Ricki at the 8th Annual Sonoma Valley Cheese Conference

Ricki holding Cobb Hill Cheese (Hartland, VT) at the Cowgirl Creamery

A great experience for our well-travelled Cheese Queen!

Ricki came back from this year's Sonoma Valley Cheese Conference in Sonoma, CA (February 27-March 1) with lots of stories about the fabulous people she met, the workshops she attended and the field trips she took.

She gave talks, got interviewed, did demos and participated in all kinds of wonderful events.  After the conference and a trip to The Cheese School in San Francisco, she and Jamie (the King of her heart) drove up the coast to bask in the sun for a few days before returning to New England.


Before the conference:

Ricki and Jamie took a short drive up Route 1 to the Tomales Bay Foods location of the Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station.

Ricki with Sue Conley,  founder and owner (with Peggy Smith)

Washing Red Hawk at the Cowgirl Creamery

Red Hawk aging

The counter.

Cheese display.

Are you hungry yet?

Red Hawk is their triple-cream, washed rind cheese which won Best-In-Show at the American Cheese Society's Annual Conference in 2003 and a Gold Ribbon and 2nd Best-in-Show in 2009

A Few Highlights of the Conference:
(The complete agenda is still available at Sheana's website- The Epicurean Connection)

February 27th-  Home Cheesemaking Demonstrations with Ricki Carroll “The Cheese Queen” 1:30 and 3:00

Ricki demonstrating Ricotta

Field trip to Vella Cheese (aka Ig Vella's place)

Ricki and Sheana in the aging room at Vella Cheese

Irregulars waiting to be shredded

February 28th- 9 am:  Opening speakers- Ricki Carroll and Sheana Davis

11:15am:  Conversation with Ricki Carroll, “The Cheese Queen”,  and author of “Home Cheesemaking,” interviewed by author Clark Wolf

Clark Wolf and Ricki

4:15pm:  “How to turn your Passion into a rewarding lifestyle” Janet Fletcher, author, in conversation with Ricki Carroll, New England Cheese Making Supply and Ari Weinzweig, Zingermans Family of Businesses  

Ari Weinzweig, Ricki Carroll, Gianaclis Caldwell

Wednesday, March 2:  Ricki and Jamie attended the ZingTrain Session with Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman’s.

Zingtrain Sonoma 2011;  Back row: Ari Weinzweig, Jamie Eckley, Jan Mc Clelland, Al Baylacq

Front row: Cindy Daniel, Lynn Stray, Sheana Davis, Doralice  Handel, Daphne Zepos, Alexis Wright & Joy Biergiel

After the conference demos:

Ricki and Jamie went to the Cheese School in San Francisco where they did demos of mozzarella and ricotta.

Ricki with Sara and Flora at The Cheese School

Post-conference vacation, driving up the coast:

OK, we get it- you had fun!!

Next year:

It's 2012, in the dead of winter, when your cows and goats and sheep are nestled in their stalls.  Why not treat yourself to this unique annual cheese making event, located in the warmth of Sonoma, California?  As you can see, it is the perfect time to meet with and learn from some of the best cheese makers in the country.