Walk into Woodside Delicatessen expecting the ambiance of a place

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PROFILE •
By George Acevedo
Photos by Jim Kirkland
Walk into Woodside Delicatessen expecting the
ambiance of a place that has been here for decades
and be surprised. Everything an old-world Italian
deli would offer is here in a neat, scrupulously
clean, updated package.
Of course, the meat counter is there to the left of the door, packed with imported specialties direct from the old country, Genoa salami, mortadella, ham
and prosciutto.
Next the cheeses, provolone, asiago and many more. To the right along the
wall is the wine, Italian, international and Californian, olive oil, vinegars, cookies and desserts.
To arrive at lunchtime is to find the place packed, testifying to the fact that
generations have made the deli their ‘go-to’ eatery. Fittingly, generations of the
Gallinetti family are behind the counter, doing what they’ve been doing here for
47 years.
The Gallinetti history in the food business actually predates Woodside Deli.
Mae Colombo, the matriarch, ran a successful catering business in San Francisco for many years. She was known for her gnocchi, lasagna, ravioli, chicken,
pork roast and home made sauces. She eventually helped two of her children
start delicatessens. Dan Gallinetti and his wife, Mae’s daughter Barbara, bought
Woodside Deli in 1968. In 1986 Mae’s son, Emil, bought a deli in Pacifica, which
he renamed Colombo Delicatessen.
Dan Gallinetti says he learned to cook from his mother-in-law. Mae prepared
everything from scratch, so to this day many of the cooked meats and salads at
Woodside Deli are still made by hand. Dan does all the cooking, arriving at 6
each morning to begin preparations for the day.
November 2015 ·
CLIMATE · 23