The feud between Melissa Golga and Theresa Judith is her castmate and step-sister of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” and has been boiling for over a decade.
Giudice has been in pain to point out Gorga's perceived violations, citing his infidelity as a stripper, gold digging and past life (all that Gorga denied), splitting fans into Team Teresa and Team Melissa in the battle that became the storyline of the show.
The Season 3 conflict (shown in 2011) came to summarise harmless events that could cause accusations of bad taste when Golga complained to family and friends that she had brought cookie sub-cookies to her holiday gathering. “She came to my house on Christmas Day and sprinkled me with cookies,” Judith said. She designated her preferring Pygnoli cookies, then said, “Melissa. No one touched the cookies you brought. I threw them into the trash!”
Gorga used the DIS as a springboard. MG is a direct line of consumer cookies for premium butter cookies with sprinkles, as she says, has generated more than $500,000 in revenue since its launch in December. Beyond being a recurring reference on the show, Sprinkle Cookies are also an off-screen calling card for members of the audience firmly on Team Melissa.
Gorga and Giudice still haven't spoken after last season's bitterness, which split the cast so deeply, so they couldn't get together to film a very important reunion show. It's unclear who'll return to the series, whispering that the cast will be overhauled, as happened with the New York and Atlanta franchises.
In a Zoom interview, Golga discussed how to monetize family feuds and leverage real housewife Dom without looking desperate. She said the scene became a laughable viral moment, but the Sprinkle Cookie Company came from a serious love for dessert. (She laughs at gift messages from customers referring to garbage sprinkle cookies.) These are compiled excerpts from the conversation.
Your sister-in-law, Theresa Judith, refused a sprinkle cookie in 2011. 14 years later, how did you decide to sell sprinkle cookies?
I've always said timing is everything. I loved this iconic cookie with sprinkle cookies. Obviously, the scene was pretty interesting. But I knew it was at the back of my head that I was always going to do.
People were impressed by how amazing they tasted. They saw that it wasn't one of these quick things that housewives were throwing together to do a quick sale. I was waiting for it to become the perfect legal business.
It's hard not to realize that this is coming after his relationship with Teresa has been left to estrangement. Were you worried that commercializing the feud would make things worse?
No, not at all. I really didn't put together the two because they were always kind of about the love I had for them. They were things I cherished and loved and were always my favorite dessert. Thank God for not doing anything negative.
What does your relationship with Teresa look like now? Has she ever said anything to you about cookies?
no. It's not related. (The day after Gorga launched the business, Giudice posted to X: “You're welcome.”)
I would like to hear more about the actual development of cookie recipes.
I worked with an amazing bakery that I absolutely love. We found the perfect recipe: I wanted them to be sweet but not too sweet. When people open my cookie boxes it smells like an Italian bakery in your kitchen. They are the ultimate butter cookies. They have almond tips because they have a little almond paste. Finding the right texture was really important. I've never frozen them, soft, without preservatives. There have been exchanges for several months. When we found the perfect thing, we rolled over it. They really taste like something my grandmother made.
Music, clothing boutiques, books, restaurants, podcasts, and now I was able to sprinkle cookies. What did you learn about the business of being a real housewife?
It must be authentic. The music was fun. It wasn't taken seriously, but there were five great, fun songs that we all still listen to. I love it when they started “exhibition.” I always laugh. But Envy (her boutique) is my mother ship. Envy has been around for 10 years. I did work, I spent time and I often go to both stores. I make all my purchases. I really put my heart and soul into my business. There, it is 100% of the owner.
You can slap your name for 15 years in this business for so many things. Many housewives and reality stars do that, but I have tried not to do so for years.
Why was that such an important part of your life on the show?
Before I met my husband, I had three jobs in college. I love seeing how hard my kids work. Everyone there has been watching these businesses build from scratch, starting with a young mom of 30 years old and being “real housewife in New Jersey.”
It's about showing people that when you've spent your time as a successful business woman, breaking the barrier of being a housewife with the product. Several others broke and did amazing things. Bethenny Frankel did it undoubtedly. But women who didn't start so often get these platforms like me, build what they've built and show that it's possible.
Are you hoping to participate in Season 15?
I'm good at anything that Bravo decides.
If you're not cast for next season, are you happy with your tenure as a real housewife?
If this is the final round with a housewife, you can lift your head high. I'm proud of how I treated myself. How did you navigate many of the trials and hardships? It's not easy to do that with all different opinions and seeing everyone.
