Meet Nicole Bordoli | Mom, entrepreneuse, traveller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Bordoli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Oscar Delgado and Nicole Bordoli are the dynamic duo behind The Italian Corner, a culinary venture dedicated to bringing the true flavors of Italy to the comfort of your own home. With their passion for traditional culinary techniques and a commitment to using farm-fresh and local ingredients, Oscar and Nicole have crafted a menu that will transport your taste buds straight to Italy. Oscar Delgado’s journey in the culinary world began in the bustling kitchens of renowned Italian Chefs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learning from the best, he honed his skills and developed a profound appreciation for the rich and diverse flavors of Italian cuisine. Meanwhile, Nicole Bordoli grew up in her father’s restaurant in the picturesque region of Lake Como. Surrounded by the sights, sounds, and aromas of traditional Italian cooking, she developed a deep-rooted love for the craft.
The meeting of Oscar and Nicole was a match made in culinary heaven and The Italian Corner is the manifestation of their shared vision. The pandemic, and the consequent loss of both their jobs, were the motives that pushed them out pf their comfort zone and into the magical world of Farmer’s Markets.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up in my father’s restaurant, in Lake Como. When I was not in the restaurant, I would watch my grandma preparing the most delicious meals. The passion for the craft, the love for the ingredients, the respect for the traditions followed me all the way to California. I started working Front of the House and , in a few years, worked my way up, from busser to General Manager. I worked in several high end restaurants in San Francisco, such as Salt House, Farina Focaccia and Flores where I learned about every aspect of the restaurant industry, from food and wine to financials and management. In a high energy and highly competitive industry, such as the restaurant one, challenges for a young attractive immigrant woman, with a broken English were numerous. I had to swallow my Italian pride again and again and work more than many of my colleagues to at least have a chance to show what I was capable of. When I became a mother, I had to face even more scrutiny and judgement. Can a mother be in charge of a large restaurant and endure long hours of work? I proved them not only that I could, but also that I was great at it. The 2019 Covid pandemic forced me to take a break. During those dreadful months that put the World to its knees, I was living in my little bubble of heaven surrounded by my family. It was then, when my prospective started to change. I had showed everyone that I could do whatever I wanted to, now it was time to really do whatever made me happy. I realized that having a job where I could manage my own working hours around my daughter’s schedule was the goal. I also realized that it was time to realize the dream that my husband and myself had for quite some time. Along with my husband, we made both dreams come true and The Italian Corner was born.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Monday: Downtown Petaluma during the day exploring all the stores, ice cream at Lala’s creamery and dinner at Easy Rider. Tuesday: Morning at Petaluma Farmers Market and lunch at home with the fresh products just bought at the market. Dinner at El roy’s food truck.
Wednesday: SF tour: fisherman’s wharf, golden gate bridge and Marin Headlands. Lunch at Il Casaro for the best Napolitanean pizza in the area. Afternoon shopping in SF downtown and dinner at La Mar.
Thursday: Wine tasting in Sonoma, lunch at Bravas in Healdsburg.
Friday: hiking in Bodega bay, visit at the lighthouse and lunch at Fishetarian fish Market.
Saturday: Farmers Market in Napa and visit of the city.
Sunday: visit the town of Sausalito and Tiburon, lunch at Sam’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
“My biggest inspiration is my daughter, Catalina. Since she was little, I have always tried my best to prepare her a variety of delicious meals that were also healthy and relatively fast and easy to prepare. Being a working mommy, it wasn’t always easy to find that balance. She is the reason I started my company; helping mothers that, like me, don’t want to compromise the health of their kids because of the limited time they have to cook. My husband, Oscar, has been the rock that made everything possible. He is not afraid to dream big and doesn’t stop until he reaches exactly what he wants.”

Website: www.theitaliancornersf.com

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