Now there’s the key. Chris Fanelli, owner of the Sausage Deli for the past 9 years says, “What’s the secret? It’s fresh daily!” He will be very matter of fact about how fresh his deli is. “We cut our vegetables daily.” When he says vegetables, he means the onions, tomatoes, the bell pepper, and tomatoes and when he says cuts, he means slices. The veggies are cut paper-thin and plenty of them on a sandwich. I love the thin slices of veggies because when you take a bite, like any great sandwich, you get a balance of flavor, not just tomato or onion.

His bread is fresh daily as well. You will never get a day old slice of bread or roll. It will be bread that is fresh and soft, the way bread should be. They cook their roast beef right on site as well. It does not get much fresher than that. They also make their salads fresh daily so when you get their potato or cole slaw or macaroni salad you can bet that is fresh daily as well.

What I enjoy about the Deli is the variety. Chris makes sure he adds “charisma to lunch.” I normally like to order the mesquite cooked ham with all the fixings. However, they have a few sandwiches that are big sellers. They include, Italian Grinder, which is Genoa salami, pastrami, smoked provolone lettuce, tomato, green pepper, onions, pepperoncini peppers & Italian dressing. Another favorite is Omar (The Breathtaking) salami,turkey & swiss on an onion roll with bell pepper, onion, chopped pepperoncini peppers, mustard & Italian dressing. Though the name sounds odd, I have had the Susie Sorority which is turkey, havarti, lettuce, tomato & sprouts on whole wheat with mayo and it was quite good.

Of course, one the best things I like about Sausage Deli is it is not a chain. Chris Fanelli runs it. There is only one in town. Tucson Biz Beat celebrates the business owner, not the chain foods. Chris also employs about 8 people. “We’re a team here.” He says, “It’s like family.” I have always had great service with a smile from his workers. Chris makes it a point to emphasize that even though the team is like family, this is a business all the way and business is always first. That is so he can offer Tucson the best of the best.

So next time you have a hankering for something extra good, extra fresh, and at a reasonable price, go see Chris and have his team make you up one of the best sandwiches in town. As Chris would say they are “simple stupid.” I have to say I love that, his food is so simple; and the freshness makes this deli stand so tall. Today Tucson Biz Beat salutes Sausage Deli. So stop by, get a coupon, check out their specials and enjoy the freshness of Tucson, it really is simple stupid and hmmmmm good!

To me, the farmers market is like a ritual. Going for my Sunday walk with live music, fresh wonderful smells, and bags filled with fresh produce. I love the Sunday Farmers market at St. Philip’s Plaza is located at 4280 N. Campbell Ave. In an hour I can walk this wonderful market with well over 40 little locally owned shops and come home with local treasures.

Where else can I go to get my fresh local produce, soaps, lotions, breads, salsa, pita chips, worms, apple juice all while listening to music, enjoying a cup of tea with a nice gourmet empanada and having my knifes sharpened?  The St. Philip’s Plaza farmers market of course.

Whether you want coffee beans, Mesquite flour tortilla, organic  and gluten free foods, goat cheese spreads, natural beef, seeds, plants, soaps, sprouts, rubs, pastries, fresh eggs, roasted chili, scones, prickly pears popsicles, homemade bread pudding, spices, and produce that is often freshly picked either that night or the morning of.

What I enjoy about farmers markets is I know the food and products are local and I am feeding into my own local economy. There is a wonderful feeling I get when I know I am giving my hard-earned money to local merchants rather than giving to big chains. I also know this is helping my local farmers to continue to grow and sell their products.

The other thing I really enjoy about local farmers markets is the quality of the product I am getting. My favorite place at the market was late the other day. They finally arrived. I caught myself helping them set up the tables so they could get going. “Thank you” the young many said to me, “We were busy picking this morning.” Now that is fresh, When my Kale is only 45 minutes old, I know the quality of my product is going to excellent. The quality of their produce is indeed amazing, however, the quality of the bakes goods is wonderful as well as the little shops that sell homemade soaps and lotions as well as oils and remedies and tinctures.

The other wonderful thing about local farmers markets is it is just a wonderful place to be. Unlike local supermarkets where there are lines, pushing and shoving, people dogging your heals and a rather uncomfortable feeling, the farmers markets are outdoors and very friendly. The merchants go out of their way to get to know you and offer you their latest sample, advice or tip. The air is normally fresh, the music live, and many familiar faces that greet you.

