Cowgirl Creamery. Observe cheese making in action through a glassed-in viewing area at the Cowgirl Creamery barn in Pt. Reyes Station, California, not far from Petaluma. Visit the cheese counter to taste a variety of great artisan cheeses. Explore the barn via a tour ($3.00 per person), which features a 25-minute presentation followed by a cheese tasting. In addition to cheese, Cowgirl Creamery stocks cheese books, cheese knives, cheese boards and special condiments. For more information, visit www.cowgirlcreamery.com.

McEvoy Ranch. mcevoyranch.com. If you like olive oil, you’ll love McEvoy Ranch, nestled on 550 acres in the rolling hills west of Petaluma in Northern California. Once a dairy farm, it is now an organic olive tree orchard. McEvoy Ranch’s award-winning extra virgin olive oil is created in the Tuscan style with its characteristically rich, slightly peppery flavor. Take the Public Orchard Tour, where you can visit one of the olive orchards and learn about the horticulture of growing olive trees along with McEvoy’s certified organic practices and harvest techniques. For more information, visit http://mcevoyranch.com/html/index.html.  [Top]

Della Fattoria. Della Fattoria has been baking incredible breads for such fine Sonoma County dining establishments as the French Laundry and La Toque for years. Recently, it opened up its own café in Petaluma, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu items include grilled sandwiches, soups and salads. For more information, visit www.dellafattoria.com/della.htm.

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company. A family-run business that began more than a century ago in the mountains of Italy, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company in Northern California is famous for their Point Reyes Original Blue™. Their secret recipe consists of three things. One, Grade A raw milk from a closed herd of Holstein cows that graze on the certified organic, green pastured hills overlooking Tomales Bay. Two, the coastal fog. And three, the salty Pacific breezes. Of course, time is of the utmost importance as well. Original Blue™ is made within hours of milking, and then ages for a minimum of six months. For more information, visit www.pointreyescheese.com.  [Top]

Artisan Bakers. Artisan Bakers opened its doors in Sonoma, California in July 1992 with the simple goal of maintaining the highest possible standard of quality. Every single bread item produced is baked from scratch daily using the finest ingredients available. In 2004, Artisan Bakers formed a partnership with Boudin Bakery, which, since 1849, has made world-famous San Francisco sourdough bread. For more information, visit www.artisanbakers.com.

Straus Family Creamery. Straus Family Creamery is the only California milk producer that runs both an organic dairy and an organic creamery. Cows are fed 100% organically grown feed and are never treated with growth hormones or antibiotics. No herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers are used on the fields. Plus, all of the products are certified kosher. Many of Straus’ products are used by California’s top restaurants, including Chez Panisse and The French Laundry. For more information, visit www.strausfamilycreamery.com.  [Top]