| Tucked away in the middle of the southwest Cape marina community, Pignoli sits at the end of a narrow, brick-lined promenade that could have been transported from a small European coastal town.
This is where Cardoos abandoned retirement to open the 1,800-square-foot Pignoli in April. He plans to open another at Burnt Store Marina in the fall.
"I've always dreamt of having a place in a marina," said Cardoos, who formerly ran a chain of 19 gourmet stores mostly in New England.
With more than 40 years experience catering and retailing, the affable merchant spins tales of his brushes with celebrities — Julia Child, Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse. At Pignoli — Italian for pine nut — Cardoos splits cooking duties with business partner and executive chef Bill Mann.
Pans of their Tuscan vegetable lasagna, spinach-and-feta-stuffed pork chops and Caribbean-spiced swordfish tempt from the deli display. Three-potato salad, Mediterranean mini pizzas and crab-stuffed shrimp beckon from the next bay. Prices are less than $10 a serving or per pound.
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"You should be able to buy a complete lunch for $7.99," Cardoos said. "A lot of the markets here are pricey. They're geared to snowbirds. We're here to cater to the 12-month residents."
To help attract shoppers to the remote location, Pignoli holds monthly wine-and-dine parties and will begin cooking classes soon. Much of the traffic now comes from Cape Harbour — shoppers like Bill Harris, who can boat down a canal to the store. He and his wife purchase takeout often, and he already has a favorite gourmet condiment from the shelves of preserves, oils and sauces: Dr. Pete's Praline Mustard Glaze, which comes from Savannah, Ga.
"It's a great way to finish a pork tenderloin," Harris said.
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