ($9); and Nonna’s Meatballs ($9). The dinner menu includes: Gino’s Pork Chop ($23); Joe’s Bistecca ($24) Milania’s Pesce del Giorno ($38), among other tasty sounding meals. The Real Housewives of New Jersey airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Bravo.
