Business & Tech

Cracked Olive Looks to Bring Family Dinner Back

Cracked Olive wants to put dinner on your table and give your entire family a home cooked option.

In less than two years, Cracked Olive has made a name for itself in Monmouth County, offering healthy and fast alternatives to grease and carbs.

Now, Cracked Olive wants to put dinner on your table and give your entire family a home cooked option.

"Just give us one night," Denis O'Connor, the market's chef said. "You can be in and out in five minutes with a dinner for your family."

The Cracked Olive name has spread throughout the community since Hurricane Sandy, when O'Connor and his cousin/business partner Dan Duffy took the Holmdel community in to a makeshift soup kitchen with the help of local firefighters.

"Sandy was a part of our growing pains," O'Connor said. "But helping the community was really gratifying."

The market offers Mediterranean food, with some Italian specialties and of course a twist on deli sandwiches O'Connor has become known for. 

Every Friday, Cracked Olive offers a Spanakopita which they buy from a company in Astoria, Queens. O'Connor said they usually sell out mid-afternoon that day.

"We really try to do things to make each day special."

And whether it's takeout or eat-in, O'Connor and Duffy are on a mission to offer healthy options for the busy family by cooking light and maintaining flavor.

Cracked Olive is also officially in the catering business for everything from corporate events to family parties. As a twist, O'Connor offers a prix fixe and a la carte menus for most holidays, including Thanksgiving.

"This is food we grew up on, it's an option instead of fast food," O'Connor said.

Cracked Olive offers daily specials, and O'Connor even has aYouTube channel now for the at-home cooks out there. 

"We're trying to educate people," O'Connor said. 

And for Duffy, the mission begins when customers walk through the door. The Long Island native has worked in the corporate and retail worlds, and he said this challenge is unlike any other.

"It's a little bit of everything. I've learned a ton. It begins with me and ends with me, which is a whole different situation," Duffy said. "We're starting to see new faces, we're beginning to grow."

For catering or family dinner information, visit Cracked Olive's website. For more recipes and videos, check out Cracked Olive's blog on Patch. For daily specials, find Cracked Olive on Facebook.


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