Local Cheese

[Krista Harris / Edible Santa Barbara]

Let's talk about cheese. First the bad news: there are no commercial
cheese producers in Santa Barbara County. So, if you really want to go
local, you can make your own (or find a friend who makes great
cheese). But if you need to find a commercially available source,
there are actually some good options in our region and in the rest of
California:

Rinconada Dairy (http://www.rinconadadairy.com) is located about 100
miles away in Santa Margarita. Their La Panza Gold is an excellent
sheep's milk cheese, very buttery and flavorful.

Central Coast Creamery (http://www.centralcoastcreamery.com) is
located about 120 miles away in Paso Robles. They have a semi-hard
goat gouda and a semi-soft blended goat and cow milk cheese.

Winchester Cheese Company (http://www.winchestercheese.com) is located
about 179 miles away in Winchester. I have not tasted their cheese,
but you can tour their dairy farm and watch their cheese being made,
which I think would be interesting. They produce a number of different
types of gouda cheeses.

Spring Hill Cheese (http://www.springhillcheese.com) sells at several
of our local farmers markets. They are located in Sonoma County, about
360 miles away. They have a number of cheeses - Jack, cheddar, quark -
and they also have a delicious cultured butter.

Cowgirl Creamery (http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com) is located in Pt.
Reyes Station, about 360 miles away. Their cheeses are available
locally at a number of stores. Mt Tam and Red Hawk are a couple of
their extremely popular cheeses. They also make an excellent creme
fraiche.

Kendall Farms (http://www.kendallfarmscremefraiche.com) located in
Atascadero, only about 100 miles away, also makes a delicious creme
fraiche.

There are other California cheeses worth seeking out. Check out the
California Artisan Cheese Guild at http://www.cacheeseguild.org. And
here's an extract from a list that I got from C'est Cheese (http://
www.cestcheese.com). If you are looking for a specific cheese, I
recommend asking C'est Cheese - they can definitely help.

By no means a comprehensive list and in no particular order:

Caseificio Mozzarella and Burrata
Made by Caseificio in Los Angeles, CA, this fresh mozzarella is great
with fresh tomatoes, basil and olive oil; with roasted veggies; or on
pizza.

San Joaquin Gold - http://www.fiscalinifarms.com/
Made by Fiscalini Farms in central California, this semi-hard cow’s
milk cheese has a natural rind and a mild buttery taste. It is made in
the style of a Fontina, but with more salt and a firmer texture. Its
flavor is nuttier and more savory than Fontina.

Laura Chenel Fresh Chevre - http://www.laurachenel.com/
Handcrafted in Sonoma, this is the cheese that many refer to simply as
“goat cheese”. It has a clean, fresh, crisp taste with the classic
chevre smoothness. Delicious at any time of day.

Point Reyes Blue - http://pointreyescheese.com/
This tangy, fresh blue cheese made from cow’s milk in Northern
California, is a perfect salad blue. Try it with a classic fresh pear
and walnut salad and you won’t be disappointed.

Midnight Moon - http://www.cypressgrovechevre.com/
A semi-firm aged goat cheese from northern California, this cheese is
always a hit with goat cheese lovers! A smooth creaminess blended with
an herby tartness make this cheese a favorite.

Humboldt Fog - http://www.cypressgrovechevre.com/
Also from Cypress Grove, this is C'est Cheese's best selling goat’s
milk cheese, it is soft, creamy and savory. It is covered in vegetable
ash, which is also what runs through the center. A delicious cheese
made in Northern California that is not too strong nor too mild with a
unique clean finish.

Vella Dry Jack - http://www.vellacheese.com/
A true American original from Sonoma. Vella's classic hard cheese is
perfect for grating or just nibbling. With a deep, sharp, nutty
flavor, this aged cow’s milk cheese is rubbed with pepper and cocoa
before aging, giving it a unique color and excellent flavor.

Fresh Ricotta from Bellweather Farms - http://www.bellwetherfarms.com
Fresh Italian-style ricotta is delicious in lasagna or the classic
Italian cheesecake. It can also be spread easily on toast and drizzled
with honey for a delicious breakfast. Made with sheep's milk by
Bellweather Farms in Sonoma.

enjoy,
-Krista