I love going to farmers market and I have to say that the Sunday Farmers market at St. Philip’s Plaza is my favorite, however, know there are several markets in Tucson. Jesse Owens Market on Fridays, the Saturday  Oro Valley Farmers’ Market, Tucson Farmers’ Market at Maynard’s on Saturdays, Rincon Valley farmers market on Saturdays which is a craft show as well, and the River Park farmers market is some of the local markets.

What is important is if you want high quality food at a fair price, and support local farms and business, then Tucson farmers markets is the place to go. So get your cooler and water, pack up the kids and dog and head out and support local business. So today Tucson Biz Beat salutes the local farmers markets and says thank you for keeping it homegrown and good.

As a speech pathologist Kyle assess, diagnose, treat and help prevent speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, fluency, swallowing and other related disorders. He stated he got involved when his grandfather took him to volunteer at care homes and care centers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana when he was just a child. Kyle said, ‘At that time, I realized that people had trouble talking and communicating and I always wanted to know why.  It sparked an interest, so when I attended college at Louisiana State University, I looked into the field of Speech and Hearing and fell in love with it.

Meades believes that communication allows people to connect.  When there is a breakdown in the communication process, it keeps us from each other. He explains that in young children most communication is achieved through play.  If a child has difficulty communicating with other children, that child may not have ample opportunity to interact, play and socialize with other children, and this can have negative consequences on learning and development.  With adults, after a stroke for example, when communication is compromised, the effects can be devastating and extreme frustration can occur.   A speech and language pathologist can help restore and treat these various communication difficulties.

As a speech-language pathologist, Kyle will develop an individualized plan of care, tailored to each of his clients needs.  He teaches people how to make sounds, improve their voices, or increase their oral or written language skills to communicate more effectively. As a speech-language pathologists he knows how to help his clients how to develop, or recover, reliable communication and swallowing skills so they can fulfill their educational, vocational, and social roles.

Kyle believes that he is a compassionate, caring individual who will not stop until the job is complete. I share an office building with Kyle and watch the relationship he has with children and I noticed that he takes pride in his work, and is always eager to assist people with their communication needs.

Tucson is lucky to have this transplant who came here after hurricane Katrina and established his business here. Therefore, Tucson Biz Beat salutes Kyle Meades and Therapy Group of Tucson. He adds to the community of Tucson’s business owners and offers a special service that he loves and is aware how much it helps others.

There is something that is very special about Allegro and I think what is so special about it is Ivan Lucchina. He is the co-owner of this wonderful gelato shop. At first when I met him, I was unsure if I would do a story on him about his gelato, or the fact that Ivan is an artist. His canvas is the fresh ingredients he uses and the scoop. He takes the scoop and shapes and blends the creamy mixture and places it in your cone or cup with the skill of an artist. Gelato is his life. He studied this fine Italian art and he has mastered this mouth-watering dessert.

Ivan believes what makes his frozen treat so wonderful is he uses fresh ingredients. “Nothing ever comes from a can,” he proudly boasts. If it is chocolate, then you will find him grating fresh chocolate. If it is pineapple basil, a flavor which makes the pallet jump up, down and sideways, then he has cut and cleaned fresh pineapple, and used fresh basil. “Fresh ingredients really makes a difference and I am probably obsessed with fresh ingredients.”

Ivan has a variety of flavors and I had the opportunity to go on a tasting spree. I would have to say my favorite was the pink Himalayan salt caramel. I could swear someone just put a caramel in my mouth only this was velvet and melted in my mouth. He has carrot flavor, pink grapefruit, pear,  saffron, anise, pistachio, cream, custard, rose, cinnamon, which mixed with chocolate is wonderful.  Speaking of chocolate he has chocolate chip, chocolate mint and spicy chocolate, which is sinfully good with a dark sweet chocolate and then as you swallow that spice hits the back of your throat slightly burning and wanting more. His flavors are forever changing, again made with all fresh hand cut and grated ingredients and no preservatives.

Ivan, who came from Italy to Tucson in July of 2010, helped opened this wonderful store in September of 2010. He said he always wanted his own business and the opportunity to come to Tucson just happened so he and his wife moved here. Allegro, which is right on Campbell and 6th by the University, is a great location, not only does he get the U of A students and the Sam Hughes neighborhood, he gets everyone driving down Campbell.

Out of all the places I have written about Allegro is one of my favorites because it isn’t just about the food, but the craftsmanship that goes with it. I watched Ivan for a while as he served gelato to people and saw his passion as he told how each flavor is made, and then he dished it with pure pride. I asked one of his customers what she thought and all she could say was “amazing”.

