A Meat Lover's Dream: Edlen's Meats

Walk into on Chews Landing Road and you will find fresh-smoked, thick-cut bacon, store-made German bratwurst, marinated baby back ribs, garlic pepper pork shops, pancetta and perfectly seasoned chicken breasts (plus about 100 other things I just don’t have room to list).

It is the stuff of a meat lover's dreams.

Owner Gerhard Pukropski has been in the butcher business since he was a teenager.

Pukropski learned his trade in the early '50s in Germany. He studied, apprenticed under a master butcher for three years and then became a journeyman—someone who can receive wages for his work, but is not yet a master and cannot employ others.

As a journeyman, Pukropski immigrated to Canada and then, after losing his job, ended up in New Jersey and at Edlen's Meats. That was 35 years ago.

Edlen stands for Ed Holtzman and Lenny Gottlieb (Ed plus Len). Pukropski was first a partner in the business and then shortly after joining Holtzman and Gottlieb, he bought the entire business.

Just about everything you see in the refrigerator cases is butchered and prepared right on the premises. The store is complete with a full meat butchering and preparation facility, including a smokehouse that Pukropski uses to make Italian sausages, kielbasa, German hot dogs, bacon, lunch meats, hams and other smoked specialties.

Everything is vacuum-sealed to keep meat fresh and flavorful. 

“Air is what spoils a meat product,” said Pukropski.

Edlen has a little of everything from store-made prosciutto and pancetta to pork chops marinated in herb butter or sundried tomatoes to apple-smoked and Cajun bacon. There are even smoked bones and products for your dog (priced from $1 to $3).

Among the best sellers at Edlen's are the seasoned and marinated products which are cook ready (truly a fresh convenience food that will make you seem like an expert chef). One of the most popular is the marinated French broil, a cut of meat similar to flank steak. French broil cooks quickly on the grill or stove top, just a few minutes per side for medium rare.

If beef isn’t your thing, Edlen's also has a turkey London broil, which is turkey breast seasoned and marinated. Marinated baby back ribs are also extremely popular.

Pukropski’s favorites are the smoked meats.

“My favorites are the German sausages,” Pukropski said.

While smoked meats are great on the grill, Pukropski recommends heating up German brats on the stovetop.

Edlen's Meats employees about seven workers. And, occasionally, you might spy Pukropski’s granddaughters working.

“I am breaking them into the business now,” said Pukropski.

If you go, Edlen's Meats is located at 1170 Chews Landing Rd. The store is closed on Mondays. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.