Bay Area Cheese Dealer?

[IrishCream]

Can anyone recommend a great (or good or decent) cheese seller in the Bay Area? I am looking for one who imports genuine European cheeses and sells them when they are ripe (or about to be) or at least in healthy condition. I actually live in the East Bay but don't mind at all going into the City to make purchases. I have tried going to the Cheese Board in Berkeley twice (once on a Sunday and once on a Monday), and it has been closed! It looked pretty murky through the windows. I just moved here and I know I need to find a cheese specialist, but I must say that I am shocked by the lack of quality and diversity in the cheese selection in chain grocery stores (except perhaps Andronico's which seems grossly overpriced). My local "HEB" in Houston stocked things like Vella Jack...my local "Safeway" here does not. Clearly, I need help!

[Mrs. Meadow]

Irish Cream-have you tried the Pasta Shop? 2 locations; Market Hall by the Rockridge BART station in Oakland, and 4th street in Berkeley. Nice selection of British, French, and Italian cheese and knowledgable staff, but I find the prices are high and the variety somewhat lacking.

When I'm looking for spectacular cheese, I go straight to the Cheeseboard-I urge you to try again! Huge variety, reasonable prices and my God, they know their cheese. Cheeseboard also bakes some spectacular breads; be sure to pick some up while there.

Artisnal Cheese (part of Tomales Bay Foods)on California in SF has a small, lovely range of cheese; Neal's Yard and Cowgirl Creamery mainly.

Hope this helps...

[IrishCream]

Thanks, Mrs. Meadow...you have been helpful to me on several topics! But is Cheeseboard, which is never open when I want cheese (or when I have the time to get there), the best?

[gknl]

Have you been to Whole Foods yet? There's one at Ashby and Telegraph in Berkeley. Always crowded with miserably obnoxious people, but they might have what you want. I doubt if it will be any cheaper than Andronico's though. I would rather go to the Market Hall or The Cheeseboard, but you never know until you try, right?

[Mrs. Meadow]

You mean Whole Paycheck?!

For pre-cut, pre-wrapped cheese, yea, I've been known to darken their door in a crisis (WF being close to Alta Bates, I've picked up some nice runny piece for friends who have just had babies and haven't eaten decent cheese in 40 weeks).

But I always go back to the Cheeseboard; widest selection, best value for money, passionately knowledgable staff. I learn something new with each visit, as each employee has their own opionions about what best suits my needs at the moment.

For example, I may ask for a blue cheese to serve with pears. The friendly (or grumpy, it varies) counter person will bring over Bleu D'Auvergne, Stilton, gorgonzola, as well as one or two others I've never heard of. We taste them together and I choose whatever tastes best at the moment.

Hours are 10-6 Tuesday-Saturday. (unless of course they're closed to march in a peace rally or celebrate Indigenous Plant Life of North America Day).

[Stone]

There's a gourmet shop in the city at Polk and Pacific with a decent amount of cheeses -- although I'm not qualified to comment on freshness or selection. There's an old Italian market in the Mission (Valencia and 22?) with a good selection of cheese, fresh pasta, etc.

You'll find that "diversity" in San Francisco means something different than it does in NY.