THERE is a God. How do I know? Because he's answered my prayer and sent two gastronomic guardian angels down the Evening Press's way.

Step forward Paolo Silesu and Antonello Moi, heroes of the lunch hour, who have opened a lip-smacking Italian deli and take-away just a newspaper-throw-away from the Press's office in Walmgate.

Il Paradiso del Cibo (translation: Food Paradise) has resigned the humble tuna sandwich and jacket with beans 'n' cheese to the bin with a munch-time menu featuring Italian panini sandwiches, home-made pastas and soups, pizza slices and salads.

Sandwich fillings include gorgonzola, grilled aubergine and salami; pork sausage, roast potatoes and onions; cheese, mushrooms and Italian ham with pistachio nuts. All the ingredients are fine and fresh; the cheeses and hams lovingly hand-carved by Paolo at the deli counter.

Home-made puddings including tirimasu and a range of Italian coffees are also sold and daily specials are available. Prices start at £1.75.

Paolo and Antonello, both from Sardinia, have quite a culinary CV: Paolo has worked as a manager at eight restaurants in York including Rish, the Blue Bicycle and Silvanos, while Antonello was the chef at Villa Italia in Micklegate. The deli is their first business venture.

Paolo said: "Our food is plain, basic but tasty. Back home, we all learn about food from our mothers. Everybody cooks and it's more of a pleasure than a necessity."

Response so far has been "fantastic". They've even had fan mail. Paolo said: "One person wrote: 'Thanks for bringing culture to this street'."

The deli's slogan is Heavenly Tasty. See, I told you God's hand was at work.

Updated: 12:55 Saturday, November 15, 2003