Part Three: Our Four Kids — The Crew That Keeps Us Smiling
Our Story: A Four-Part Series
Every family business has a beginning, and ours is rooted in tradition, faith, and the joy of feeding people well. In this four-part series, we’re sharing the heart behind Executive Deli & Cafe — from the people who run it to the prayers that brought it to life.
Part One: Chris & Natalie — Meet the husband-and-wife team behind the counter and on the line.
Part Two: Why We Took Over the Deli — The leap of faith, answered prayers, and vision that keeps us going.
Part Three: Our Four Kids — The Crew That Keeps Us Smiling
Part Four: Chris’s Parents & Banana Bread (coming soon)— The quiet support and sweet legacy that show up twice a week.
From Day One: A Family Effort
We’ve only been running Executive Deli & Cafe in Mission Valley since January, but from the very beginning, our kids have been right there with us — showing up, pitching in, and helping us build something that feels like home. Each of them brings their own rhythm, nickname, and strength to the mix. They’ve helped shape the flow, the feel, and the heart of this place.
Ariel — Kitchen Co-Captain
Ariel is my main help on the line. She knows the rhythm of the kitchen and keeps things moving with calm confidence. She also does much of our baking, bringing her creativity and care into the delicious baked goods our customers love.
Her go-to order when she’s eating here? The Executive. And if you ask her what task she’d happily never do again, she’ll tell you: make salsa. Ariel’s secret to surviving a lunch rush is simple but wise — communicate clearly about who’s doing what, and don’t throw out tickets until the customer has their food.
Outside the deli, Ariel works as a paraprofessional aide at Classical Academy Charter School, the same school she was homeschooled through, and she earned her bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development from CSUSM. Whether she’s in the classroom or behind the counter, Ariel brings focus, care, and reliability. She’s also the one who will always choose extra mayo over mustard, dill pickles over sweet, and prep work over customer service. Looking ahead, Ariel hopes to keep blending her love of education with her creativity in baking — wherever her path leads, she’ll bring that same steady care.
Arianna — Efficiency Queen
Arianna keeps the kitchen clean and running smoothly. She notices what needs to be restocked, wiped down, or reorganized before anyone else does, and she helps on register when needed. She’s also the one behind our decorations, adding warmth and personality to the deli.
Her go-to order? The Strawnana smoothie and the TAC. The one task she’d happily never do again? Dishes. Arianna’s genius organizational hack is cleaning and organizing as she goes — keeping everything fresh and clutter-free.
She works at Classical Academy Charter School as a paraprofessional aide in the SPED department and has earned her Associate’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development. At the end of December, she’s getting married and moving to Washington State — a bittersweet transition for us.
She’s the one who prefers spicy mayo, sweet pickles, and prep work over customer service. And her favorite of Dad’s corny jokes? When he called Mom the Pastrami Mommi while making the Pastrami Tsunami Sandwich. Arianna’s eye for design and her gift for efficiency will no doubt shape whatever new home she builds in Washington, just as they’ve shaped the deli here.
Our Four Kids
Joseph — Jack of All Trades
David — The Craftsman
Arianna — Efficiency Queen
Ariel — Kitchen Co-Captain
Joseph — Jack of All Trades
Joseph jumps in wherever he’s needed — register, prep, cleanup, you name it. He’s currently working in the mailroom at Palomar College while studying Business Administration, he’ll soon complete his Associate’s degree before transferring to CSUSM.
His go-to order? Breakfast Burrito. His most valuable lesson from working here? A happy customer makes the work worthwhile. He even came up with a clever kitchen hack — shredding chicken with the ground beef mixer.
Joseph dreams of one day taking the deli to the next level. He envisions expanding to more locations while keeping the heart of the business intact — a place known for its good reputation, warm service, and a stress‑free environment where customers can relax and enjoy their meal. But his ultimate dream reaches even further: to create a non‑profit that helps people who’ve fallen on tough times. He hopes to use the deli as a stepping stone, offering temporary jobs that give people dignity, stability, and a chance to get back on their feet.
And along the way, Joseph has discovered a love for making Egg Drop Soup — a dish he now prepares once a month, adding his own touch to the deli’s rotation and delighting customers with something unexpected. Watching his leadership instincts grow, we see not just a future business owner, but someone who wants to build hope into every sandwich — and every soup — served.
He’s the one who always picks mustard over mayo, skips the pickles altogether, and prefers customer service over prep work.
David — The Craftsman
David has wanted to work in the fire department since he was five years old, and it’s been a joy to watch that dream begin to take shape. He’s currently studying Fire Science and EMT, with hopes of joining the Escondido Fire Department. At the deli, he has a knack for soups — people always love the ones he’s made.
His go-to order? TAC with double swiss and double avocado. The one task he’d happily never do again? Dishes. He compares making soup to emergency calls — both require following protocols and instructions.
David also helps on the line when needed, bringing energy, humor, and a steady hand to the rush. He’s the one who will always choose mayo over mustard, sweet pickles over dill, and prep work over customer service. He’s also our main meat slicer, keeping the line stocked and the sandwiches flowing with precision and speed. And when he’s on the line, his favorite sandwich to make is The Italian — a true work of art in his hands, layered with care and crafted to perfection.
Looking forward, David hopes to carry his knack for teamwork and his steady presence into the firehouse — but for now, we’re grateful for the soups, the slicing, and the artistry he brings to the deli.
A Family Effort
Even though we’ve only been at this for 11 months, their fingerprints are already everywhere — in the systems, the signage, the decorations, the baking, and the laughter behind the scenes. This deli isn’t just a family business. It’s a family effort. And if you walk through our doors, you’ll catch the scents that mean “home” to each of them: for Ariel, it’s fresh bread; for Arianna, it’s the comforting aroma of coffee; for Joseph, it’s banana bread; and for David, it’s any baked good fresh from the oven. Together, those smells mingle into something bigger — the fragrance of family, hard work, and love baked right into Executive Deli & Cafe.
Keep Reading
Back to the Beginning
Read: Part One: Chris & Natalie — Meet the Husband-and-Wife Team Behind the Counter and on the Line
Our Day-to-Day Stewardship
Read: Waste Not, Welcome More — Our Partnership with Too Good To Go
Next in the Series
Read: Part Four: Chris’s Parents & Banana Bread — The quiet support and sweet legacy that show up twice a week (coming soon)