If this church and these decorations look familiar, then chances are you’ve at least perused the St. Ann’s Festival in Hoboken in the past. A long-standing tradition, St. Ann’s festival features various Italian foods, music, and singers for the public’s enjoyment. Tons of festivities happen throughout the week in the streets of Hoboken including a procession through the streets! Among the festivities, there are some delicious desserts that are served – which many people wait in line for a good while in order to chow down on.
Now there are few desserts that are worth EVERY calorie, but it’s pretty much a fact that zeppoles and fried Oreos are among the desserts on the calories-don’t-count list. Both are served at St. Ann’s – making it very tricky to decide which to eat. Therefore, the question must be asked – Would you rather: Fried Oreos or Zeppoles?
Exhibit A: Fried Oreos
It’s only right fried Oreos be a staple in this legendary Italian festival, as Oreos were created in Hoboken after all. These bad boys are a no-frills, classic dessert that consists of the oreo being covered in batter and deep-fried. Some vendors get creative with the toppings – ice cream, chocolate fudge, you name it!
Read More: Hoboken’s Beloved St. Ann’s Festival is Back for the Season
Exhibit B: Zeppoles
In case you were wondering, a zeppole is an Italian pastry consisting of a deep-fried dough ball or oval that come in different sizes – but everyone knows the St. Ann’s zeppoles are massive and definitely don’t come in a perfect ball shape, they’re messy and delectable. The zeppoles are topped with powdered sugar, that’s all – pretty straightforward. HG Pro tip: Fold the brown paper bag closed and shake your zepples for about 10 seconds so the powder covers all of them before you dive in for that first bite!
Happy Feasting!
Di Blu Bakery Opens New Baking Studio in Hoboken
With the opening of its Hoboken studio, Jersey City bakery owner Sofi Di Pinto has achieved one of her career goals. Sofi has operated the bakery out of her Jersey City apartment and now will have a commercial kitchen for baking and hosting baking-centric events. The Hoboken baking studio at 600 Newark Street, 1st floor, is called Di Blu Studio. The bakery is best known for its signature medialunas, and serves up a variety of other Argentine-inspired baked goods available for pickup in Jersey City. Read on for more about Di Blu Studio in Hoboken and its upcoming Galentine's event on February 8th.
Photo Credit: Sofi Di Pinto
The Hoboken Baking Studio
Di Blu Bakery recently expanded to open a new baking studio in Hoboken. Di Blu Studio is located at 600 Newark Street on the 1st floor in Mile Square. The Di Blu team shared with The Hoboken Girl that the studio has been a work-in-progress since November 2024, and is designed to bring people together through the joy of baking and sweet creations.
"It’s a place where we’ll be hosting private events, baking classes, workshops, and intimate gatherings, creating memorable experiences for everyone who walks through our doors," Belu from the team shared.
Read More: Julietta: A New Gelato Cafe + Bakery in Hoboken Opening Soon
With the new studio comes a few new baked goods, in addition to the Argentine staples already served by Di Blu. Argentine cakes like Rogel Cake and Chocotorta were recently introduced to the menu, with more products on the horizon. Di Blu also plans to introduce shipping options in the near future.
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While the bakery only accepts online orders, the Hoboken store will open its doors to locals to host its first event in February. In celebration of Galentine's Day, the cookie-decorating event will take place on Saturday, February 8th from 3PM-5PM at the Newark Street locale.
Admission is $45 and includes eight cookies to decorate with icing and lots of sprinkles, as well as hot beverages, sweet treats, take-home cookie recipes, and a giveaway.
The Newark Street location of Di Blu's first brick-and-mortar comes with a long history of baking businesses in Hoboken. The space was formerly home to Sugarsuckle, which closed back in 2021. After Sugarsuckle closed, Baking Mama operated a second location in the space. Now, Di Blu Studio has taken over the reigns.
The Story Behind Di Blu Bakery
Sofia told The Hoboken Girl back in 2024 — just a little over a year after launching Di Blu Bakery for online orders in Jersey City — that she wanted to begin her business virtually before opening the first-ever brick-and-mortar, which is something she has now accomplished with the opening of the Hoboken studio. The idea began from her desire to reconnect with the flavors of her home country of Argentina. Her husband’s job had initially brought her to the US in 2022, but before that, she had a passion for baking and even ran her own baking business after earning a degree as s Pastry Chef from the Argentinian Institute of Gastronomy.
Photo Credit: Sofi Di Pinto
“When I first arrived to the US, I started baking medialunas because my family and I missed that taste of Argentina. As I perfected the recipe, I noticed that many others were also craving this taste of home, while others were excited to try something new and delicious,” Sofi previously told HG. “This realization sparked the idea to share these delectable treats with the wider community through an online bakery.”
Sofia, who has some help and support from her husband (i.e. testing the products), is now fulfilling about 100 orders per month from their Jersey City apartment. The most popular? Di Blu’s signature medialunas. Often described as the “croissant cousin” because they are similar in shape to croissants, medialunas boast a “distinctively sweeter and richer flavor profile,” Sofia explained. Apart from the signature medialunas, Di Blu’s popular products include Alfajores, brownies, and cookies.
Photo Credit: Sofi Di Pinto
Each baked good is “crafted with the finest ingredients to ensure exceptional taste and quality.” But as Sofia said, each customer gets a Di Blu experience, not just when it comes to tasting the products. “From our exceptional customer service to our thoughtfully designed packaging, we strive to make every interaction unforgettable. We want our customers to not only savor the deliciousness of our [baked goods] but also cherish the entire experience of enjoying Di Blu Bakery treats.”
Photo Credit: Sofi Di Pinto
Customers can shop the selection of baked goods online and then choose the option of either picking them up in Jersey City or getting them delivered. Di Blu Bakery also extends its delivery services to Manhattan and Long Island City twice a month.
See More: The Ultimate Guide to Desserts in Montclair
“Our goal is to bring the taste of Di Blu to even more communities, spreading joy and sweetness far and wide,” Sofi said. For more information and to place an online order, visit the website.
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