Katerina's Deli Serves 'Arts & Eats'

Most delis don’t have their own art administrators, but Katerina’s, the new deli-caterer facing the waterfront in East Norwalk at 205 Liberty Square, would be unthinkable without one.

It’s not just because of the side-by-side Warhol prints of Marilyn Monroe in psychedelic colors that stare you down as you place your order, or the other framed art that covers the white walls in the 2,000-square-foot space.

It’s because of inspired plans to devote otherwise unusable storefront spaces to display of local artists’ creations.

And “local artists” includes schoolchildren, who can also put a pricetag on their art and sell it right there.

“We’re not your basic ham ‘n cheese deli, although we can do that,” remarked Katerina’s round and jovial owner and operator, Tim Osborn. He opened on April 9.

Osborn’s concept for Katerina’s is “Arts & Eats,” as his business card advertises.

“It’s culture meets cuisine meets Norwalk,” he says. “The art on the walls is a little bit of an icebreaker.”

Osborn, a Culinary Institute of America graduate and veteran food service entrepreneur who wears a diamond stud in his left ear lobe, was attracted to the site, formerly a bodega and before that a hardware store, because of its location facing the waterfront, its nautical connection and because of its artsy vibe.

Mike Spizzirri, who used to run an art gallery, was chosen to be “art administrator.” That means he has shared his eclectic art collection and mounted paintings and photographs here and there. He will also oversee the selection of local art that will fill the display spaces to either side of the deli’s entryway.

Shortly, Osborn said, the prominent Pepsi display will be taken over by artists’ renderings of the deli-caterer’s most notable dishes.

One sketch will depict ice cubes—which Osborn is selling at a discount, $1.75 for an eight-pound bag.

But getting back to the food, Osborne says his emphasis is catering first, deli second.

And while he and his partner, Katerina Tsocanos, prepare a full complement of deli staples—including chicken, egg, tuna and 10 other kinds of salads, burgers, sandwiches and soups—their culinary mission is to create catering platters heaped with deeply flavorful Mediterranean-style dishes.

“We cook as close to from scratch as you can,” said Tsocanos, who left a career in physical rehabilitation to start up her namesake deli with Osborn.

Osborn ticks off his favorite creations: the clove-scented Moroccan meat pie with a French butter crust and what he calls a “chic-style” Italian beef dish that takes two days to prepare. (He borrowed the idea from a popular food show.)

The catering menu features original combinations of appetizers, such as crab cakes with garlic aioli, pikilia (a platter of Greek dips) and shrimp and chorizo focaccio with manchego.

Deli specials range from scallops and shrimp (with fennel and mushrooms in a saffron marinara over capellini), sausage, spinach and 3 cheeses in a flaky pastry and a personal pizza.

Osborn has arranged partnerships with Pepsi-Cola, Boar’s Head and Hershey’s ice cream to sell those brands exclusively at a discount. A 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi costs $.99 and a hand-dipped ice cream cone is $2.50.

Fresh fruit is available as well as “designer” chips with novel ingredients, such as sea salt and cinnamon.

Hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Telephone: 203-956-6000

Fax: 203-956-6001

Seating is limited.