Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Schwab.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
A native Californian, raised by my Italian grandparents in Hawthorne, which at the time was the quintessential small town filled with blue-collar families and big community spirit. My grandfather was my greatest love; he was a real character – funny, tender, larger than life – he played music every day, mostly on his mandolin – singing songs from the “old country” – funny Italian Songs that made him smile and laugh. He was pure joy, and I was absolutely the apple of his eye. My grandmother was the business side of the household – this woman could really stretch a dollar…my grandpa passed when I was almost 7, which was devastating, and while I know she had little, I always felt well taken care of. She cooked most every day, beautiful, simple meals that were so delicious. She always said, everyone asks me for the recipe for this and that – there is no recipe – you learn by watching – you have to do it – feel it – taste it. Her food came from her heart, and she loved to feed people. So, I watched, and I learned. Throughout my life, I have reflected on the blessing it was to have been influenced by them. My mother had my 3 sisters from her first marriage – her marriage to my father was brief and ended badly – I know my grandparents stepped in so my mom could work and care for her other 3 children…it was an incredible act of love and generosity, and they knew my mom was facing a rough road. My mom and sisters lived in the valley, and I saw them at holidays and during the summer…even at a young age, I could see the stark difference between mine and my sister’s lives, and I felt deep humble gratitude.
I left Hawthorne and my grandmother’s house at the end of 9th grade and moved in with my mom who lived in Brentwood – quite the culture shock. While I always wanted to become a teacher, I ended up going in a different direction – I worked in accounting for most of my career, managing small businesses and running my own bookkeeping company. I moved to playa del rey in 1995 and began picking up takeout from a little restaurant named Giovanni’s. I couldn’t help but feel a funny kinship to this man, Govanni – he was SO Italian…breaking into Opera for no particular reason, telling jokes and shouting out orders to his busboy and kitchen. His food was similar to my grandmother’s, especially the lasagna, which is what I would frequently order. I had always thought in the back of my mind that it would be so great to have an Italian deli/restaurant and attempt to replicate the traditions of my family. To my surprise and disappointment, Giovanni sold the restaurant to a man who, frankly, could not possibly follow in the huge footprints of the restaurant’s founder.
Fast forward to December of 1999, when I received a call from some friends who went to dinner at Giovanni’s the night before. “Did you know that little Italian Restaurant by your house is closing?” No… What is happening? Well, it seems the new owner was not getting the support he needed to keep it going…he really didn’t do anything to improve the restaurant and was basically blaming the neighborhood. I sat in shock at this news, and my mind was spinning. Why didn’t Giovanni tell me he wanted to sell? Why did this new guy think he could just pretend nothing had changed after taking over? I picked up the phone and made a call to the restaurant. After some discussion, I invited this man to join me for lunch the next day to discuss his situation. We negotiated a deal on the back of my placemat for me to take control of the business subject to his staff staying on. This lunch took place on December 28 – he was scheduled to close at the end of the year. So, I spoke with the staff, who were thrilled to keep their jobs and seemed so willing to help me turn it around. I often tell people if I had had more time to think about this, I probably wouldn’t have done it. The whole thing seemed to be inspired by a power greater than myself.
The very first thing I did was make a change to the name…the Restaurant opened in 1962, and the huge neon sign on the roof read Giovanni’s Salerno Beach. The Salerno Beach part was iconic and kind of a historical landmark, so I replaced “Giovanni’s” with Cantalini’s, which is my grandmother’s maiden name…Anna Cantalini taught me the most important foundations of Italian Food, and I love the way that name sounds (my grandfather’s name was Giovanni DiGregorio…which doesn’t flow as well). We updated the menus to include my grandmother’s signature dishes with a special focus on homemade pastas – we make her ravioli and gnocchi every day. As an homage to my grandpa, we have been offering live music Sundays from the beginning, featuring super talented musicians – I especially love when we have accordion and mandolin players in the house…it swells my heart with memories of my grandpa, who by the way, played every instrument by ear! So… January 2023 will mark our 23rd year as Cantalini’s, and I couldn’t be more proud. We are so grateful to be such an integral part of our community – our staff and guests are part of our GREAT BIG ITALIAN FAMILY!
Molte Grazie!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The restaurant business is very tough…I took over an aging operation in an old building that needed much renovation. In addition, people’s dining habits are greatly influenced by financial security and/or fear, and there were many moments that posed incredible challenges to our revenue…9/11, the writers’ strike, the stock market crash, a misguided road diet initiated by the city the mitigate traffic, and of course, the pandemic. We have always been fluid in our response to change, and the Covid shutdowns were no exception. I feel so proud of the way we were able to meet each moment with grace, and I will be forever grateful to the staff who formed our front line and the customers who made it their personal commitment to helping us stay alive.
We’ve been impressed with Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Restaurant, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Cantalini’s, we care about your experience and strive to have you feel taken care of at every moment. Our food is made fresh from quality ingredients, and most of our serve staff have been with us for many years. Their dedication and love for the restaurant is palpable and they take such pride in providing excellent service.
We are open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner and feature live music on Sundays from 6:30 – 9:30.
We offer take-out and delivery plus we have a full-service catering department for events of any size or budget. We specialize in corporate delivery and private parties.
Our brand is built on the joy and comfort that comes from good food made with love. We offer the finest fresh seafood, house-made pastas, hand-tossed pizza, imported beers, fine wines, and delicious house-made desserts. Our guests have described us as “Old School” or “East Coast Italian”…we are all of that and more – we take great pride in keeping the history and legacy of our Italian Family alive.
Any big plans?
We hope to not only survive the post-pandemic recovery but to thrive in the coming years. We are waiting on the city as to the future of Al Fresco Dining and are hoping to keep our patios. We look forward to private parties and catering events coming back to life in the next year and are working with our chefs to retool our lunch menu moving into the new year.
Contact Info:
- Website: cantalinis.com
Image Credits
Stephanie Rondeau
