Palmerino’s is opening its first storefront at 35 E. Main Ave. in downtown Morgan Hill. This is a long-awaited development for owner Thomas Palmer, who has run Palmerino’s as a Cottage Food Operation for the past two-and-a-half years. After a searching for the right location, Palmer is proudly gearing up to open his business’s new home in mid-December.
Palmerino’s will be an Italian deli market specializing in house-made pastas and pasta sauces. They will also sell locally sourced produce and specialty food items, as well as fine meats and cheeses imported straight from Italy. The deli will come into play by offering a menu of artisanal sandwiches, available for takeout or to enjoy at the outdoor seating area.
Based on a pending ABC license filed with the State of California, there will also be a selection of hard beverages to wash down those sandwiches. Palmer confirms that he plans to offer local beers and wines poured on-site. He also will host pasta-making classes in a detached banquet hall on the property.
Palmer notes on his website that he grew up with a culture focused on food, even working at several local food places as a teen and in corporate catering following his college years. Eventually, his path led him to the Italian Culinary Institute in Stalettì, Italy. After 12 weeks of immersing himself in Italian cooking techniques and traditions, Palmer graduated a Master of Italian Cuisine in 2019 and promptly returned home to put his new knowledge to work.
Palmerino’s is a joint effort that Thomas says couldn’t happen without the help of Terra Amico Farms, a San Martin tomato farm owned by Joe and Lisa Raineri. Palmer and the Raineris began co-hosting farm-to-table dinners since June. The success of this partnership was key to Palmer fulfilling his dream of opening a storefront. He now looks forward to new and loyal customers who should “come on down to Morgan Hill and get themselves some authentic Italian food.”
