Daniela Useli’s dream has come true, her own store offering her delicate and delicious Italian creations both sweet and savory from Italy, Sardinia her homeland. I know Daniela from her work with Sotto Sopra Restaurant where she created multi course Sardinian dinners once a month featuring the dishes her family had passed down from generation to generation. Her pastas are as light as air – her lasagna is a must try! (be sure to check out the slide show)
The shop is called Daniela and it is on the corner of the 900 block of “the Avenue” (36th Street) and Elm in a tiny house that used to house Eye Candy. Daniela’s is a walk away food emporium, though on nice days there are a couple tables out front where you can enjoy her pastries (bombolina, ciambelle) focaccia (tomato, onion), ravioli (crab and shrimp), lasagna and even an espresso. The chalk board menu changes regularly.
Daniela’s friend Nancy Wheeler did a beautiful mural of an Italian kitchen in Sardinia that fills one wall of the tiny space, and it is small. The upstairs is being renovated for greater space for her kitchen. Daniela’s son Stefano is there every day, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. if you are lucky, you’ll see Daniela, a true sfoglina, proudly wearing her Sardinian apron, smiling and wishing you buon appetito.
On my afternoon visit, I relished Daniela’s shrimp and crabmeat ravioli in marinara and left with a cannoli that I inhaled when I got to my car. There is much more to come in this tiny house that wears the Daniela sign – stop in, say hello to Stefano and Daniela but most of all enjoy a taste of Sardinia and the wonderful flavors of this Italian island.
Daniela
900 W. 36th Street (The Avenue)
Hampden - Baltimore 443 759 9320
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