So Tucson Biz Beat salutes Allegro and the fine artist Ivan who makes sure that Tucson is receiving the freshest and best tasting gelato ever.

I recall years ago, I was somewhere and I heard this band playing. I did not think much of it as I was in a hurry and had to be somewhere, but the singer started to belt something out and it caught my attention. I recall stopping in my tracks, turning around and was amazed that I heard that sort of voice coming out of such a small framed woman, and then I realized that day that dynamite comes in small packages, and that was my first introduction to singer, songwriter and musician, LeeAnne Savage.

Tucson not only salutes Savage, we should be proud to have this wonderful artist calling Tucson her home. After all, she is somewhat of a local celebrity.  She has had the honor of being the opening act for  performers as Lonestar, Belinda Carlisle, Clay Walker, Kool and the Gang, The B-52′s, Eddie Money, Jefferson Starship, Blaine Larsen, to name just a few.

This high-energy performing artist successfully performed in and around the western US since 1995 with a collection of high caliber of musicians. Making her home in Arizona, many of her bands were not only very popular with fellow Arizonans, but received high accolades such as several TAMMIES (Tucson Arizona Music Awards) for Best Band, Best Musician, Best Vocalist.

So many of you are wondering, well where this amazing singer is and how come you have not been privy to hearing her. That is because In 2007, LeeAnne decided to remove herself from performing and touring to focus solely on her songwriting. It was during this time that she rediscovered her passion and love for country music. As LeeAnne honed her songwriting craft, her songs became more lyrical, with the emphasis being on the story line itself. She decided to infuse the genres she loved to create a blend of her favorite musical stylings. When asked as to the genre of her CD, it is referred to as “Alternative Country Rock Pop” as many music genres are represented in this offering.

In July 2010, LeeAnne went to Beaird Studios in Nashville, Tennesee and recorded all music tracks for her recently released CD, “To The N9nes”. The list of musicians who accompanied her was a who’s who of the recording industry, and included the likes of Eddie Bayers on Drums, who was the first call session player. Michael Rojas on Keyboards, who was the first call session player named Academy of Country Music’s Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year in 2010.  Dan Dugmore on Dobro and Steel Guitar  who was the former player for Linda Ronstadt’s band for 14 years and James Taylor’s band for 11 years.  Russ Pahl on Steel and Rhythm Guitars who played on CDs such as Rascal Flatts, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, andMiranda Lambert.  JT Corenflos on Lead and Rhythm Guitars and played on Carrie Underwood, Trace Atkins, Kenny Chesney CD.  Eli Beaird on Bass , and Larry Beaird on Acoustic Guitar both accomplished musicians who played back up for top country artists.

LeeAnne has put together a remarkable band and is booking shows which helps boost Tucson local businesses. She is also excited that she has an upcoming music video featuring the fan favorite “I Like To Play With Boys” and the powerful ballad “I’m Always With You”! You can stay up on her through her Facebook or Reverbnation.

If you want something really fun to do this weekend,  go see her this Saturday February 18th at Whiskey Tango, 140 S Kolb. She will be the second of three bands performing, taking the stage at approximately 10:15pm. So Tucson Biz beat salutes LeeAnne Savage as a well accomplished artist, local celebrity, and a huge animal advocate.

Owner-chef Mary Coronado started this family restaurant in Safford Arizona 31 years ago. Mary knows her food and as a champion salsa maker who has won a variety of awards, knew Tucson deserved to be part of these great Mexican food flavors. So did her daughters, Della Coronado and Julie Beilman, and so two-and-a-half years ago, they opened El Coronado Family Restaurant at 9040 E. Valencia Rd in Tucson.

I am a Mexican food snob I must say, and I can always tell a good Mexican food restaurant by the salsa. I loved their salsa, which is heavy on cilantro, the way I like it, and just enough heat to make my tongue dance. The salsa is served in a squeeze bottle, so I can either squeeze it on my fresh chips, or squeeze it in a bowl. To me that is home-style serving!

My first trip to this quaint little place I ate their carne asada chimichanga, which was topped with their homemade red sauce and guacamole. It was not too big or too little and stuffed with lots of tender tangy meat. The Sonoran enchiladas were thick, moist and tasty, plus there were three on my plate which meant leftovers the next day!

My next trip I tried their chili relleno. Della, head chef, said it was a good choice because she does it different than most folks. While traditionally you have an egg batter and fry the chili, Della does an egg batter and grills the chili. The result is not only healthier, it is quite yummy and greasy batter does not consume me.

