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July is National Grilling Month by Sheila Turner-Hilliard
Bring your family and friends together and fire up the grill: July is National Grilling Month! Backyard barbecues, festival parking lots and fire pits on the beach all become places to create delicious meals over a gas grill, coal bed or wood fire. But sometimes the traditional American BBQ fare — burgers and hot dogs — can lose their appeal. So, how can we liven up our gatherings to offer tasty options? We asked the Experts and Sponsors of Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors for their advice. Outdoor barbecuing has officially become an extension of the kitchen, due in large part to social distancing requirements over the past 16 months. Grilling is a great way to bring friends and family together and to celebrate returning to “life as we knew it.” Scott Magness, Owner of Scott’s Fireplace Products, is an Expert on how to make grilling literally push-button easy. “Compared to charcoal grills and wood fire pits, gas grills and gas fire pits are not messy, and can start with the push of a button,” Scott said. His Manager Ray pointed out that a wood fire pit requires prepping kindling, and wood fires and charcoal grills both typically require a lot of shifting the wood or charcoal around, to maintain the desired temperature. “A variety of cuisines can easily be prepared on a gas grill,” said Ray, “because temperatures can be controlled with pinpoint accuracy and can have a hot side and a cooler side by
simply turning different knobs.” Other advantages of gas grills: There’s no messy charcoal or ashes to clean up. And when it’s time to call it a night, you just turn the knobs off and that’s it! Why not switch it up and serve steak? When Almost Family! it comes to quality cuts of meat, your local butcher is the place to start. Head over to Luigi & Giovanni’s for quality USDA Choice meats. Popular picks for tender, juicy steaks are ribeye, New York strip steak and filet mignon. Co-Owner Luigi (Lou) Lemme explained that even though grilling temperatures and techniques may vary, it’s important that the meat is at room temperature before placing it on the grill. “This allows the meat to soften and cook more evenly,” he said. Grilling steak doesn’t have to be difficult if you stick to the basics. “I like to season simply with some salt and pepper,” said Lou. “Then I heat the grill to 500° and cook the steak for three to four minutes on each side.” He explains that the high temperature sears the meat on the outside and leaves the inside tender and juicy. The final step of allowing the steak to rest will elevate your Grillmeister status. “It’s tempting to cut right into your masterpiece,” said Lou, “but you must let your steak rest covered for 15 minutes so it can reabsorb the juices that were constricted during grilling.” Serve it with some grilled vegetables and your guests will likely invite themselves back for more!
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Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
July 2021
