Deli serves family’s Italian heritage

Marianna Schiavone is living her dream by running La Borgata Italian Deli at 317 Main St.

Marianna Schiavone does not need the services of a genealogist to trace her family roots. All she has to do is take a few steps from the front counter to the kitchen of her new Italian deli in Vacaville.

That is where she will usually find her grandmother and parents. La Borgata Italian Deli at 317 Main St. is a family business in every sense. Schiavone would not want it any other way.

Schiavone, a single mother with four children, realized she could not sink her teeth into such a venture without assistance. Her boyfriend, Kelly Pledger, and family were more than ready and willing to help.

Kelly Pledger shows his hand at making tasty sandwiches for hungry customers.

“Kelly helped push me to do this,” said Schiavone, who named the deli after her brother’s wine business.  “My parents (Michelina and Donato) have been behind me no matter what I do.”

Fortunately for Schiavone, Pledger is a contractor and did his fair share of the remodeling work. Her brother, Gerry, provided the business knowledge because he runs a private winery and distillery.

Her dream began to take shape in April when the Main Street spot became available for lease. She figured downtown would be an ideal location for a deli because of all the vehicle and foot traffic.

“I’ve always wanted to do this, but I never found the right spot,” she said. “I  thought it would be better to be on Main Street.”

The deli, which opened June 12, offers the standard sandwich selections along with a variety of Italian meats and antipasto salad. The dessert offerings include cheesecake, Italian cookies and homemade cannoli.

Vacaville has an abundance of sandwich shops, but Schiavone is confident La Borgata will stand out in the crowd. “It’s definitely the Italian meat,” she said. “I’ve always loved going to Italian delis.”

Schiavone is no stranger to the food industry. She wrote a cookbook, “La Bella Molisana,” that can be purchased at the deli or at amazon.com. The book features family recipes and traditional favorites.

Running a deli has been a challenge for Schiavone, and she will not rest until she gets it just right.

“I’m getting no sleep right now,” she joked.

For further information, call the deli at 707-685-9406 or go to http://www.laborgatadeli.com.