Julie tells me that not only good food is important to this family-run restaurant, getting to know everyone and making them feel at home is equally important. “We keep notes so we can learn people’s name and call regulars by their name.” These little things are what El Coronado does to make sure people have an enjoyable dining experience.

Mary Coronado says one day she was in the kitchen and she looked up and she saw her daughters, son and grandchildren all working, “That just made my day,” she says. She realized that this family business really is about family.

What is important as well is how satisfied their customers are. I was sitting across from a young couple and when the check came, the man looked at the bill and had a surprised look on his face. I asked him why he looked puzzled, and he said, “This is really a cheap bill for the food I got.” I asked if he would be back and he said “definitely.”

So today, Tucson Biz Beat salutes Coronado Family Restaurant at 9040 E. Valencia Rd. If you want home-style food and service, then I give them a thumbs up for both. What are you waiting for? Give them a call at 520-574-7776 and order to go or sit inside their newly expanded restaurant and enjoy the waiters, the family and the smiling faces of satisfied customers.

I enjoy eating Mediterranean food throughout Tucson, and Medusa Kabob House on 4th Ave continues to bring me back again, and again. Maybe it is because I love the atmosphere on 4th Ave. Still, that would not be the only reason to keep me coming back; however, I do enjoy the atmosphere inside with only four tables and a bar with stools making this fun little place a delight.

When I walk in, I feel as though I am walking to a table at a friend’s house. Owner Rebecca Davoudikia will come over to the table, set it for you and ask you if you would like some water. She will hand you a very simple menu, mainly wraps, kabobs and gyros and gives you a moment to look and see how you would like to please your pallet.

My first trip to this little restaurant I had the hummus and the baba ganoush and dipped pita bread and wonderful moist falafels in it. The baba ganoush, which is a paste or dip so to speak made of grilled eggplant. It was good with a nice earthy taste. The hummus, which was not too dry as some places can be, and left my taste buds wanting more, so of course, I got more! The second visit, I was offered Tzatziki, made of yogurt, cucumber and dill, and I dipped my pita in that for an explosion of freshness.

I would have to say my favorite is the gyro plate, which is gyro meat slices on a wonderful salad with lots of feta, tomatoes and fresh greens and served with pita and Tzatziki. What I have discovered with this place is your wish is their command, so if you would rather have tahini or hummus, just say the magic word and poof, it appears right before you.

Davoudikia goes out of her way to make sure your food is served to your specifications, and she does so with a flair. The food always looks nice, fresh and dressed up to enter your pallet. Her mother Linda says she is proud of her daughter for having this little treasure on the avenue because she feels she is helping the economy. “The economy is bad, so it is good to see young people like this have the initiative to do this and be a small business owner.” She looks over at her daughter, “It is risky, but small business owners are helping our economy.”

The first time I walked in to this little restaurant that used to be the Casbah, I met Ash Davoudikia, Rebecca’s brother, who helped this little place called Medusa take off. He was kind and inviting, and much like the rest of the Davoudikia’s, made you feel so welcome that you simply had to come back and taste more.

They have an outdoor covered back area almost ready to seat people and they will be able to cater to a much larger crowd. Medusa really goes out of its way to offer great Mediterranean food at fair prices and wonderful hospitality to their cliental. So Tucson Biz Beat salutes Medusa Kabob House on 4th Ave and thanks Rebecca Davoudikia and her family for keeping small business alive and well in Tucson.

Sister Rita Cappellazzo (in red) Seena Reid at Italian Club

My mother’s brother married an Italian. I grew up eating wonderful Italian food and learning about Italian culture. I would have to say that of course my favorite thing I learned was the food. I recall helping my aunt’s mother making Italian Struffoli, which are delicious honey balls that make your mouth dance in delight. More important I recall as a young child the pride that my aunt’s parents had in their Italian heritage. So today, Tucson Biz Beat salutes the Italian Club of Tucson.

This wonderful club all started when 81-year-old nun Sister Rina Cappellazzo decided to start a club that she could relate to. The good sister who was new in town decided to start a group where people, much like her, could gather and talk about culture and tradition. Cappellazzo took it one-step further and stated that not only Italians could come, but also people who want to learn about this wonderful culture.

The next stop was trying to find a place where this group could meet. They tried several places to meet but had no luck until Viro’s Italian Bakery and Cafe stepped in and offered them a permanent place to meet. This was perfect for them and the owners even let them put up a map of Italy which they use often to talk about their birthplace, politics and heritage. More than that, they help educate others who want to know more about Italy.

