Early Girl meets Cheese

What does an obsessed queso-phile who works in the business of cheese do on their day off? They visit the company they work for's other cheese shop.

The day didn't start out with any plans to visit Cowgirl Creamery's Pt. Reyes Station cheese counter, but it all took a sudden turn while watering the garden that morning. I was drenching the tomatoes when I saw a plump, red globe hanging heavily from its vine. I cupped the ripe fruit and it effortlessly came off in my hand. Instantly my head flooded with visions of white - creamy, rich, milky, stretchy white. Burrata. The Italian gem (dumbfoundingly good, cream infused fresh mozzarella) is now being made stateside, and is great in any application mozzarella is (only much better, says I). While I was excited by my first of the season, fresh from the garden discovery, I was more excited by the cheese I would put with it.

Yes, I drove, on a whim, all the way to Pt. Reyes Station just for cheese.

 Looking across gorgeous Tomales Bay towards Inverness.

Don't mind the shoty photos - had to use a disposable because I left my camera at home. Thanks Fuji.

One of my favorite houses in Pt. Reyes.

Speeding the winding roads of West Marin in my pick-up, windows rolled down, hair still wet, and a Blue's mix on the stereo, I was on a food mission. When I first pulled into the quaint town that looks like the set of a Western film that hippies overtook, I headed straight to Toby's Feed Barn (where produce meets coffee meets yoga meets art studio meets animal feed) to down a double espresso. Fully caffeinated and the heady scent of horse manure filling my nose, I skipped the two blocks to Tomales Bay Foods, the renovated barn that houses Cowgirl's first cheese counter and cantina, and the original creamery (where Red Hawk is born daily).

Tomales Bay Foods

Again, WORST camera ever.

Red Hawk

After chatting the ears off a few employees, I realized I had become sidetracked. I looked around wildly but there was no burrata to be seen. "We're out", one of the mongers informed me. I suddenly sympathized with the disappointment and mild frustration I see in customers when we don't have what they're looking for. So I parted with a ball of fresh mozzarella from Belfiore Cheese Co., and to make up for the fact that I didn't get what I originally wanted, snagged a roast chicken from the cantina.

Back at home I sliced my one precious tomato, plucked some basil from the garden and moved the bird to a plate, then scooted outside to enjoy my mid-July picnic. The salad was simple and fresh, and the Cowgirl cantina makes some of the best eff-ing chicken I've ever had.

 Really, it looked yummier in person...

 

Back at home. Location for my picnic, Top Hat Cafe, i.e. my parents porch.

Even as the bees descended on me I smiled with pleasure at my meal, and had all but forgotten the burrata that started my adventure (or was it the tomato?..) Cheese will take you some interesting places.