New Jersey and Italian food go together like peanut butter and jelly - or better yet, spaghetti and meatballs. You don't have to go far to find chicken parmesan, penne alla vodka or linguini with clams. But what about the dishes that are specific to a particular region of Italy, the recipes Italian grandmothers brought from the old country when they settled in this country?

The dishes of Sicily can be found at Mamma Mia Focacceria in Manalapan, which opened two years ago in a Route 9 plaza. Three months ago, new owners took over; Richard and Dawn Hagendorf of Millstone Township are running the restaurant with Marco Ingrao of Jackson, who worked for the previous owner.