If you are from an area where authentic ethnic food items are difficult to find, you may just want to hit the grocery store while you're in the area. Cumberland County has a large contingent of people from Spanish-speaking countries and you'll find easy access to lots of interesting items. In Bridgeton, local mom and pop shops with names like "Casa Reyes" and "los Puentes" sell Mexican toiletries, domestic and imported Mexican foods and produce, Mexican periodical literature, music and more. If you aren't brave enough to visit one of these places, you'll even find a decent selection at the chain grocery store the Hopewell Shop Rite on Pearl Street.
What to buy: Mexican items that have worked their way into regular rotation at my house are:
nopales (canned dethorned cactus)
Cotija cheese (feta-like flavor, grateable like Parmesean)
Sidral (apple soda)
Suavitel (Mexican fabric softener, very popular here)
Crema by Nestle (fantastic canned liquid creamy sour creamish product, great for burritos, etc. YUM!!)
What to pay: Cheap
Written Jan 24, 2005
Bridgeton is a gorgeous town, but like many historic towns throughout our country it has its areas within the town which are still in transition. So, I would recommend sticking with the truly residential parts of the town located on West Commerce Street and those neighborhoods tucked in behind it following alongside of the city park.
Many visitors enter Bridgeton from one of its main roads, Route 77 (Pearl Street). This is definitely an area in transition. In fact, many travelers may get 'turned off' by Bridgeton just by passing through it. However, if you take a right onto West Commerce Street you will enter the downtown. Not much in terms of shoppes but it is an example of what a Victorian era downtown once looked like...so many of the original buildings are in tact. It will be gorgeous once it has come into its own.
Continue traveling westward on Commerce Street and you will enter the residential portion of the historic district. Many visitors to this town are usually quite shocked to learn that they can puchase a Victorian mansion for under $400,000.
Written Jul 11, 2007
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