Like many entrepreneurs, Melissa Gorga had a little help from her friends when she was starting her cookie business. Turns out a fellow Housewife gave her some assistance with finding the perfect baker for her sprinkle cookies.
Photo Credit: Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for Vivint
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star admitted that she got an unexpected hand from Lisa Barlow. When Melissa was having trouble finding someone who could bake her cookies to her satisfaction, the Vida Tequila founder stepped up.
“She knows someone everywhere,” Melissa said of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City OG.
Lisa Barlow hooked Melissa Gorga up with the perfect baker for her sprinkle cookies
In an interview with Jeff Lewis, Melissa shared the story of how Lisa helped get her brand off the ground.
When the two did a fan appearance together, Lisa heard the crowd screaming, “Team Sprinkle. We love sprinkle cookies.” Of course, the fans were referring to Melissa’s feud with her sister-in-law Teresa Giudice over the infamous sprinkle cookies.
“Why don’t you have a sprinkle cookie?” Lisa asked her, seeing a perfect business opportunity.
Melissa explained that she had actually been working on it, but was having trouble finding a baker. “It’s in the works,” the Jersey mom of three said. “But I haven’t been happy with who was making them yet.”
Consequently, Lisa knew of someone who might be able to help. After getting an introduction to the new baker, Melissa drove up to meet him. At last, Melissa found the perfect fit for her cookie line.
In an interview with New York’s PIX 11 News, the cookie queen explained, “I teamed up with an amazing baker in Schenectady … They are made in New York, an Italian family. I made sure they are, like, perfect to my liking. I think they’re going to be the best sprinkle cookie you ever had.”
The origin of the infamous sprinkle cookie legend
Just in time for Christmas, Sprinkle by MG officially launched in December 2024. In her Instagram post announcing the new business, Melissa touted the “ultimate sprinkle butter cookie that’s as chic as it is delicious! Trust me … you will NOT want to throw these in the garbage.”
The reference gives a nod to a RHONJ Season 3 scene in which Teresa recalls Melissa bringing store-bought cookies to her house for Christmas. “She brought me sprinkle cookies. I said to her, ‘Melissa, nobody touched the cookies you brought. I threw them in the garbage!’”
“You know what my favorite cookies are?” Teresa added. “Pignoli cookies.” I had to Google those and discovered they look like butter cookies with a terrible skin condition. Ugh.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City are both streaming on Peacock.
