I love Tahoe House Bakery and Gourmet Store so much I switched my dentist to Kristen Morgan. Her office is in walking distance of their front door, and she serves Tahoe House pastries in her waiting room. That setup, of course, does not stop me from hitting this bakery, deli and gourmet store after my appointment. These guys always get me coming and going. I walk into Tahoe House for some homemade English muffins and end up taking home a basket full of their marinades, salad dressings, chutneys, jams and irresistible desserts (do not leave without their Sacher Torte, a moist chocolate cake with a thin layer of raspberry through the center, chocolate ganache poured over the top and served with raspberry sauce).

For more than three decades, this Tahoe landmark has been taking baked goods and deli items to a whole new level. In the sandwich category I have three go-tos. Which one I order depends on if I am dining in at their sunny outdoor tables or taking my lunch rafting or to the dock. The homemade meatloaf (roasted red pepper aioli, lettuce, tomato and onion) and grilled vegetable (pesto aioli, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, red onions, lettuce and tomato) are perfect to enjoy chez Tahoe House after the lake, while the black forest ham (delicious cornichon pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayonnaise) travels anywhere as long as you refrain from eating it en route. All sandwiches are made with your choice of Tahoe House fabulous European-style baked bread (their motto: “We loaf, while you sleep”) and come in halves or as soup/salad combos.

Their gourmet shop, located just off the deli/bakery area, is packed with imported cheeses, condiments, candy, crackers and even escargot (I finally found my snails here. We can all sleep better.). There are also premade dinners in their “Gourmet-to-Go” cold case, my favorite entrees being the chili relleno casserole, the chicken lasagna and the homemade chicken pot pies, which, contrary to popular belief, are not just cold-weather fare. In fact, they are excellent served with a Tahoe House spinach salad. I am also a fan of the smoked trout, but you should call ahead of time to make sure they are not sold out (devastating).

Owned and operated by the Vogt family since 1977, Tahoe House Bakery and Gourmet Store have remained a Tahoe staple for a reason. Besides the winning menu and grocery, cheerful ambiance and perfect coffee, the staff here is friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. You feel like you have been invited into the Vogt’s kitchen – which you kind of have. And like all good hosts, they want to make sure their guests have had a good time. Tahoe House is open seven days a week. Summer hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fall through spring it’s open Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They’re closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.