Today The Man and I sadly left his sister’s place in Penngrove and headed east toward Sacramento and The 2014 American Cheese Society Conference: Celebrating the American Cheese Plate. More than 1,000 Cheese Lovers are converging on the Downtown Convention Center to praise that marvelous food loved worldwide: Cheese, Glorious Cheese.
The mural to the left is on a building wall across the street from The Epicurean Connection in Sonoma on W. Napa.
We made three cheese stops enroute beginning with The Costco in Rohnert Park. Holy smokes, they have a double aisle of cheese; world reknown cheeses, EU protected cheeses and great American Artisan Cheeses. This time I swooned. The selection was much more vast than any I’ve seen in the Pacific Northwest… hey, what’s up with that???
In addition to an amazing cheese selection, we also had a fun “Ahh” moment. As we were driving into the parking lot, a man was getting out of his convertible. He pulled out a golf-size umbrella, opened it and propped it up to provide shade for his dog… “Ahhh”…
After leaving Penngrove, The Man and I headed to Sonoma to make two stops; one at Sheana Davis’ wonderful cheese, wine and cafe, The Epicurean Connection. A musical trio, Kevin Russell and His So-Called Friends, were playing some easy jazz and several tables were occupied with couples and families enjoying the music. Sheana was not onsite, but expected later in the day. I admired her cheese case; so beautiful and filled with a carefully chosen cheese selection. The staff was friendly and obviously loving their jobs. Such wonderful vibes coming from every corner of the shop.
Just up the street in Sonoma is the Whole Foods. Recently, the good folks at Whole Foods sent me a gift card to purchase a wedge of their exclusive Royal Addition. A one-year cheddar made the day Prince George was born in 2013 and released on his one year birthday, July 23, 2014. They had read my review of their Royal Addition English Cheddar released on the date of Prince George’s birth and wanted me to enjoy the new English Cheddar. 
A review of the cheese will appear tomorrow, here on the blog. Let me add, I tried to buy this cheese at the Whole Foods in Petaluma and it was already sold out… when I was checking out of WF in Sonoma the cashier started praisong the cheese. She had sampled it and bought her own piece. She was almost swooning just like The Man has been known to do… Stay tuned…
Tomorrow, the twenty-six Kroger Scholrship Winners arrive and attend a final study session before sitting for the 2014 American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional exam. After passing the exam they will join the 253 of us who have already passed the exam in 2012 and 2013. Best wishes to all the Kroger Associates and the other 250 sitting for the exam.
I am so thankful to be sitting on this side of the exam…
FTC Full Disclosure – Whole Foods sent me samples, hoping I would review their product, with the understanding that there was no obligation on my part. For more information regarding our reviews of product, please visit our “About Me” page.
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