Behind Driver’s prepared foods department is a team of chefs delivering fresh, organic meals to our customers every day. We can thank our dedicated kitchen staff for the fantastic selection of holiday foods this season, and for the delicious offerings that fill our deli throughout the year. Lead by head chef Carlos Rodriguez, and supported by longtime team members Ada, Domingo and Vidal, the crew keeps a busy schedule that keeps our deli and cold cases stocked with convenient meals ready to-go every day of the week.
Dinner in 5-ish ingredients: an occasional series
This month, our go-to dinner plan is an easy chicken roast centered around bright cherry tomatoes, and plated on our house-made hummus. You can prep the ingredients quickly, pop it in the oven, and serve with your favorite wine and a baguette.
In the wine fridge: picnic-ready cans
Wondering what to pack in the drink cooler this weekend? Our wine selection includes an excellent range of ice-cold canned wines. From Italian spritzers, to local vintners, and a non-alcoholic option, we’ve got fantastic picks. See the convenient cans keeping our sparkling wines company this month. Best served chilled!
Breakfast to-go for busy mornings
The ‘September scaries’ are back with a mix of new schedules, after-school commitments, and packed weekends. Things can feel a little overwhelming as vacation ends, and school starts back up again. Find your balance with our breakfast menu, which you can order ahead and pick up either at the deli counter, or from our to-go window on Turney Street. Coffee and pastry, Bagel with the Works, or our popular Breakfast Burrito will help you start the day off well.
Daily bread: fresh artisan breads, baked locally
Discover our freshly baked breads, delivered straight from local bakers to Driver’s Market every day. Our selection includes crusty baguettes, wholesome whole grain loaves, and irresistible sweet pastries, all crafted with the finest ingredients. We carry breads from pioneering local bakeries Acme and Starter, unique artisanal breads from Petaluma’s Della Fattoria, and bagels from Boichik. We are proud to offer farmers market stars including select breads from Portside Bakery, and ryes from Anna’s Daughters. Treat yourself to baked goods that are hard to find elsewhere. Visit us today and experience truly excellent bread!
Sake essentials: Find your favorite
Drinking culture runs deep in Japan, and Sake is undoubtedly the country’s most iconic brew. Made from rice, Sake is classified by ingredients, production methods, and the degree of grain polishing. (The outer layer of rice isn’t great for brewing, so it’s polished away.) Here at the market, our Sake collection has expanded to include traditional Japanese bottles, California-based brews, and a stylish selection of cans and spritzers. This month, we’ve put together a guide to choosing and serving Sake, and an overview of our selection. Have fun exploring, and Kanpai!
In the cooler: Feel-good drinks
We carry a range of non-alcoholic drinks infused with ingredients thought to lift your spirits, support digestion, and improve cognitive function. While the benefits of functional drinks vary from person to person, there’s solid research behind ingredients like baobab, probiotics, adaptogenic mushrooms, and CBD. Take a look at our selection of functional beverages, and give them a try, hopefully they make you feel great. Let us know what you think!
Local books from Sausalito and Marin authors
One of the things we love about the Sausalito community is being surrounded by artists, craft people, and writers. In addition to cookbooks, we carry a selection of books by local authors and poets. Here are the local titles that we currently carry at the market.
Kid approved favorites from our Deli
The market is always full of little kids, and they are wonderful guests. Parents, grands, and caregivers come to Driver’s for fresh, organic meals for children – and for themselves. Some of our junior customers have rather sophisticated palettes and might order a Cuban panini or The Richmond sandwich. Others prefer the basics: Kids PB&J or Grilled Cheese on pain de mie, please! Our smoothies are loved by all ages, but Foggy Blues might be most popular with kids. Bagels are made to order with lots of options from Toasted with Butter to The Works! And, little guys tend to be quite passionate about our Soft Serve — either kid-size cup or cone, but definitely with Sprinkles! Our deli can prepare your child’s meal to enjoy in our dining area, or pack it for the playground.
Must love coffee: Local roasters you need to know
At Driver’s, we carefully source the coffee we carry, focusing on West Coast craft roasters. We stock classics like Coast Roast and Equator, as well as brands you won’t find at most grocery stores. Explore single-origin beans from Heart, and limited-edition blends from Ritual. Check out Sausalito’s own Big Baby, and roasts from St Frank cafe in San Francisco. Over in our deli, you can order a cup of Wrecking Ball’s Triple Double – locally roasted and freshly brewed. Read on to learn more about our selection of (mostly) local coffee.
