WAITSBURG - Emry Kleck describes the food he and his wife, Sandy, serve as "modern stone age cuisine." On the wood-fired grill that he built in his shop, they cook steaks and pulled pork, chicken, fish and shellfish, along with other kinds of meat. He also grills vegetables, including his specialty, grilled lentil salad.

With special marinades he has created, he sprays the meat as it cooks. "The marinade is infused in the caramelized meat which gives it a unique flavor," Kleck said.

On a recent Friday evening, Kleck set up his grill in the beautiful courtyard behind jimgermanbar on Main Street in Waitsburg. He served up tri tip steak and vegetables to diners in the bar. Kleck and "The Q," as he calls his catering business, have been preparing grilled dinners every Friday at jimgermanbar since February.

The grill Kleck built is called a Santa Maria Grill. It's a special design developed in Santa Maria, Calif., that features a fire box with grill platforms above it. Each platform can be raised and lowered with a crank that drives a chain connected to the platform. Kleck said he has begun building and selling the grills as a sideline to the catering business.

On this night at jimgermanbar, as on almost every Friday night, the bar was booked full with reservations. The following evening, the Klecks took their grill to Walla Walla for a winemaker's dinner at Adamant Cellars. The Q caters many events throughout the Walla Walla and Touchet Valleys.

More information about The Q can be found on their Facebook page: "The Q."