About Jersey Fun & Food
Discovering New Jersey, one great place at a time.
If you've spent any time exploring Jersey Fun & Food, you've probably noticed something — we genuinely love New Jersey.
Not just the famous places. Not just the beaches or boardwalks. We love the family-owned restaurants tucked away on side streets, the charming downtowns that come alive on a Friday evening, the wineries hidden among rolling hills, the local bakeries everyone should know about, the scenic hiking trails, historic landmarks, seasonal festivals, and those unforgettable places that make you say, "I never knew this existed."
That's exactly why Jersey Fun & Food was created — to help people discover the very best experiences New Jersey has to offer while celebrating everything that makes the Garden State such an incredible place to live, visit, and explore.
How Jersey Fun & Food Began
The inspiration for this website came from something very simple: my husband, Dillon, and I were always sharing great New Jersey experiences with friends, family, clients, and anyone who asked.
Sometimes it was a favorite restaurant, like Cree in Hampton. Other times it was a hidden gem like the Amish Market in Flemington, a charming downtown, a local bakery, a winery, a farm stand, or a place we thought people simply needed to know about.
We found ourselves sharing so many recommendations that eventually we realized they needed to live somewhere more permanent. What started as word of mouth became notes written on napkins, then lists in Google Docs, and finally, JerseyFunandFood.com was born.
And it is far from finished. In fact, we are constantly “finishing” Jersey Fun & Food every week — adding new places, completing categories, building new sections, and improving what is already here.
The truth is, this website will probably never be finished. It will simply keep growing, evolving, and getting better. We also love feedback — positive or negative — because every suggestion helps us make Jersey Fun & Food more useful, more complete, and more enjoyable for everyone who visits.
Meet Courtney Orlando
As a lifelong New Jersey resident, Courtney Orlando has spent her life discovering the people, places, restaurants, and communities that make this state so special.
Professionally, Courtney has been helping families buy and sell homes since 2002 and has successfully guided more than 1,500 families through one of the most important decisions of their lives. Today, she serves as Co-Team Owner of the Courtney Orlando Group at Compass Real Estate.
Together with her husband, Dillon Bryant, Courtney created Jersey Fun & Food to share their favorite restaurants, hidden gems, charming downtowns, wineries, scenic parks, local events, and unforgettable experiences throughout the Garden State.
Courtney's Real Estate Background
- Licensed Realtor® since 2002
- Over 1,500 homes sold
- NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence® Award recipient for 18 consecutive years
- Multiple Platinum-level honors
- Top Agent at each brokerage she has worked at
- Previous experience with Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Prudential Real Estate
- Co-Team Owner of the Courtney Orlando Group at Compass Real Estate
While many know Courtney as a trusted Realtor®, friends and clients know another side of her as well.
She's the person who always knows the best restaurant in town, the hidden bakery worth driving for, the winery with the perfect sunset, the downtown that feels like a Hallmark movie, the local farm market with the sweetest Jersey tomatoes, or the beach you'll wish you had discovered years ago.
For years, clients would ask, "Where should we eat?" or "What's there to do nearby?" After answering those questions thousands of times, it became clear there should be one place where everyone could discover New Jersey through the eyes of someone who truly knows and loves it.
Jersey Fun & Food is that place.
More Than Just Food
Although our name includes food, this website is really about the New Jersey lifestyle.
Outstanding local restaurants
Hidden culinary gems
Wineries and breweries
Charming downtowns
Family-friendly attractions
Parks and hiking trails
Beaches and boardwalks
Historic sites and day trips
Local recipes and farm markets
Whether you're a lifelong New Jerseyan or planning your very first visit, we hope this site inspires you to experience more of everything our state has to offer.
A Family Passion
Jersey Fun & Food is truly a family project. Courtney works alongside her husband, Dillon Bryant, Co-Team Owner, CEO, and Marketing Director of the Courtney Orlando Group.
Together, they have combined their love for New Jersey with decades of marketing, storytelling, photography, local knowledge, and community connection to create a resource unlike any other.
Their goal is not simply to recommend places to visit. It's to help people create memories — whether that's finding a new favorite pizza shop, enjoying a weekend winery tour, discovering a hidden waterfall, or exploring a historic downtown you've never visited before.
“If we would recommend it to our own family and friends, we'll recommend it to you.”
Giving Back
Beyond business, Courtney enjoys cooking, supporting local businesses, spending time with family, and giving back to charitable organizations throughout New Jersey.
She believes strong communities are built by people who support one another, and that philosophy is reflected throughout Jersey Fun & Food. Whenever possible, we love featuring local, family-owned businesses because they are the heart of our communities.
Thank You for Visiting
Whether you're searching for the perfect restaurant, planning a weekend adventure, relocating to New Jersey, or simply looking for something new to experience, we're honored you've chosen to spend some time with us.
Thank you! Dillon & Courtney...
