Eating cheese in Petaluma

By Rachel Levin, Sunset senior editor

Calling all hard (and soft) core cheese fans, the California Artisan Cheese Festival is this weekend--so pop your lactose pill and head on up to Petaluma where our favorite cheese whizzes from around the state have gathered for four days of presentations, pairings, lunches, and gala dinners. Okay, I know, why didn’t we post this earlier as most of the events are already SOLD OUT. Cheese and wine pairing with Quince chef Michael Tusk? Sold out. Learning to navigate your way around a cheese counter with Laura Werlin? Sorry. Best of blue cheese and beer? I know, I’m pissed, too.

Still, you can visit the festival web site to see what is still open to the public--like cheesemaking demos and tastings at the Artisan Cheese Marketplace and talks on cheese trends by legends Sue Conley and Peggy Smith of Cowgirl Creamery.

Cowgirl Creamery's Mt. Tam (yum)

Or, skip the crowds and plan your own cheese course. Many of the all-stars from the festival offer tours, classes, and tastings throughout the year, too:

Cheese School of San Francisco Tons of classes ongoing. One fun one upcoming: Cooking for cheese lovers ($95)

Cooking School at Cavallo Point in Sausalito, Cheese Tasting Intensive, April 9 ($75)

Cowgirl Creamery Thursday 11:30 a.m. tours ($30) at their new Petaluma Creamery, Friday 11 a.m. tours ($3) in Pt Reyes