Secrets, foodie secrets, do you keep them? The conundrum, tell your friends or keep them in the dark. Food writers have to consider this constantly.

Not a secret to the Polish community in Perth Amboy, Joe’s Meat Market  has been around for more than thirty years. We have been fans for a good fifteen of those years. Their kielbasa is the best around. Smoked in the back of the shop, it is a wonderland of spicy, smokey meat. I have never once walked into this place without salivating. It smells that good.

I am however, not going to write about their famous kielbasa. That I will save for another day. I want to let you in on the secret of their bacon. A little known fact about this writer; I don’t like bacon. At least I never liked the prepared, nitrite infused, salty stuff that is common to super markets.

The bacon from Joe’s Meat Market is almost a different animal entirely. With just the right amount of fat to meat ratio (and oh don’t we love the flavor from the fat) it belts out an aria of smoked paprika that hits the culinary high notes. This is bacon that I want to have again and again.

  While other mothers were enjoying their dainty, delicate brunches for Mother’s Day, I had a heaping plate of bacon, fried eggs and home fries.  Add to that two slices of heavily buttered rye toast, and this is breakfast that stays with you all day long. The toast by the way is from one of the large loaves at the meat market. It is authentic and delicious. I usually purchase a few loaves every month and freeze them. There is no replacement for great flavor.

Joe’s Meat Market in Perth Amboy delivers that flavor in spades. Now that I have let you in on this secret, I expect you to keep it under your hat and tell no one. Capiche?