Asbury Park Zest The Rainbow Issue Summer 2015 | Page 16

DJ' S D E L I G HTS

ASBURY PARK’S

DOWNTOWN

DJ

Photo by Jennifer Marmorato jennymdesigns.com

D

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J Presto doesn’t spin records, but his meatloaf has won
numerous awards and his deep-fried mac ‘n’ cheese is
enough to make anyone shake, rattle and roll.
So if you haven’t been to DJ’s Delights Deli & Restaurant in Asbury Park, don’t walk there — run, or better yet, salsa!
“Food is a vehicle for love,” says the man behind his eat-in/
take-out/catering company. “I truly believe that it comes out in
everything I make. I am not just cooking a dish; I am creating an
experience. No matter how hard you’ve worked or what problems
you’re facing that day, I want my customers to know, that when they
sit down in my restaurant or open their delivery, that I am taking the
time to make them a meal that will comfort, nourish and make them
feel better.”
“I like to create,” DJ shares, “and I love to make everything!”
Presto grew up in a small town called Matamoras, PA, one of
eight children. It’s no wonder his mother squashed his boyhood
dreams that did not involve food.
“I come from a large family and food was the center of everything,” he remembers. “My mother and grandmother were always
cooking large meals to feed our family. The kitchen was the most
exciting place in our house, and I loved to help them. That’s how I
developed my passion and love of food. Originally, I wanted to