By Anita Garner
Everyone’s posting on social media about what they miss during quarantine, what they’re looking forward to when we’re allowed to mingle. Some people say poetic things about giving and getting hugs and being out in nature. For me, it’s deli.
My friend, Karin Moss, and I are both deli lovers. We share conversations about meals at our favorite delis from years in the entertainment industry in L.A. I don’t think it’s coincidence that I lived around the corner from Jerry’s Famous Deli in Studio City and a quick walk away from Art’s.
Now we’re both in Northern California eagerly awaiting the opening of a new deli in Sonoma County. Full name: Grossman’s Noshery & Bar. We had lunch all planned but before we could catch even a whiff of a bagel, quarantine postponed our chat ‘n chew date.
Grossman’s is ready. You can see them in there cooking up tantalizing stuff for pickup, but we’re not allowed inside yet. They occupy a corner of the historic Hotel La Rose building in Santa Rosa across the street from Railroad Square where Peanuts statues stand, paying tribute to local genius Charles Schulz and watching over all that goodness.
Snoopy and Charlie Brown watch the building across the street
because that’s where the deli is.
Woodstock and Lucy probably dream of soup
When we’re free to roam, here’s how I see this going: Bagels to start, then properly fortified, a swing through the Russian River redwoods to catch up at Howard Station Cafe in Occidental. Overnight on the coast and back through the woods in time for a tall corned beef on rye at Grossman’s. Maybe a little something to take home. A perfect Sonoma County weekend.
Howard’s, Occidental, CA
Bonus view of side street next to Howard’s.
Until this can happen, we chat about whatever subject is at hand and one of us signs off with some version of “Can’t wait for our nosh at Grossman’s.”
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