Take a Bite at the Funky Cow

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The Funky Cow Café: Moo-nique Bites

BY JASMINE FARRELL

Distinctive and Avante Garde, the Funky Cow Café is a laid-back eatery owned by the creative and warm, Ricky Alverio. Located on the corner of Bellevue and Central, one cannot help but be enticed by the cow chair that sits calmly by the entrance door. With twenty years of experience as an interior and exterior designer, it’s no surprise that Alverio made sure to create an unforgettable and fun atmosphere. The cow print and sequence pillows, cow print high chairs and cowlike prints throughout the café felt playful and welcoming. The main colors, green and black, left a vibrant impression on me because it wasn’t what I expected looking at the outside of the restaurant.

Opening in 2016, the Funky Cow Café stands out with various savory waffle dishes. The menu includes tasty sandwiches, soups, distinctive salads, etc. What makes Funky Cow Café stand out is Alverio’s choice to replace the bland bread for savory waffles!

Passion oozes from his eyes as he speaks about why he chose waffles instead of basic bread, “We needed something. Seven years ago, I believe that the food industry had changed drastically. Everybody was looking to eat a little healthier because of their dietary needs and so on, so I thought: why not create something totally different, out of the box, experiment, and do something so crazy and fun! That physically meant a savory waffle. A cow produces beef and produces milk, sweet and savory merge them together and that’s how the bangin brisket was created. Savory waffle entrees have been in existence for many years now. It’s so original but why not invent that crispy, delicious, airy, amazing waffle.”

My tastebuds agree. The waffles are savory, flavorful, and crispy. Although I did not have the Bangin’ brisket, I did sink my teeth in Lola’s Cuban sandwich. Hefty slices of roasted pork, ham, crunchy pickles, and Lola’s sauce. The crunch and creamy fusion of tangy zest were delicious. It’s a messy sandwich- be warned! Nonetheless, it’s worth the extra napkins. During these brisk winter months, the Chicken Orzo Soup

please see BITES, page 17 08037

is a great addition to the sandwich of your choice. With orzo pasta, carrots and delectable chicken, celebrate a belated National Homemade Soup Day with a cup. There is also an interesting and popular dish called the Trash Bowl. A layered plate of Spanish rice and beans, BBQ pulled pork, shredded lettuce and mac n’ cheese. When asked about the origin story of the name, Alverio replied, “That’s inspired from Rochester. I have Airbnb’s in Rochester with my amazing partner. Down in Rochester, they have the famous garbage plate and I said, ‘well if the Funky Cow can become a destination for our beautiful hometown of Hammonton, why not instead of blueberries, let’s eat something even deeper and more crazy?’”

Alverio is always creating, especially with his interior and exterior design experience in tow. Physically designed and created by Alverio, he wanted to make sure that adults and children alike can express themselves. With that being said, you’ll find chalkboards throughout the café so his customers can go wild in chalk! The cow outside is a wonderful photo op for customers to take with them to share their experience with others.

When he initially conjured up the idea of a Funky Cow Café, he envisioned a franchise that would spread internationally. The plan to expand was slowly materializing until the pandemic put it to a complete stop, like

BITES continued from page 16 many other businesses. However, Alverio aims to open up a second Funky Cow Café later this year. Although the expansion was halted, The Funky Cow continued to thrive last year and presently. “I was very grateful. I maintained my lane, I followed through with our CDC guidelines and I was able to continue the importance of quality without raising my prices and at the same time, catering to my clientele because, in the heart of the pandemic, funds were not available to a lot of families. I maintained the passionate drive to be able to cater to my clientele without hurting their pockets but making sure that they had a mouthful of expansion and of delicious food.” Alverio has a couple of new dishes rolling out this year, so be on the lookout for some new additions to the moo-nique menu! ■ Visit The Funky Cow Café at: 224 Bellevue Avenue | Hammonton NJ 609.704.5572 Open Wednesday-Sunday 11:00a to 4:00p Closed Monday & Tuesday

PHOTOS BY JAMIE GIAMBRONE Left: Lettuce Wraps - Grilled Chicken, spicy Slaw and Chow Noodles. Right Top: Trash Bowl - Lettuce, Spanish rice, Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork BBQ on top. Right Bottom: Lola’s Cuban - Roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and Lola’s sauce, savory waffl e.

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