24860 Tue Jul 08 19:03:33 -0700 2003 7 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 97994 I don't know how long this has been open, but if I'd realized what a great selection of cheeses they have I would have been there sooner. I had -- quite wrongly -- assumed they'd mostly be selling their cheese and those of other local producers. They do have a great selection of local cheeses, but they also have a very interesting selection of imported cheeses. They have some Neal's Yard cheeses and some cheeses labelled as being "Jean D'Alos" -- the French version of Neal's Yard, perhaps? I spotted at least one cheese that appeared to be Brie (or something similar) in a box labelled "lait cru" (raw milk). They have fresh cheeses (feta, cottage cheese, chevre and ricotta) available in bulk, an assortment of other dairy products (Straus milk and yogurt) and a smattering of other stuff (jams, honey, olives). Still on a truffle kick after this weekend (are truffles addictive?) I bought some Sottecenere -- a truffled Italian cheese. Yum! Then I went next door to Acme and bought some bread to go with my cheese and down the hall for some chocolates at both Scharffen Berger and Michael Recchuiti. Cheese, bread and chocolate -- really what more do I need? Link: http://www.projecttruffle.com/store/artisaninfo.cfm?artisan=4 Tue Jul 08 19:03:33 -0700 2003 0 Ruth Lafler 1 97997 Very, very addictive! We are still parcelling out bits of truffle-bilia schlepped back from Italy last fall (g). Thanks for the heads-up on Cowgirl. Tue Jul 08 19:22:42 -0700 2003 97994 0 Millicent 1 98001 They only opened last Saturday. Tue Jul 08 19:47:33 -0700 2003 97994 0 wally 1 98007 Wine. Tue Jul 08 20:30:22 -0700 2003 97994 0 Carrie 2 98014 Not during working hours! But the wine bar/shop looks like it will be opening soon. Tue Jul 08 20:53:42 -0700 2003 98007 0 Ruth Lafler 1 98032 Nice link for Jean D'Alos. Here's an old article by Patricia Unterman about the cheese and artisan cheese in general ... both the cheeses and the cheese shop at California and Filmore. When I originally read the article, it made me visit the shop the next day. She talks about watching the Jean D'Alos tomme de savoie being made, trying the fresh warm whey and saying it "tasted like the green-carpeted mountain in the morning sun". A little early, but Neal's Yard puts out a wonderful Stilton at Christmas. According to the article, Sue Connolly of the Cowboy Creamery finds the European cheese for Artisan Cheese. Sounds like the same line of cheese now at the Ferry Building. How is the sales staff at the Cowgirl Creamery shop? Artisan Cheese will give you the long story, if you are interested, about each cheese. Do they encourage sampling? Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/archive/2000/05/14/MAGAZINE1148.dtl&type=printable Wed Jul 09 00:49:12 -0700 2003 97994 0 Stanley Stephan 2 98046 It opened last Tues, actually so you did not miss much, you could get lots of the same at Artisan. I went Thursday and found the staff to be mostly new and unsophisticated but nice. However, I was lucky enough to be waited on by an owner (perhaps the buyer) I think. Or maybe she was lucky to wait on me because I bought way more cheese than I indended through talking and tasting with her. And this cheese is very expensive. I bought a Jean A'los blue that I had previously had at Artisan. It is creamy but still can slice. Very good to my taste. Also got an A'los cheese I have only seeen before at the Cheeseboard, it is firm sliced goat (not fresh) and it is packed with herbs and tiny fantastic little mini dried peppers. I really enjoy this. Also got the Brie de Meaux that was very ripe and fragile and tasted of truffles (according to the cheeser) and did to me but it also tasted of rot so I am a bit afraid of it. I'm more afraid now because I let it sit uneaten. Toss or does someone want it? And got an expensive Parm that seems quite good. I always have parm in the fridge. Wed Jul 09 03:54:43 -0700 2003 98032 0 Thea 3 98203 Both Artisan Cheese on California/Fillmore and the Cowgirl Creamery cheese shop at the Ferry Plaza's building are owned by the same great people. When the shop on California first opened a few years back, I remember being seriously concerned about the survivability of the tiny shop, delightful though it was. I am so happy to be proven wrong, and to see them doing so well. The shop at the Ferry building is amazing. I especially love those creme fraiche, fromage blanc, and fresh ricotta in large crocks to be spooned out to order. Just like in Europe. How fun! Now they only have to start carrying (or making) clotted cream and my world would be complete! Wed Jul 16 13:19:36 -0700 2003 98046 0 Pim