December 21, 2017​ | Website: nj.com | By Peter Genovese It’s official – Sweet Melissa Patisserie in Clinton Township is New Jersey’s best bakery. The charming little cafe, with its delectable French-inspired cakes, pastries, tarts and cookies, bested nine other finalists in our epic month-and-a-half-long search. Melissa Murphy Rafano stood in shock as we walked … Read more

Posted December 12, 2017  Melissa Murphy (at left in photo) and husband Chris Rafano operated three patisseries in Brooklyn for 16 years before moving to New Jersey and opening Sweet Melissa Patisserie just off Route 31 in Clinton Township. A whiff of baked wonder greats you as you walk into the bakery/cafe. Temptation is everywhere – … Read more

by Peter Genovese I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com It’s the final round of our epic N.J.’s best bakery showdown, which means we’re down to 10 great bakeries, chosen from among our 50 semifinalists. This is the second of three final round trip reports. In the final round, we are joined by a crew of assistant judges whose opinions … Read more