Oct. 13, 2010 - Issue #782 : Future Edmonton
Profile
Plenty of care
Care-It Urban Deli specializes in local, carefully-prepared food
Chef and co-owner Sarah Radloff explains, "The name describes this business well. You think of 'carrot' as a natural product and as something that is grown here, and also that we care about our products. The name catches people's attention." Radloff runs Care-It's Crestwood location, which opened in 2009, with fellow chef/co-owner Mike Fingas. The original Care-It Deli presides over the Hamptons, and its success spurred owners Cameron Jordan and Louis Hamel to open a second location. Fingas observes that it took about six months for neighbourhood residents to discover Care-It, but that their reception has been nothing short of enthusiastic.
Care-It's raison d'être, as its name implies, is to serve local food that is prepared and presented with diligence. Both Radloff and Fingas are alumni of NAIT's culinary arts program and bring diverse, international experience to their workplace. Radloff worked as a hotel chef in Dubai and identifies the city's significant southeast Asian presence as a primary influence in her cooking style.
"Chicken biryani is one of my favourite things to make," she explains, "and it's based on a recipe that I got from an Indian chef in Dubai."
Radloff also travelled through Spain and, upon her return to Edmonton, was inspired to include the quintessentially Spanish paella on Care-It's menu. Fingas also draws inspiration from his travels and notes that resorts and buffets are an endless source of ideas.
Care-It's coolers are well stocked with a veritable cornucopia of colourful salads, alluring meats and fragrant cheeses, and Radloff and Fingas strive to include locally sourced ingredients.
"All of our meats are Alberta-raised and we source many of our products from Greens, Eggs and Ham," says Radloff, referring to the well-known supplier of heritage vegetables and naturally-raised poultry. Care-It boasts a broad selection of salads, many of which include exotic ingredients like quinoa and butternut squash.
"We also carry things like sausages and jams that are sold at the farmer's market," Radloff adds, "so if people can't make it there on the weekend, they can buy them here."
One may build a complete meal using the many salads, side dishes and main courses on Care-It's menu. Radloff and Fingas concoct many ready-to-serve dishes daily and note that customer favourites include goat-cheese-stuffed salmon and pancetta prawn fettuccine alfredo.
"People are busy and want things that are as prepared as possible," explains Fingas, "but they also want to feel like they can cook and take pride in what they serve."
Radloff concurs: "We give people options for how much or how little of their meal they want to prepare from scratch."
Both Radloff and Fingas recognize that Care-It's success is attributed to quality products and a loyal following of customers. "It's great to be a familiar face to so many," says Fingas, "and you don't get that kind of recognition in a supermarket."
Radloff agrees and adds, "We put a lot of ourselves into our work, into the kitchen."
Both chefs emphasize positive customer relations, particularly since Care-It opened during the deepest depths of the economic recession. "There were a lot of naysayers," admits Radloff, "but we needed to take that leap."
Indeed, Care-It's philosophy of providing customers with quality, locally produced meals, coupled with the interpersonal skills of Radloff and Fingas, is central to the deli's survival during uncertain economic times. Fingas dreams of one day opening a restaurant that is based on the same philosophy as Care-It. Radloff prefers to live in the present and concludes, "I'm just happy to be here." Here, the words of Fingas and Radloff are layered with pride in their culinary creations and gratitude that reflects their sense of belonging in the neighbourhood. Care-It Urban Deli thus lives up to the many positive connotations of its multifaceted name. V
Sarah Radloff and Mike Fingas
Care-It Urban Deli
9672 - 142 St, 780.488.1110
More info about Careit Urban Deli (Crestwood) →
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