Restaurant Alpine's safest lunch place

Bustling is the keyword when lunching at The Deli in the heart of "downtown" Markleeville. Proprietor DeAnne Jang and her crew stage a smooth-running assembly line to serve Alpine County employees efficiently on their lunch hour. Add fishermen, tourists and other residents to that entree and a full menu of guests results.

Talking about a full menu; this tiny deli lists a choice of 51 (I counted twice) sandwiches, salads and soups. House specialties include a honey wheat berry sandwich filled with Black Forest ham, turkey, avocado, lettuce, tomato and onions and "soup of the moment."

Patrons remark that the food is both nutritious and delicious, but I also notice how safe the place is.

Why safe? On any given day, one can observe emergency-trained workers; employees from the Alpine County Sheriff's Department, Volunteer Firemen, Health and Human Services, EMS, plus U.S. Forest Service and BLM, who sit out on the deck under green umbrellas. If anyone were to choke on a pickle, a dozen or more saviors would be available to administer the Heimlich maneuver.

Undersheriff Rob Levy, Detective Spencer Case and Deputy Ron Michitarian comment that they appreciate the healthy homemade food and joke about the other reasons they like The Deli.

"It's close to our office, and it's a great hiding place for us behind these bushes, because we can catch speeders." Levy added, "Seriously, Warren and DeAnne are good folks. You can count on them to deliver when we have a search and rescue operation going, and we suddenly need lunches for 40 hungry people."

"We like running into locals and also meeting people just passing through town," chimed in Gail Day and Sherri Smith from the Alpine County Health and Human Services.

The Deli Co. was born 14 years ago, the brainchild of Warren and DeAnne Jang, and is a family venture. Children Rendee Perry and her husband Mike Perry help out, as well as UNR student-son Chad Wickenberg, who was calmly taking orders and money from the lineup the other day.

"No, we can't accept radios for payment," Wickenberg jokingly told a frazzled BLM firefighter who reached for his radio instead of his wallet, "We already have one."

Indeed, The Deli has a scanner, so they can follow emergency reports. The two kids grew up, so to speak, in the deli, and DeAnne's parents, Bob and Dee Rudden, own and manage the Markleeville General Store right next door.

Other employees are Leah Orndoff and Courtney Zaninovic, who switch roles from making sandwiches to being cashier, "Girl Friday" Michelle Macias and runner David Davilla.

DeAnne works in wintertime at the Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center, and Warren works full-time at the Reno Costco, but over the years, the two of them have repaired, painted, planted and polished the old house into a white and green streamlined deli.

The Deli Co. is open each year from the opening of stream fishing season (late April) to Halloween, and the hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

n Gina Gigli is a Markleeville resident. Reach her at ginagigli@villagigli.com

Alpine Events

• Indian Tacos will be served at the Alpine County Museum grounds in Markleeville, Saturday, Sept. 2, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Phone 530-694-2317.

• Woodfords Community Faire & Country Chili & Salsa Challenge, Old Pony Express Road, Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 16 & 17, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone 530-694-2930.

• Creek Day at Markleeville Community Park, Saturday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Phone 530-694-2327.

• Markleeville Artists Autumn Open Studios, Markleeville environs, Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 7 & 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone 530-694-2253.