This California Cheese Shop Is The Oldest In America
By Kristin Conard
VACATIONS
To explore the U.S.'s oldest cheese shop, visit Marin French Cheese Co. It is just about an hour's drive from San Francisco in the scenic hills of Marin County.
Artisan cheese has been made here since 1865, and you can visit the factory store to sample its soft cheeses, buy some of your own, or enjoy a picnic next to a pond.
The company's founder, Jefferson Thompson, a dairy farmer from Illinois, made the trek out west and bought a 700-acre ranch, where he started producing butter and cheese.
In response to an egg shortage, Thompson came up with what is now called the Petite Breakfast Brie to sell as an egg alternative for San Franciscan's morning meal.
The company gets its milk fresh from local dairy farmers. Its French-style Brie and Camembert cheeses are aged on-site, and natural cultures give them unique flavors.
Marin French Cheese Co. has since expanded its award-winning lineup to include a rich triple créme Brie, seasonal cheeses, and jalapeño, garlic and pepper, and truffle Bries.