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Business & Tech

Shop Localista: King of the Grill

If there's a grill, there's a way to gourmet in Maplewood!

We're trying to grill outside as often as possible before the mosquitoes take over our back yard again. (At certain points of summer, the blood-sucking beasts grow big as bats and force us to dash from car to house in terror.) Bug issues aside, I'd probably love cooking outdoors more if it didn't involve my husband, who seems to view our grill as some sort of offshoot of the television remote, and therefore sees it as his possession.

Until we'd moved to the suburbs, I'd never actually seen him in full-out grill mode: arms akimbo, legs in an exaggeratedly wide stance and brows crinkled as if to emphasize the arduous pressure of flipping food someone else (i.e., me) had prepared.

It was also only after moving to Maplewood that I learned my barbeque name, Honi Kudya, as in: "Honi Kudya grab me some olive oil and a paper towel? Honi Kudya bring out a clean platter and the big silver spatula? Honi Kudya see if there are any more Stellas left?"… While I don't really dig my barbeque name—I do love eating grilled meals (at least when they're not overcooked by my resident Grill Sergeant).

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Still, since it's the season for both backyard soirees and Father's Day, I thought I'd take a jaunt about town for go-to spots for good grilling fare:

First stop, Springfield Avenue:

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Piast Polish Meats and Provisions - Your craving for kielbasa and sausage will meet its match when you walk into this authentic purveyor of all things Polish. Piast has some of the best wurst around, period. In addition to feeling like you've walked out of Maplewood and into the Old Country, you'll find a goldmine of great grilling ideas packed into this tiny storefront. They offer over 110 varieties of homemade kielbasa, hams, bacons, cold cuts, and artisan jerky. All are produced in the Piast smokehouses in the tradition of family recipes. You can also find an adventurous assortment of sides and dessert offerings, too. If you don't speak the language of Polish cuisine don't hesitate to ask Alicia or any of the other folks behind the counter for advice. The prices are surprisingly appealing too: Kiszka (barley sausage) $2.75/lb, Pasztetowa (liverwurst) $3.49/lb, Parowka Cieleca (veal Frankfurter) $3.49/lb.

Young Crab & Sea Food - This fish store is straight-forward "gills, no frills." They offer fresh, basic seafood and seasonings at great prices. (While there, try some of their takeout fried fish sandwiches—you'll be back for more, I promise!) Mr. Lee, the owner,  is eager to assist in your purchasing decisions and will also discount larger orders of already competitively priced items like shrimp. (Salmon steaks or cod, $5.99/lb; tilapia, $3.99/lb; boxed seasoning $2.50 and up)

Then, to the Village:

Kings - Okay, they might be a chain, but the Maplewood Village location does strive to stay local with personalized attention to service and detail. Brian or Ed in the butcher's section will happily serve up suggestions and prime cuts to add some thrill to your grill. While steaks are the main draw here, you can find some convenient pre-seasoned selections of burgers ($3.99/lb) and kebobs (5.99/lb and up) ready to go. Give them a call at 973-761-4092 and they'll try to meet your meat and/or poultry craving. Calling 48 hours ahead for big orders is ideal, but they'll always do their best to fit you in regardless.

Freeman's Fish Company - Forget Fulton—this place could be my favorite seafood purveyor of all time and every penny here is well spent. Fresh, foodie-friendly and fully informed, this is the sort of store that keeps local shopping a pleasure and a preference. Give Reggie or his staff a holler and they'll happily put together some pre-marinated selections of swordfish, tuna, halibut or Chilean sea bass for your grill. They prefer 24 hours for special orders, but will tailor their marinades to any taste and their suggestions to most budget requests. Another reason to rush to Freeman's this week? They're offering the "Shop Localista" savvy savings of the week! Just mention the code: Freeman's Patch of the Week and they'll snip 5% off the TOTAL price of your ORDER! Now that's a grill-y good deal! Offer good Friday, June 18-Thursday, June 24.

Shopping info:

Piast, 1899 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040 | (973) 761-1413

Young Crab & Seafood, 1875 Springfield Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040 | (973) 763-1518

Kings, 159 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040 | (973) 761-4092

Freeman's Fish Company - 155 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood, NJ 07040
| (973) 763-9363

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