Home
News
Arts & Leisure
Sports
Business
Opinion
Dining
Gardening
Travel
Classifieds
Jobs
Community
Events
Forums
TV Listings
|
|
Community
 |
|
|
Euro
Deli, Sedona |
Sedona's Euro Deli is a Restaurant!
By Nirmala McAfee
|
Sedona.biz
(Sedona, Arizona) -
The Euro Deli, owned and operated by
Swava and Peter
Stachorski, on 89A in West Sedona, is an excellent restaurant where
locals and visitors alike are treated to delicious food, friendly service and
a European flair.
I repeat – the Euro Deli is a restaurant! You may be
confused when you see the frequent canine visitors lined up outside the door,
waiting for not only a handout but also some affection and dog whispering,
too. My dog, Ram, a very sedate black standard poodle, whines and cries to get out of
the car whenever we even pass the Euro Deli on 89A. Forget about
pulling in the parking lot! He’s beside himself to get out, run to the door,
and wait for his friend, Swava, to come outside and give him a Euro Deli
meat treat.
All dogs are welcome to stop by the Euro Deli. Swava and Peter, needless
to say, are ‘dog lovers.’ A jar asking for donations to the Humane Society
replaces the traditional tip jar.
“Our prices are fair and good service is our
pleasure. Tips are not necessary,” Swava tells me.
Swava and Peter, originally from Poland, came to the United States over 20 years
ago. With them came their daughter, Joanna, who also works at the Euro Deli,
and their two adopted rescue dogs, Bella and Bernie, from Poland and Brazil,
respectively.“You brought your dogs over from Europe?” I ask incredulously.
|
|
Euro
Deli selection |
Swava tells me that, of course, she did. She can hardly understand how some
people so quickly give their dogs up when, “with just a little sacrifice and
juggling, they could keep them and provide loving homes for life.”
“But Europe? You brought the dogs over from Europe?” I ask again.
“Well, you see, my mother had just lost her
dog. I told my daughter, Joanna, to go to the humane society and find a very
similar dog for her grandmother.” When Joanne brought the dog to Swava’s
mother, her mother’s reaction was joy and a little trepidation. She was, after
all, a senior and the dog was very young. What would happen to the dog if she
were to pass away? Joanne assured her that she shouldn’t worry. She would care
for the dog if anything ever happened to her grandmother, including taking the
dog to America. Unfortunately, Swava’s mother fell ill two years later and
passed away. Keeping her word, Swava took the dog back with her to America.
“That’s how Bella came to live here,” she smiles.Truly, Swava has a way with dogs. Her sensitivity and empathy,
however, doesn’t end with the four-legged variety. She also has a way with
people. In fact, she and her husband turned to the service industry because, as
Swava puts it, “I’m a people person. I wanted more contact with people and I
wanted to serve.”
Before moving to Sedona in 2004, Swava worked as a computer programmer for many years for
the Icelandic government. “I programmed for big companies, not personal
computers,” Swava explains. “But I completely unplugged from computer
programming in 1985.” Although, she knew she didn’t want to continue in that
field, she and Peter didn’t know what they wanted to do when they moved
to Sedona.“We left Connecticut, where we were living, to go to Sedona. We didn’t know
what we wanted to do when we got here. On the second day cross-country, I turned
to Peter and said, ‘I’m going to miss the European delicatessens.’ Peter
answered, ‘That’s it. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll open a Euro Deli.”
And that’s how Swava and her family came to live and work in Sedona.
The products in the deli come from all over Europe: France, Spain,
Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Greece, and Poland. Behind the counter, a display
of fresh meats and cheese tempt even the staunchest dieter. The menu suggests
a complete offering of breakfast dishes, as well as gourmet sandwiches and a
very ample array of vegetarian specialties. Swava prepares stuffed cabbage and
borscht. All meats are European style and the European specialty, authentic
Polish sausage served with sauerkraut, is served every day.
There are two small tables inside
the Deli and several outside, offering customers a chance to take into Sedona’s
fresh air and ambience. On one of the tables inside, a large book sits
invitingly. The book introduces and describes the many adoptable dogs from the
Humane Society of Sedona
(www.humanesocietyofsedona.com).
Also provided are magazines from Best Friends, (http://www.bestfriends.org/)
a no-kill animal sanctuary out of Kanab,
Utah.
“Who knows,” Swava tells me. “While
people are waiting for their food, they might find a dog they like, or at least,
they’ll have more awareness of these animals’ plight.”
Adamantly against euthanasia, Swava
believes that, “People have to be more educated. No excuses like I’m moving or
my landlord won’t allow dogs. People have to travel four or five extra miles.
Animals totally rely on us and they should be the main concern.” Swava
poignantly reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi’s distinguished quote, “The
greatness of the nation and its moral progress can be judged by the ways animals
are treated."
As we finish up our chat, a customer comes in to
say goodbye to Swava. He and his family had been eating outside
while their dog lounged quietly next to them. Their pet had
recently had a very serious operation on his leg and Swava had been
particularly attentive to the animal and his concerned owners.
Lots
of folks go to the Euro Deli (www.EuroDeliSedona.com),
not just because of the great food, but also because their dogs are
always welcome. Swava gives each customer, whether human or canine,
personal and friendly attention. As the man and his dog get ready
to leave, he thanks Swava for her advice. I jokingly add, “That’s
why you come here, right?” The satisfied customer agrees but he
adds a caveat, “I stopped here because the food’s great too. This is
just a bonus!”
[Home Page]
[News Home Page]
[Back to Community Page] |