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mrs bacon Mar 23, 2011 05:33 PM

Cowgirl Creamery Drake cheese sighting

Bryan's in Laruel Village had the elusive SF Drake this afternoon.

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Cowgirl Creamery - Petaluma Facility
105 H St, Petaluma, CA 94952

  1. daveena Aug 1, 2011 06:23 AM

    They had it at the Cowgirl Creamery stand at the Oakland Grand Lake Farmer's Market on Saturday, about $16/ round (I guess there was more variance in size in this batch - they varied by a dollar or two, depending on weight). Found it had a slight, almost blue cheese tang. Interesting cheese, though I think I like a properly ripened Red Hawk more.

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    Cowgirl Creamery - Petaluma Facility
    105 H St, Petaluma, CA 94952

    3 Replies
    1. re: daveena
      m
      mdougherty Aug 27, 2011 11:39 AM

      They had a few rounds at Grand Lake again today.

      1. re: mdougherty
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        lrealml Aug 29, 2011 11:12 PM

        Got some at cowgirl in the ferry building on Sat. It is really great.

        1. re: lrealml
          r
          Ridge Sep 13, 2011 08:34 PM

          We got a wheel the previous weekend at the cheeseboard in Berkeley. We ate it on Sunday. First with a toasted baguette. Then we tried it on its own. WOW! This is definitely a cheese that is better to eat by itself. No bread, no crackers. It was so amazing! It has an intense concentrated cheese flavor that makes my taste buds smile.

    2. b
      bgbc Apr 27, 2011 10:49 AM

      FWIW, I asked at Lake Merritt FM stand last Saturday (4/23) and the woman there said it was done -- no more.

      3 Replies
      1. re: bgbc
        wolfe Apr 27, 2011 01:23 PM

        Until next time.

        1. re: wolfe
          r
          Ridge Apr 27, 2011 10:09 PM

          We got another wheel about a week ago and also some Red Hawk. It seems like the Drake is in-between their Mt. Tam and Red Hawk. It was interesting to eat side by side with the Red Hawk. The Red Hawk is creamier and has a more assertive funk. The Drake has an irresistible and very delicious intense buttery-cheesy flavor and silky texture. It’s a very well rounded and satisfying cheese.

          1. re: Ridge
            Robert Lauriston Apr 28, 2011 09:17 AM

            The Sir Francis Drake reportedly starts out the same way as the Mt. Tam but something different happens with the culture so they age it differently.

      2. l
        lrealml Apr 17, 2011 09:07 PM

        Bought half of one at Faletti today. It was expensive at $29.99/lb.... They had quite a few more.

        1. Caitlin McGrath Apr 8, 2011 06:59 PM

          Saw a couple this afternoon at the self-serve counter at Berkeley Bowl East, plus one half cut and wrapped in plastic (less than ideal), all priced at $28.99/lb.

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          Berkeley Bowl
          2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703

          1 Reply
          1. re: Caitlin McGrath
            b
            bgbc Apr 9, 2011 09:29 PM

            About 10 wholes at Whole Foods Berkeley yesterday. $29.99/lb. I bought the one half there.

          2. wolfe Apr 4, 2011 04:49 PM

            4/4/11 at 4:26 2 rounds of SFD at the Country Cheese on Hopkins, 1 felt very ripe one somewhat less.

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            Country Cheese
            1578 Hopkins St, Berkeley, CA

            1. j
              jmconcierge Apr 3, 2011 12:16 PM

              I picked a wheel up @ the ferry building yesterday at around 1000am, and the monger there told me they still have quite a bit available.

              I'm going to cut into it tonight. I've never had it before- any pairing suggestions from those who have?

              2 Replies
              1. re: jmconcierge
                wolfe Apr 3, 2011 12:50 PM

                I found a tasting note which could give a hint.
                "François Chidaine 2005 Montlouis Moëlleux (Late Harvest Chenin Blanc) paired with the Cowgirl Creamery's Sir Francis Drake"

                1. re: wolfe
                  j
                  jmconcierge Apr 3, 2011 01:04 PM

                  Beautiful! I'm off to BevMo...

                  Thanks!

              2. Melanie Wong Apr 3, 2011 12:34 AM

                Last Sunday this was one of the "sale" cheeses at Cowgirl's booth at the San Rafael civic center farmers market, marked down to $12 from $14. already sold out at the time I was there, but maybe there's more and it might reappear today.

                2 Replies
                1. re: Melanie Wong
                  a
                  alfairfax Apr 3, 2011 01:39 PM

                  Nope, none there today.

                  1. re: alfairfax
                    j
                    jmconcierge Apr 3, 2011 05:36 PM

                    Just came back from Rainbow, 4 1/2 wheels left there if anyone's interested...

                2. d
                  drinkmoretang Apr 2, 2011 07:39 PM

                  As of early afternoon today, only half rounds available at Cheeseboard.

                  I'm still amazed by how good this cheese is each time I'm fortunate enough to come across it.

                  1. b
                    bgbc Mar 29, 2011 08:35 PM

                    Rainbow has it too -- as of Tuesday midday. Wholes and halves. Not sure of the price...

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                    Rainbow Grocery
                    1745 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103

                    1 Reply
                    1. re: bgbc
                      m
                      mrs bacon Mar 30, 2011 09:26 AM

                      From what I understand, cheese will stop aging when cut, so make sure those halves are nice and ripe before buying.

                    2. p
                      Pandora Mar 27, 2011 04:35 PM

                      They had several rounds at Haight Street Market yesterday also. I was tempted, but didn't get any.

                      1. wolfe Mar 27, 2011 10:00 AM

                        Thanks mrs bacon. First check at the Cheeseboard and it wasn't there yet, next morning at 10 grabbed the first round. The price is still $23.75 a pound, what I paid last year, or about $13 a round.

                        1. r
                          Ridge Mar 27, 2011 09:48 AM

                          I love this cheese. It’s rarely available but we always keep a lookout or it. We found some at the Cheeseboard in Berkeley yesterday. When we sampled it our response was: WOW! Good cheeses vary from batch to batch and this particular batch tastes spectacular. We bought a round which we will enjoy tonight.

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