Good Food Award finalists
Much of what we carry at Driver’s is made by small teams of artisans who are passionate about their craft. Our vendors work hard to make excellent food, and they work just as hard to get their goods on grocery store shelves. We love to see them win Good Food Awards, because they really deserve the recognition. We stock award winners here at Driver’s, many of them from the West Coast – look for the blue Good Food seal on our shelves! Read on to see a few of this year’s finalists.
Prepared Foods: Dinner is served!
Behind Driver’s prepared foods department is a talented staff creating fresh, organic meals for our customers every day. Lead by Chef Carlos and his team, our kitchen cuts no corners when it comes to sourcing 100% organic ingredients, and virtually all of our food is proudly made in-house. This means we prepare everything in the meals by hand, including meats, grains, produce, and all of our dressings and sauces. The team’s expertise spans various cuisines, ensuring a menu that is not only diverse, but also authentic and tasty. You’ll find a range of fresh dishes available throughout the week, from quiches and meatloaf in the deli case, to salads, wild-caught salmon dishes, and burritos in the cold case.
Discover local, women-owned brands
t’s Women’s History Month, and we’re shining a spotlight on female-led brands right here in the Bay Area. Women are the backbone of the food industry, from farm to table, yet they often go unrecognized in corporate leadership roles.
But here in the Bay Area, the landscape shifts. At Driver’s, we take pride in showcasing a diverse array of women-owned, fully independent brands. We carry so many that we can’t fit them all in one piece – so we make this an annual series.
Set the mood: Valentine’s Day gifts
Indulge your loved ones with a visit to the market, where delicious gifts await. Explore our holiday chocolates and confections, and pick up a bottle of sparkling wine, cider, or craft beer–each with bubbles to delight the senses. Handcrafted candles, ranging from spicy to calming, will add a warm glow to the festivities. Set the mood with a sensory haven, where every gift becomes a gesture of love.
The Sausalito/Marin City Little League 2024 season starts soon!
The Sausalito/Marin City Little League has been supporting the health and well-being of local youth through organized baseball since 1957. Participation in the 2023 season was particularly strong, and the league is growing this year. The Spring 2024 season will include teams for T-ball (5 year olds), Coach Pitch (6 & 7 year olds). Machine Pitch (7 & 8 year olds), and Minors (9 to 11 year olds). Read on for a note from league president Al Spector, and to learn more about signing up your player.
Fermented foods support a healthy gut
Growing research shows that eating fermented foods and probiotics are good for our gut health. While the science behind the microbiome is complex, eating well to support your body is relatively simple. The guidance is to increase prebiotic and probiotic foods in your diet, and to limit processed foods, sweeteners, caffeine, and alcohol. At the market, we carry a range of probiotic food and supplements to support you. We put together a quick guide to fermented foods that you can find in our fridges.
Skincare products for a winter glow-up
Winter weather can make skin feel dry and dull, so it may help to adjust your skincare routine to suit the season. Giving your skin a gentle scrub, switching to a richer moisturizer, and adding a nourishing body oil is often enough to feel brighter and hydrated. We carefully vet the skincare lines that we carry at the market for sustainability and quality. Each of our vendors expertly channels wellness, but their lines are distinct. The products on our shelves range from holistic to clinical, and all points in between. Take a look at our beauty picks, and find the right product for your skin this winter.
Holiday gift ideas
Holidays are cheerful here at the market, with every corner and shelf stocked with luxurious food and wellness items. This year, we put together gift bundle ideas for the foodies and wellness-lovers on your list. Pack your treats in our colorful Ghanaian baskets, bundled in beautiful wrapping paper from our home section. And don’t miss our selection of hand made holiday cards!
Celebrating alcohol-free remedies
Our supplement buyer Danya Mosgofian is an herbalist, and this year she is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her own line of remedies, the Sultry Gypsy Herb Co. A long time Driver’s employee, she has been stocking our wellness department for almost that long. Read more about what inspires Danya!
Peaceful table: our wine picks for holiday gatherings
Take a moment with our wine merchant Niesa as she reflects back on holidays past, and helps us create joyful new memories as we gather around the table. Niesa’s wine picks this year are designed to make your wine pairing easy by laying out a full wine menu–starting with bubbles, moving to whites, and finishing with reds–to carry you through a beautiful holiday meal. Savor the peaceful moment when we raise a glass to one another, and let the merrymaking begin!