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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – NJ housewife visits eatery

By Charles W. Kim, Staff Writer
   Reality television celebrity Melissa Gorga from the Bravo network’s “Real Housewives of New Jersey” came to town Saturday to help host a Cinco DeMayo celebration at the El Dorados restaurant in Monmouth Junction.
   ”I am going to do anything they (the restaurant) want me to do today,” Ms. Gorga said. “I am going to be hosting the day, talking and greeting people.”
   Ms. Gorga, 32, will be debuting May 16 on the cable television show’s third season and is married to Joe Gorga, a relative of one of the other housewives, according to the show’s website.
   Ms. Gorga said she feels her life will change after the show airs this Monday, and she likely will be doing more appearances such as this one.
   ”My life hasn’t changed so far,” Ms. Gorga said. “But I feel it is about to.”
   The newest addition to the popular show brought her children, Antonia, 5, Geno, 3, and Joey, 1, with her to the restaurant in the South Brunswick Square Mall on Route 1 where they took part in some of the outside carnival-type games during the afternoon.
   In addition to being on the show, Ms. Gorga said she is starting to promote the release of four songs she performs and describes as pop and dance that should be out sometime in August.
   ”I didn’t think I would be part of a reality show, but I always knew, in the back of my head, that something would happen,” Ms. Gorga said. “The show should be a good springboard for my music.”
   Ms. Gorga came to the event at the restaurant Saturday to support DJ Nicky Sibilla, who usually performs at the Headliner club in Neptune, Monmouth County.
   ”She can sing. This is not a gimmick,” Mr. Sibilla, a 15-year veteran DJ who is working on the mixes for the songs, said. “She has talent.”
   Mr. Sibilla said the songs contain some “edgier mixes” and are all vocals that should appeal to a wide audience.
   All of the activities at El Dorados on Saturday culminated a three-day Cinco DeMayo celebration and included DJs, carnival games, a dunk tank, climbing wall and mechanical bull.
   Owner Vishal Mehta, a bariatric surgeon from Franklin Park, said he was pleased with the turnout for the events during the three-day period and hopes there will be other events similar to this coming up during the summer.
   Mr. Mehta changed the motif of the restaurant in March from the One South steakhouse to El Dorados, which offers a Tex-Mex cuisine at a better price for families.
   He also changed the atmosphere of the restaurant to be more fun and “family-friendly,” he said.
   Ms. Gorga said she likely would come back to El Dorados this summer for other events and hopes to meet many of her fans when she returns.