Clams on the half shell from Southold Fish Market. Wine from Macari Vineyards. Fresh baked pie from Country View Farm Stand.
That may sound like the latest food festival to hit the North Fork, but it’s actually a ground opening to Mattituck’s newest foodie spot. Center Cut Meats has enlisted a little help from its friends as it gears up for its big day Sunday.
The Main Road butcher shop will have all three popular local businesses on hand to showcase their goods as it also unveils some of what it’s been cooking. Center Cuts will be passing around hor d’oeuvres from its catering offerings, including pastrami dumplings from Chef Brian Von Der Linn.
Von Der Linn built up a following at his former Liberty Links in Freeport, a sausage and sandwich shop that closed earlier this year. Center Cuts owner Justin Aronoff was a customer there and he recruited the culinary school trained chef to run the food offerings at his Mattituck shop.
The shop, the second Center Cuts location following the first in Roslyn Heights, has been plenty busy during its soft opening this month.
“It’s been great,” Aronoff said. “Everyone’s been extremely happy. We’ve been really busy. It’s been even better than expected, especially at lunch.”
And on Sunday, they plan to unveil even more offerings, including the first sandwich of the month: a filet mignon lobster roll; a hot lobster roll with filet mignon cubes, garlic and herbs for $30.
“Guests are in for a treat,” Aronoff said.
Center Cuts is located at the former North Fork Deli site on Main Road in the hamlet, just east of Mattituck Plaza. The deli closed last year after more than a decade at that location.
At just 19 years old, Aronoff opened the first Center Cut Meats in 2014 after the butcher shop where he previously worked — and another nearby — closed. They quickly gained a following for their fresh cut meats, prepared foods, carry-out items, catering and delivery across Long Island.
The Mattituck location gives them even more display space for their butcher and catering offerings, Aronoff said.
The shop is already open seven days per week. Sunday’s grand opening will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
