Page 22 - North Haven Magazine Issue 19 Summer 2021

Farm to Table and Chili Cook-offs:m to Table and Chili Cook-offs:
Far by Marisa Hexter
Meet Stephen Stellatoephen Stellato
Meet St

of Stellato’s Deliellato’s Deli
of St

Ten years ago in January, Stephen Stellato opened Stellato’s Deli at 69 State Street in North Hav-
en. A decade later, Stellato’s Deli is a staple in the town. When he was younger, Stephen’s family
events always had a center and focus on food. “I grew up in a family surrounded by food… that
inspired me to want to cook and feed people.” What does Stellato’s offer? “We’re a breakfast-lunch
deli,” which also specializes in homemade soups and creative daily specials. Their style is “Classic
deli with an Italian twist.” They also have many catering menus to choose from for all occasions
like cookouts or office meetings. Stephen, who opened the Deli himself, takes pride in the many
homemade and fresh options that are available. “We care about our food, we care about our
customers, and we want to provide a homemade feel.” As a small and local business, hearing
customers talk about how much they enjoyed the food is fulfilling for him.
Stephen Stellato & Jackie St.
Peter at 2019 Chili Cookoff
tephen did not always think he was go-
Sing to be an owner of a deli. When he of people didn’t realize you could order
started college, he was studying to be a those things from a deli.” By doing this
teacher, but shortly after he knew it was through advertising and creating specific
not the right path for him. Instead, he soon menus, Stellato’s offered individuals a place
started working in a small family-owned to go that did not involve going to large and
grocery store where he worked his way up crowded grocery stores.
from slicing cold cuts to being the store
manager after five years. While working While the pandemic did prove to be dif-
at the grocery store, Stephen learned from ficult, for Stellato and his business, it also
the owners what it meant to run a business proved to become a benefit. “The pandem-
and the importance of small businesses in ic was really scary in the beginning but it
a community. When he decided to open a gradually got busier and busier with take
business of his own, Stephen saw the op- out and as things started to ease a little bit,
portunity in North Haven when there was to come across.” There were around twelve we got busier and now were actually busier
an old deli up for sale. He always wanted participants, who could win in two catego- than pre-covid.” Beforehand, Stephen says,
his business to be in a small town versus a ries: Popular or Judges Vote. Stellato won the deli catered to people who worked in
city, and as his sister-in-law lived in North the popular vote with his Turkey Quinoa town, “A lot of our customers were people
Haven, she was also able to help in the first Chili with Avocado Cream. Stellato also who were on their way to work or on their
couple of years as “she knew a lot of people credits Jill and the North Haven Magazine lunch break and I think a lot of people in
and businesses in town...that was helpful.” as being very helpful in advertising his busi- town didn’t know we were here. Between
ness to the local people and community. advertising and the pandemic, these people
He states he has “definitely gotten to more who hadn’t heard about us or hadn’t had
people than any other advertising that I’ve the chance to get in here...they were able to
done...the magazine has been probably the come in at the hour we are open.”
most rewarding advertising and Jill is great
in introducing people to each other. If you
live in North Haven, you want to be on Jill’s
team. It’s always a lot of fun.”

While 2019 held many great events, the be-
ginning of 2020 was hard for many people,
2019 Chili Cookoff Judges communities, and businesses, like Stellato’s
Deli. Relating to the pandemic, “The first
In 2019, Jill asked Stephen to help cook and couple of months were confusing...trying to
cater the North Haven Farm to Table Din- figure out what to do,” as many faced similar
ner in August, which he will also be help- feelings of uncertainty and unease. During
ing out with this year. When he was made the first part of the shutdown he was not re-
aware of the event and was asked to partic- ally sure what to do, but thankfully, after a
ipate, he was thrilled to help and laughed few months when people felt safe to order When asked what his favorite part of North
saying, “Jill is hard to say no to.” The job for food out from restaurants again, many did Haven is, Stephen says, “I can’t say enough
this event meant cooking for over one hun- so by supporting local and small business- about how great the people in this town
dred people. Stellato states there is a lot of es, including Stellato’s Deli. “I think a lot of are.”s Everyone from the people that work
preparation and planning to do for an event people really took to that,” says Stephen. in town, to the people that live in town, and
of this size. of course, his customers. “It’s a small tight-
Unprecedented times called for changes, knit community,” he says, “I got lucky.”
The same year, the First Annual Chili Cook- and at the Deli, Stephen started small, by
Off also took place in town, which Stephen creating a small family dinner menu and Daily specials for Stellato’s Deli are posted
joined. It was his first competition, “I loved also promoting their cold cuts and home- online every day on their website: stellatos-
it and will participate again in any of Jill’s made foods, sauces, and soups, as well as deli.com, and you can also sign up for their
events or any other events that I happen selling certain items in bulk. “I think a lot daily emails.

22 North Haven Magazine - Summer Issue 2021