Barbeque Season is upon us and with it comes a growing trend consisting of unique meats and grill ready eats. Whether entertaining a crowd or small family gathering; many desire to set the spatula aside, tossing the apron to the trash so they can join in the outdoor fun and still set mouths salivating with some interesting fare.
Paul Otway of Dutch’s Market reveals how 15 years observing patrons shift from the pre-party preparation buys to grill ready convenience led to the Greentown store’s angle on summertime food items.
“Nine out of ten people have an idea what they want and we [Dutch’s Market] put it together,” he says; noting the service compares to that of a caterer simply without dishing it out and serving it.
He explains how more and more customers have been asking for the not so typical sautéed chicken reporting pre-cooked hot dogs are usually not on their minds when placing orders.
The Butcher Shoppe’s Mark Zahra dishes out ideas on a few unique carnivorous cravings for the grill including: kangaroo, crocodile and buffalo. His Pocono Lake store has been preparing exotic meats for over 39 years with a strong following of residents and second home owners many of whom place orders in advance to be frozen for their return to the city.
Alongside wife, Debbie, he describes the major difference in grilling delicacies like smoked alligator sausage, lamb burgers and an elk steak is that they are “Very lean with only 5% fat.” He cautions, “Don’t cook them long or they will dry out.”
He recommends, “Simple is better” when asked about preparing the cuts beforehand, he strongly opposes marinating as it “masks the flavor.” Light salt, granulated garlic and a delicate rub of extra virgin olive oil for just the right sear works best.
He prefers a rich dark chocolate for that perfect finishing touch to the palate complimenting his new commercial neighbor Daley’s Chocolates.
Heidi Daley suggests chocolate covered strawberries as a smart finale adding though many respond to invite etiquette with a box of assorted chocolates.
Whatever your culinary creativity, or lack thereof, fear not!
The Pocono Mountains’ outdoor attraction stems beyond magnificent excursions to an assortment of area eateries, making the decision for eating out one that can be shared at home or abroad.
