Royal's Pillsbury lady planning new eatery

ROYAL CITY - Susie Littlewood, the payroll officer for the Royal School District since 2008, has set the wheels in motion for a new deli cafe in Royal City in January.

The woman who was Royals's Pillsbury Lady in 2010 will open the  new eatery Deli-sh on Jan. 1 at 412 Camelia Street, location now of a Mexican cafe.

"It's deli-ish, but it's delish," Littlewood said.

Littlewood has cooked all of her life and enjoys cooking. She was encouraged to go pro in 2010 when she became known as a Pillsbury Lady.

Littlewood entered one of her recipes in a contest sponsored by Pillsbury. From among tens of thousands, hers was chosen for a national bake-off in Orland, Fla.

"I made it to the 100, which is like a big deal," she said. "This girl from little Royal City made it to Orlando. They liked my recipe."

Not only that, the Los Angeles Times featured her in a front-page article. The four-day Orlando trip was all-expenses paid. She enjoyed all kinds of meals.

"It was the most exciting thing I've ever done," she said. "They feed you, like, all the time."

Littlewood did not win at Orlando. But she was able to cook her Carmelized Red Onion Feta Burgers.

Littlewood has lived in Royal City from the age of four. She is a single mom of two girls, 14-year-old Khrystal an Samantha, 12, both of whom will work at the deli.

"I plan on them being little scrubbers and choppers," Littlewood said. "I envision that it's going to make our lives better."

Deli-sh will is a big leap for Littlewood. She's leaving a steady, good income and solid benefits.

"Most people think I've lost my mind," she said.

On the other hand, Littlewood has planned well. She knows the number of people she will need to feed daily to match the school district salary and pay for medical insurance.

Littlewood will leave the school with solid personal connections. Co-workers have said the plan to be customers.

"I plan to show a profit immediately," Littlewood said. "I don't have big start-up costs."

It will cost Littlewood less than $7,500 to cover first and last-month rent, a damage deposit and deposits for utility services.

"I will get some new equipment, but I'm making a deal for some of the equipment already here."

The cafe has space for only 18 sit-down diners, but Littlewood's business plan calls for a big take-out business. She plans to sell prepared complete family meals.

Deli-sh will have an every day menu and changing single day menu. For instance, Mondays could be Mama's Comfort Foods Day. The main dish one Monday could be meat loaf, with stew another Monday and pot roast yet another Monday.

A meat loaf Monday would most likely include macaroni and cheese, an entree salad, side salad, soup and bread. A meatloaf sandwich would be available.

Available every day would ham, turkey, roast bee and tuna sandwiches. Also available every day will be chicken noodle soup, green salad, potato salad, macaroni salad and Coleslaw.

Littlewood said customers would be able to put together their own meals from among the items available at the time.

Littlewood plans to use mass media, particularly the internet - Facebook, Twitter - to get the word out.

And she plans to have special fun on Thursdays. She'll prepare a meal chosen by a customer.

"Customers will write the name of their dish or the recipe on the back of one of our business cards and drop the cards in the Thursday suggestion box," Littlewood said. "I'll draw one each week. If I don't know the recipe, I'll learn it."

There will be a Taco Tuesday and a Take-and-Bake Pizza Friday. There will be a Fish Friday and an international Wednesday named Where Ya Wanna Go.

"I'm excited," Littlewood said. "People have asked me if I'm scared. Suprisingly I'm not. I was more scared when I took the job with the district. I've always wanted to do something bold. The universe is telling me this the right idea."