Was a simple cake pop the best thing we ate this week?

As a food writer, I often get asked what the worst thing I've ever eaten was.

It's almost as if — once people figure out my career — they're routing for the lowest of the low; hungry for a fat serving of secondhand embarrassment.

Well, North Jersey, since 2022, that honor has belonged to the pizza at the Mountain Creek Ski Lodge in Vernon. Featuring crust as hard as sugar-free biscotti, burnt cheese and a trace of sauce so badly scorched it evaporated off the pie, the $5(+) slices are absolutely terrible.

For 18 months, however, I had no photo evidence that the travesty of a meal existed.

This past January, though, some guy named Gregory suffered through the same lunch, and — much to my delight — posted about his experience in the Jersey Pizza Joints Facebook group.

So, if you get accepted into the hush-hush group, search the term "Vernon Mountain Creek"; and you can finally see it.

And, now — in a totally polar shift of direction — let's focus on the opposite.

Here are the three best things I ate in North Jersey this week.

Ricotta-stuffed Squash Blossoms, ORA Freestyle Italian

Squash blossoms may be one of my favorite warm-weather appetizers of all time — especially when they're stuffed, battered and fried; as they are at ORA Freestyle Italian. Salty and crispy on the outside, seasoned and creamy on the inside, the popper-sized starters are as delicious as they come.

A menu special at my time of visit (to the spot which is quickly becoming Bergen's most happening dinner destination), the blossoms bursted with melty pools of ricotta cheese. Sliced veggies and various sauces colored the plate around them, and a liberal dusting of parmesan made each bite even more irresistible.

Go: 304 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell; 201-267-4304, orainthedell.com.

Salted Caramel Cake Pop, Lignal Cake Pops

Essex County mom Cynthia Lignal is living her best life — selling nothing but artisan, handcrafted cake pops. From simple varieties like white chocolate funfetti, to complex creations such as biscoff-filled bumblebees or sprinkle-topped eyeglass exam charts (yes, she actually made those), the home-baker does it all.

And, this week? I finally got to try them.

Though I was smitten with the strawberry, cosmic brownie and chocolate chip cookie dough, my favorite of the bunch was easily the salted caramel.

Sticky, rich and perfectly nailing that sweet-salty juxtaposition, it was sinfully indulgent.

Go: Essex County-based, order online for pick-up (same day pick-up available); lignalcakepops.com.

'Orange You Glad It's Not Chicken' wings, Walnut Street Kitchen

Bev Lacsina, chef behind Montclair's globally-inspired hotspot Walnut Street Kitchen, consistently wows with her interpretation of popular international eats. In the past, she's served Filipino ravioli with kabocha squash, escargot over buttery cavatelli and tempura softshell okonomiyaki with kewpie cream — each supporting my claim that she's one of the state's most versatile chefs.

This week, however, she took that flexibility to the next level by not only nailing a beloved Chinese dish (orange chicken), but by doing it completely vegan.

Called the "Orange You Glad It's Not Chicken" wings, the dish featured battered oyster mushrooms smothered in a sweet orange glaze.

When I bit into a piece — and that aforementioned sauce dripped from the 'wing's' crunchy crevices — I was convinced I'd found a new favorite way to crush the iconic take-out staple.

Go: 98 Walnut St., Montclair; 973-746-0789, walnutstreetkitchennj.com.

Hungry for more?

Want more on this week's latest food news? Check out some of my best articles at NorthJersey.com/food.

And, as for next week? I've got gourmet charcuterie, high-end brunch and an all mac and cheese restaurant on the agenda.

So make sure, per usual, to tune back for that.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NorthJerseyEats Instagram: The best things we ate this week