Central Valley - Loop #1
2 Locations | 46 Miles
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If you happen to be stopping at Mercey Hot Springs in the center of California (something we’d all like to do, right?) and are looking for a cheese adventure, stop by Claravale Farm, home of cows and goats and milk in glass bottles and small batches of cheese. They’re open Mon-Sat, 10-6. Then, head north and through the Great Valley Grasslands State Park into farm country to stop at the remote Peluso Cheese, home of the much sought after Teleme cheese, a rice-coated cheese perfect for polenta. The cheese, made on site, is available for sale in the front office refrigerator. Make sure to call ahead to guarantee they’re open.
Open Directions in Google Maps01Claravale Farm
Claravale Farm is a small Jersey cow and goat dairy best known for producing raw milk in glass bottles. In addition they make a limited amount of raw milk, natural rind, bacterial rennet, Gouda style farmstead cheese. It's only available at Farmers Markets in Mountain View (Sunday 8:30 am -1:00 pm) or Saratoga (Saturday 8:30 am - 1:00 pm)or directly from the dairy. Available cut or as whole wheels (4-6 lbs). Whole wheels can be shipped (call for details). Wheels need to be ordered in advance (831-628-3219).
02Peluso Cheese
Started by Giovanni Peluso in 1919 in Los Banos, California, Peluso Cheese has an array of cheeses. Their Tomales Bay Teleme - an original style that gets creamier with time, its rind dusted with rice flour - is made from a recipe purchased from the original creator of this much-loved cheese. Also made on-site are fresh Mexican and Central American cheeses. Their full array of cheeses include Tomales Bay Teleme Cheese, Mexican cheeses: Cotija, Queso Fresco, Panela, Doble Crema, Requeson, and Central American cheeses: Queso Freir and Chontaleño. Their Teleme cheese is currently only available by stopping by or calling to request shipment. Soon, their website will allow online ordering.
