Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Chef Bob Baert (left) and owner Steven Zanardi offer fresh new sandwiches, salads, soups and desserts at Delizioso.

New sandwiches, salads are delicious at Delizioso

By Suzanne Cristallo

"If I'd known our BLTs would sell that fast, I'd have put them in six months ago," says Steven Zanardi, owner since last December of the Delizioso Deli, Bakery and Cafe in Los Gatos.

His signature sandwiches, including the BLT, are part of the cafe's new menu, which features applewood-smoked meats by Hobbs Shore, a supplier from Marin County who just recently expanded his route into Los Gatos.

Zanardi uses smoked Westphalian ham, beef, bacon and turkey in a variety of combinations. The turkey pesto sandwich is smoked turkey with provolone cheese, fresh pesto, mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce and sprouts on a ciabatta role. For those with staying power, it could be topped off with the house fruit kuchen--a torte with almond paste, fresh fruit and an apricot glaze--or tiramisu, the delicate Italian pastry that takes two days to make.

"I can't make them fast enough," Zanardi laments.

While the previous owners emphasized baking more than the deli, Zanardi focuses on the deli, offering new salads, lots of sandwiches, soups and pastries. Cakes have been eliminated.

A full espresso bar awaits the leisurely newspaper-reader or the hurried commuter.

A whole new decor by Zanardi's mother, Elizabeth, uses hunter green as a background with bright primary colors in artworks and Italian ceramic ware. A huge oil painting of a cow sets a bucolic mood for anyone forgetting their country roots.

"The cow was a carryover from Johnny Z's," says Zanardi of the restaurant on De Anza Boulevard near the Saratoga border he co-owned with childhood friend Johnny Cerrito for 18 months. Now he is sole owner of Delizioso, where he puts in 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, along with chef Bob Baert.

Baert is a veteran of 30 years of cooking: He started his career at the Plumed Horse in Saratoga and moved to C.B. Hannegan's in Los Gatos, which he managed for 15 years.

Both Zanardi and Baert are Los Gatos natives. While the long days are the toughest part of their work, the two men believe the resulting positive customer feedback is rewarding.

Zanardi, 27 and a 1988 Los Gatos High School graduate, is the only one in his family to choose the restaurant business, which he has been a part of since he was 17 years old.

He says customers may think up any Italian or California cuisine dish they might fancy, and Delizioso will provide it for parties, weddings, luncheons or dinner gatherings. Catering is a big part of their trade.

"We care about our customers," he says. "This is a nice, friendly place to come."

Delizioso Deli, Bakery and Cafe, 133 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos. Open Mon.-Wed., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu.-Sun., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 395-7737.

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