A Napa Valley tradition is restored with the return of the “Malfatti Man”, Clemente Cittoni from the historic Depot Restaurant previously located near the train tracks on Soscol.

Val’s Liquors downtown Napa known as a convenience store for locals, business people, tourists and the downtown community is now the proud and exclusive distributor of food prepared by “Clemente’s”. Clemente’s operated by partners Clemente Cittoni, Mary Cittoni and daughter Joanne Gonzalez is located inside Val’s Liquors and producing century old authentic Italian handmade recipes.  The menu is simple to start and all takeout, but includes the “comfort foods” one used to find at the backdoor of the Depot Restaurant; one of those foods being the famous “Malfatti”.  

Clemente started at the Depot Restaurant in 1961 and was trained by the original founder Theresa Tamburelli, her daughter Angie Momsen and son Nick Tamburelli.  The Depot Restaurant was a long standing tradition in Napa since the mid 1920’s.


What’s a Malfatti?

Invented by Theresa Tamburelli in the late 1920’s at the Depot Restaurant in Napa,CA. The restaurant had booked a visiting San Francisco baseball team. When the team arrived, Mrs. Tamburelli realized there were no Ravioli, only filling for the Ravioli's. Without delay and using her passion and knowledge in the kitchen, she began rolling the ravioli filling into small balls, through flour and into a pot of boiling water. When they were done and rose to the top she douced them in sauce and served them with cheese. When she served them, the team loved them and cried out for more! Not knowing what to ask for,they inquired about the name of the delicios food they had just consumed. Mrs. Tamburelli at this point didn't have a name and so she called it what it really was, only in Italian - to put it politely Malfatti in Italian slang is “mistake”. 

"It's a Malfatti"

Today, Malfatti is made very similar. After the founding night of the Malfatti, the family realized they were on to something and decided to make the Malfatti a regular menu item, only a little different. Malfatti became a Vegeterian meal when served with Marinara. Meat is not used in the filling like it was on its "founding night" and the shape of the Malfatti went from round to cylindrical; like a small meatless sausage. If you're in for a vegetarian delight like no other, come in and ask or Malfatti with Marinara!

Now it's a Tradition!

Service Counter Open Tuesday thru Sunday 11am to 8pm
Special Orders available for Monday pick-up!

~ Our foods are prepared Hot or Cold for Takeout Only ~

Val's Liquors
1531 Third Street, Napa, CA 94559
707-224-2237
steve@valsliquors.com  
Store open Monday thru Saturday from 7am - 11pm
Sunday from 7am - 10pm