It’s the season for backyard entertaining, but don’t let all the party prep turn you into a party pooper! Forget slaving in the kitchen or standing over a hot grill while you’re forced to ignore your party guests. Instead, have your next party catered by Mazzella’s of Mountainside, the newest gourmet market in our area that has been garnering rave reviews.

Located at 846 Mountain Avenue (with plenty of free parking), Mazzella’s was opened in February of this year by brothers Gary and Stephen Mazzella. For the past 15 years they’ve run a successful Italian market in Jackson, and the Mountainside location is their second outpost. The bright and cheery store offers a wide selection of gourmet prepared foods; custom butchery and meats (sliced Boar’s Head deli meats, Bell & Evans, certified Angus, and homemade Italian sausage); cheeses (including homemade mozzarella); desserts; packaged goods; some fresh produce; and a great cup of coffee!

Mazzella’s offers hot and cold catering for parties as small as 8 up to large weddings and banquets. Wouldn’t a freshly made 6-foot-sub with all the fixings be perfect for your next summer party? They have a wide variety of homemade salads to go along with it, or you can go the hot route with entrees like baked ziti, pulled pork, baby back ribs, or one of their many vegetable entrees such as their “zucchini frittata,” which was a big hit at my friend’s Easter gathering.

You’ll be drooling over Mazzella’s selection prepared foods, such as their #1 bestselling honey mustard chicken, Peter Luger chicken, pasta bruschetta, and their signature prociutto breads–which are Italian meats stuffed into bread dough and shaped into a tempting loaf. During the holiday season Mazzella’s sells upwards of 500 loaves!

According to Gary Mazzella: “We pride ourselves on using the freshest ingredients and making everything from scratch–there are no short cuts at Mazzella’s.”

Visit their website for a good look at their menu and catering services: www.mazzellasmarket.com, or call 908-789-0505. Mazzella’s is open seven days a week.