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Neighbors
August 1 - August 14, 2015
www.SanTanSun.com
Neighbors Matheny raising funds for ‘Jazz Noir’ page 59
Center for Living Well offering certified yoga instructor class
Where Kids Eat Free page 32
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Deli owners bring something deliciously different to Chandler the 1970s. Carlo and Emilie’s Gourmet Deli is “I was asked to do something and I the culmination of a friendship that thought it would be good to do a deli,” blossomed into a tasty and successful Ventura said. “We have similar types of business. Carlo Ventura and Emilie foods where we are from originally— Frances put their tomatoes, peppers, culinary, business fish. and management Carlo and knowledge Emilie’s Gourmet together to create Deli opened in a deliciously December and it different kind of quickly made its deli. mark as a restaurant Ventura and with a unique menu Frances met when variety. he was working Sandwiches as a manager include prosciutto at Bernard’s at with hard salami Ocotillo Golf and asiago, smoked Resort. turkey with asiago “Because he and soppressata, spoke French, we prosciutto and became friends,” asiago. Hot explained Frances sandwiches boast who hails from Ventura’s meatballs the European made fresh daily, country. “Then chicken pesto, he introduced beef braciole and my mom to my veal and eggplant stepdad and they Carlo Ventura and Emilie Frances own Carlo and parmigiana. got married and “We do a lot Emilie’s Gourmet Deli, a unique deli boasting my stepdad is of orders to-go, both Italian and French influences. STSN photo the third partner especially in the by Lynette Carrington here.” evening—more Although so pastas than Ventura is Italian and Frances is French, sandwiches,” Ventura said. the duo saw potential in opening a “I make my own sausages, my own business. Ventura’s experience includes pasta sauces and some of my own working in the hotel and restaurant desserts including carrot cake, tiramisu, industries in Italy, Germany and France Italian cheesecake, the filling for the prior to coming to the United States in BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
see DELI page 47
Local woman honored as Champion for Young Children BY ALISON STANTON
As a single parent, Catherine Arvizu knows how challenging it can be to make ends meet. She also understands how crucial it is to raise children who possess key life skills like perseverance and motivation. “It’s so important for kids to learn critical thinking skills. When my kids would ask me, ‘What is 10 plus 10?’ I would say, ‘Let’s think about it.’ They’d get so mad at me, but this helped them learn how to teach themselves,” she said. Three years ago, Arvizu began volunteering with First Things First—a voter-
created, statewide organization that funds early education and health programs to help children be successful once they enter kindergarten—by sharing information about the importance of early childhood and the work of First Things First’s community partners. Arvizu, who is the business banker vice president at the National Bank of Arizona in Mesa, also volunteers teaching basic financial courses to children and adults in Chandler and other parts of the East Valley. Recently, Arvizu, who lives in Ahwatukee, was recognized by First Things First as a 2015 see CHAMPION page 48
Chef Anthony Serrano believes he will win the Chef Off Southwest Standoff culinary competition but chef Romeo Taus said he has a few tasty tricks up his sleeve. Submitted photo
El Palacio, Euro Café staff compete in Chef Off BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON
Chefs Anthony Serrano of Chandler’s El Palacio and Romeo Taus of Romeo’s Euro Café in Gilbert will go head to head in the Chef Off Southwest Standoff at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at El Palacio. At the event, attendees will taste the two chefs’ entrees without knowing the creator’s identity. Afterward, they will be asked to vote for their favorite dishes. The theme of the entrees is pork with a Southwestern flair. “We’ve never done a Mexican restaurant for Chef Off because most of them are not on the cutting edge of the culinary field,” said Taus, who started the event with fellow chefs John Wong of SN Asian Kitchen in Gilbert, and Lori Hassler formerly of Radda Caffe-Bar in Scottsdale. “When I saw what Anthony was doing, I thought that he would be great. We shook hands and here we are.”
As for Serrano, he said he’s looking forward to the event because he thought it would be fun. The meals will be paired with beer from The Perch. “The Perch is a neighbor of ours and we thought it would be fun for all three of us to pair up,” Serrano said. “We’ve done a lot of beer dinners here at El Palacio but we’ve never done collaboration like this. It should be exciting.” The winner will challenge The Perch’s chef this fall. Tickets for the Aug. 3 Chef Off are $55 and seats are still available. To make a reservation, call (480) 802-5770 or visit online at www.epfamilyrestaurants.com. El Palacio is located at 2950 E. Germann Rd., Chandler. Creativity served here The competition is designed to give see EL PALACIO page 48
Brett Epstein to play in Maccabi games BY TRACY HOUSE
Brett Epstein’s lifetime love of soccer has been rewarded with a prestigious invitation to play for Team USA at the Pan American Maccabi Games 2015 in Santiago, Chile, in December. The Pan American Maccabi Games 2015 are a celebration of Jewish unity, culture and heritage through athletic competition. Epstein, 46, said he is
honored to be part of Team USA’s 45-andolder team. “They really treat it like the Olympics,” he explained. “There’s an opening ceremony where you march in by country. I was told to go online and find American flag pins and shirts and hats, because people are always trading things.” While he’s officially a member of see MACCABI page 50