My husband and I were on an adventure through the Russian River Area. We discovered An alluring river, hikes, kayaking, artists ( the entire area is an art colony) redwoods, a kind community, and great food experiences!
We love food! We stumbled on the Bohemian Market one afternoon as we explored Occidental. We were heading to the coast for a beach picnic. It is amazing you can go from a beautiful river and redwoods, to dramatic ocean vistas in 20 minutes! Haha, we took longer. We got captivated by the town of Occidental. It is an artist collective. Art, captivating shops featuring local artists, clothes, and a stop for sandwiches at the Bohemian Market!!! The place is a gem!
Marcus, AKA, The DeliLama, is a food artist, tucked away in the back. He can cook!! We came in for a sandwich and came away with his (should be famous) chili, and chicken soup, and a sandwich that was as loaded, as it was flavorful. I saw in one review that a person lamented about the amount of peppers on the sandwich, you can ask for them on the side. They are delicious. They use three kinds! Marcus is a sandwich and food craftsman. We got roast beef and cheddar, after much debate. And went with "everything". We don't usually. But we wanted the full Marcus creation, after speaking with him. So glad we did. Marcus knows his way around the deli!
Meat and deli selections prices are lower than our big markets near us, and looked good.
Yes, you might wait a short time, but that's because Marcus and his team are building those sandwiches custom. Engage about the soups, brisket, salads, whatever catches your eye. The chili and brisket have a story. The chicken soup has heart. The salads are made with local ingredients and Marcus knows every ingredient in each, like a walking cookbook. I am sure the team he has back there are just as wonderful, he is the captain.
Eric, in produce, was awesome too. He is very knowledgeable about the selection there. We walked away with fruit, veggies, and greens, for later. I really appreciated his gentle sharing about freshness, origin, and flavor.
If you come in, hopefully Gabe will be upfront! He is inviting, warm, and fun to talk to about the area. You can't miss him. Darling, tall, and smiling, and knows the market and ins and outs of the area.
Oh, I can't leave this out! We picked up a pound of Marcus' brisket. It, like the chili, is a multi day recipe. We bought it early because it runs out. We paid and he stored in their fridge for our way back, sauce in the side. When we did pick it up, he was still working, and he packed it our cooler for us! He treats food with care. DeliLama!! It is flavorful, tender, and lean. It takes a real chef to render it that good!
We are already planning our next trip back. We will call ahead to see what's on the stove. And see what's on the sandwich board!!! Haha. Do yourself a favor, and do the same.
I included pictures. We didn't get pictures of the meal. It was eaten too quick, but these should give you the gist of the experience. read more