Chiropractor in Manalapan Township, NJ

MANALAPAN, NJ — Dozens of homes and businesses are without power on Monday as a blizzard continues to make its way throughout New Jersey.

In Manalapan, 11 inches of snow have fallen as of 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, with more on the way as snow continues to fall on Monday.

According to the weather service, snowfall is expected to continue well into Monday afternoon, with a blizzard warning in effect until 6 p.m.

A travel ban also remains in place until noon, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced, with NJ Transit buses and trains suspended as well. Schools across the state were also closed on Monday, alongside municipal offices.

In Manalapan, 168 homes are without power as of Monday morning, according to JCP&L. Currently, there is no estimated time of restoration listed.

Due to the storm, garbage and bulk collection for Monday has been rescheduled to Thursday in Manalapan, according to a post from the township.

Town Hall, the Senior Center, the Recreation Center and the Recycling Center are closed, with Municipal Court scheduled for Monday also cancelled and set to be rescheduled.

All vehicles should be removed from the roads so Public Works can safely clear the streets, township officials said.

For those who don’t have space in their driveways to accommodate their vehicles, the Englishtown Auction has offered to allow cars to park in their lot until the snow has stopped.

If residents use this option, they must move their vehicle within 24 hours of the end of the storm to allow for their lots to be cleared and plowed, officials said.

Any vehicles found left in the roadway during the snow removal process will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. If you see cars parked on your street during the storm, you can call 732-446-4300 so it can be addressed.

“Emergency Operations have begun as our personnel manage the snow and blizzard conditions in Manalapan Township,” township officials said Sunday evening. “Please stay off the roads and allow township emergency employees to safely clear the roads and respond to any emergencies. This will be a long-duration, large accumulating, dangerous storm.”

To report a power outage, you can:

“Our teams are working around the clock to clear the roads, get us back up and running, and ensure the safety of New Jerseyans,” Governor Miki Sherrill said in an online post. “Please stay in and stay safe.”

As of Monday morning, snowfall totals in Monmouth County include:

Want to share your blizzard photos with Patch? Find out how to share them here.

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Celebrating more than 40 years in business, Peking Pavilion still stands as a New Jersey institution for upscale Chinese dining.

Originally opened in 1975 in Richmond, Virginia before relocating to Manalapan in 1983, owners Mike and Corinna Kuo passed “The Pavilion” on to their nephew, Dufan Li in 2020. While management may have changed, Mike and Corinna still maintain a regular presence at the restaurant, along with manager Steven Peng, who has been there since the beginning, reminding guests that the legacy they built is still very much alive.

“This restaurant feels like home,” hostess Mindy Kramer said. “Corinna carried me around this restaurant when I was a baby. When I was going through a divorce, I needed a shoulder, and she suggested I come here a few days a week to take my mind off of things. I worked a few shifts and never looked back. This restaurant has become my second home. When you come here, you really are family.”

I visited during lunch on President’s Day, and the place was bumping. Nearly every table was occupied across the two dining rooms, the bar crowd spilling into one of them.

“The bar here is a huge draw, Kramer said. “You’ll see the same faces three to four times per week. They come for our bartenders, Jason and Jackson. They make some of the best mai tais and lychee martinis around.”

Aptly timed with the Lunar New Year, a visit to this Monmouth County staple was in order.

The good

The best thing we ate was one of the first dishes to hit the table. Five, plump pork soup dumplings ($15) nested within a steamer basket were purses of juicy, meaty perfection. There is an art to eating soup dumplings to avoid the mistake of a mouthful of boiling hot broth. These were the perfect temperature — and with the accompanying dumpling sauce, succulent and satisfying.

The second-best dish was the Peking duck ($56), a dramatic presentation of a whole slow roasted, Long Island duck, quartered and sliced, and served with oversized crepes, scallions, cucumber and homemade plum sauce. The meat was moist and skin crispy, but the highlight was the sauce. Without it, the dish would have lacked seasoning and overall flavor. With it, every bite sang harmoniously. I would have appreciated more of the accoutrement but all in all, it was a very solid version of the dish.

We ended the meal with the only non-American dessert offered, a set of three mochi ($11). We chose green tea and mango, both of which did their job for a sweet, chewy and creamy bite to end the meal.

The bad

I was told by many that I had to order the filet mignon egg roll ($7), so the expectation going in was lofty. While I appreciated the creative, elevated spin on a Chinese-American staple, this one fell short. The egg roll itself sat in a pool of grease, and I found myself searching for the beefy flavor that was diluted by the overwhelming amount of shredded cabbage filling. Even with the duck sauce and spicy mustard that accompanied it, the egg roll paled in comparison to some of the more traditional ones I’ve had — even just from no-frills takeout spots.

As a long-time P.F. Chang’s lettuce wrap enthusiast, I had high hopes for the Chicken Soong in lettuce wraps ($18). Pre-portioned into four cups of crisp iceberg lettuce, the chicken, mushroom and bell pepper mixture had a flavor I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It lacked brightness and salt, which made this dish forgettable and somewhat disappointing.

Another dish I was instructed to order was the Grand Marnier prawns ($33), an impressive tower of jumbo prawns, set atop a bed of sliced oranges. This dish has so much potential, but didn’t meet it. The prawns were probably the largest and highest-quality shrimp I’ve ever had at a Chinese restaurant, and they were battered and fried to crispy perfection. The big issue here was the sauce. Trix cereal-sweet with no obvious Grand Marnier flavor, the balance of flavor here was sadly off. The overall sweetness overpowered the exquisite shrimp and one ended up being more than enough.

We rounded out the meal with one of the least traditional more intriguing entrees, Corrina’s Critically Acclaimed 24 ounce New York strip steak ($60). Aged in-house, this piece of meat was massive. Juicy, tender and cooked to a perfect medium, the steak itself was good and an even better value. When we ordered, the server mentioned a side of fried rice with the steak, but we did not receive one. The stir-fried vegetable and a spring roll were fine, and the dish itself wasn’t a let down, but did not exceed expectations.

The vibe

Pulling up to Peking Pavilion, one might think they’re arriving at a modern art museum — an industrial cement structure with a dramatic white geometric entry way. The bold, red door and statue give way to a gilded hostess stand and two dining rooms that carry the theme throughout. Sleek architectural lines complimented by traditional Chinese tapestries, dramatic, glass lighting fixtures and original furniture from the ’80s outfit the space. A perimeter of windows let light flood in, making the restaurant feel even more open, bright and inviting. There is an instant lived-in, familiar feeling juxtaposed with Peking Pavilion’s elegance. The bar threw off an unexpected energy, with the Olympics and other sports projecting off the screens while regulars settled into their stools. With the charm and diverse dining options offered, Peking Pavilion is a great option for a family or friends outing, fancy enough for a date, yet familiar enough for a casual bite at the bar.

The bottom line

It’s very obvious why Peking Pavilion has had a stronghold on locals and visitors alike. From management’s friendly welcome to the high quality and diverse dishes offered, there’s something for everyone here. Although there were some misses, Peking Pavilion is worth a visit, especially for the pork soup dumplings and Peking duck.

Peking Pavilion is open for lunch Sunday through Friday and for dinner 7 days a week.