Rtake of a pastoral paradise Marin French Cheese
n created his classic Pefast cheese to feed San ’s booming population of ers following the Gold ce then, the company ded its repertoire to contemporary palates, rie-style cheeses made tard seeds, jalapeños or French truffles. arin’s terroir and foggy mornings, cool ezes and warm afterhelp give those cheeses ature flavors, and climakes this an especially picnic spot any time of especially in the spring, nd early autumn. sitors gravitate to the ere ducks and geese s paddle. Picnickers ankets on its grassy aded by trees. There tables and Adirondack d, behind the cheese e picnic areas, including wn where children can lay.
The picnic: The shop offers pretty much everything you might need for a picnic, from local wines and ciders to 4-ounce wheels of cheese, salads and toasted ham, turkey or vegetable sandwiches that feature the company’s signature triple creme Brie or Petite Mustard Brie. Small glass jars of chocolate and snickerdoodle pots de creme made by Sonoma’s St. Benoit Creamery are perfect for dessert.
The details: The cheese shop and picnic grounds are typically open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the summer and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter at 7510 Point ReyesPetaluma Road in Petaluma; https:// marinfrenchcheese.com. Dogs on leash are welcome on the picnic grounds.
Extras: Check the creamery’s Facebook page — www.facebook.com/marinfrenchcheesecompany —for recipes, pairing ideas and details about tasting events with local chocolate makers, bakers and other producers. Consider making a day of it with stops at other Marin or Sonoma County cheese makers along the California Cheese Trail; https:// cheesetrail.org.