The Italian club meets every third Wednesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:00pm at 8301 East 22nd Street. “It’s a place where you can talk in your native language,” says secretary Seena Reid. Not that they need a secretary to keep track of dues because the sister made sure the Italian club is free.

So whether you are Italian or want to learn more about the culture, this club can offer a wonderful time. Tucson Biz Beat salutes the Italian club for offer something so wonderful for no fees or dues. Stop in some third Wednesday and see what all the fuss is about, you just might meet a friend, or learn something new.

She got into acupuncture after she had been doing massage for 10 years. She started to realize that  she was referring  a lot of her clients to acupuncturists.  She understood that she needed to help heal people on a “deeper level”.  She was fully aware that acupuncture was needed to solve many issues. Nelson stated, “It was just a natural progression in my mind.  I eventually decided that I would be the person to offer acupuncture along with massage in order to treat the problems I saw.  I wanted to have a bigger skill set to offer my clients as it is important to me to do what I can to help them.  I don’t feel good about just taking their money  I really want them to overcome obstacles”

That is just what Nelson has been doing. She explains that acupuncture is the placement of sterilized non-hypodermic needles in the skin along points on lines on the body called “Meridians”.  Each point has a specific function and is chosen because of its relative usefulness to treating the root and/or manifestation of the problem the client presents with.  The needles, according to the point, “activate” or “deactivate” the supplies of Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang in order to achieve the desired effect.

This modality can be used for many issues. It treats the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of a being.  It is internal medicine, endo-crynology, psychiatry, gynecology, dermatology and much more.  Another way of saying it is that it can treat depression, insomnia, diabetes, stroke, allergies, skin problems, musculo-skeletal issues, sciatica, back and neck pain, chemotherapy side-effects, anxiety, infertility and anemia just to name a few.

As a holistic mental health practitioner I have sent many of my clients to Nelson and have seen firsthand the power of the puncture as I call it. Being in the field of alternative health, I can say that Nelson’s training and techniques are superior and what is equally important is she makes this helpful modality affordable. So visit Lion Acupuncture or give them a call (520) 440-7487.

Tucson Biz beat salutes this alternative business and appreciates such a skilled practitioner to be in Tucson Arizona offering her skills and extensive background in this truly amazing Chinese art.

With the holidays approaching, a great bakery is always good to have on hand. This Italian bakery  has it all for your holiday needs. Cuccunati, which are fig cookies, Rumbaba which is sponge cake soaked in rum, assortments of butter cookies that are so good they are sold by the pound, and ricotta pie, which is ricotta and citrus fruit.

It is not your typical Christmas sugar cookies; it is beyond tradition and a few steps into mouth-watering ecstasy. In fact, Santa would be more apt to go to Viro’s not to eat their cookies and fine pastry’s but to gift people as these pastries are so good, they are indeed a gift to give.

Some of my favorites at Viro’s is the fresh baked éclairs, the red velvet cake, the cheese cake, and of course the mouth watering Cannoli’s fixed fresh to your order. Rose is the baker and she bakes her heart out. She does wedding cakes and specialty orders. She is the queen of Italian bakers. That is because she uses many family recipes that no other bakery processes, nor will they ever!

What keeps me coming back is not the fact that have gluten free  pasta, or that they make their own cheese, or that you can take one of their pizza’s home and cook it in your own oven. No, what I like about Viro’s is that is run by family and it is about family. When I was there last Sunday, I also enjoyed their Sunday brunch. Where in Tucson can you go for 9.99 and get an omelet bar, fresh waffles made to order, French toast, ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, Italian sausage onions and peppers, and much much more, not to talk about the yummy cakes that sit at the end of the line.

This year, why not do something different and bring a touch of Italy to your holiday table. For Thanksgiving, you can order up fresh hard rolls, or Italian or Sicilian breads, even homemade marble rye and wheat breads are available. I personally enjoy eating their fresh biscotti and find myself going in their often to pick up a bag of these tasty little twice baked biscuits that are flavored with anis, or Hazelnut and my favorite, almond.

Be sure to stop in, say hello and try one of their fabulous baked goods, or better yet, sit down and enjoy a nice dinner or a great Italian sandwich. I know for me this year, I am adding a flair of Italy to my holiday. So the Tucson Biz Beat salutes Viro’s Real Italian Bakery and Cafe for their wonderful food, their spectacular bakery and the pride they take in making this a family restaurant with family traditions.