Point Reyes Weekend

You Mon Tsang November 3rd, 2011

After a big day of eating turkey and hanging out with the family, it’s time to flex your arms and legs and work off the second helping of stuffing! Head out to Point Reyes. Here are some great things to do:

• See if the fish are spawning; check for updates and tours at SPAWN (Salmon Protection And Watershed Network)
• Check out the terrific local artists at the semi-annnual Open Studios
• Maybe you can catch the very tail end of the Tule Elk Rut Season
• For bird watchers, it’s always worth a stroll to Abbotts Lagoon, where you may be able to find migrating birds.

• Art , Beach , Food
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You Mon Tsang November 20th, 2009

I’ve been wanting to write about my tour of the Cowgirl Creamery for a while now, but now I can refer you to William Wong‘s account of his tour over at sfgate.com. This was a pleasant surprise since Bill is both a great writer and friend.  Some quotes and link to full story below:

Cowgirl’s “tour” is actually a misnomer. It’s more like a seminar or tutorial about cheese-making followed by a tasting.

… Our “tour” lasted about 90 minutes — an informative talk by Michael Zilber, retail manager of Cowgirl, and a tasting of Cowgirl’s repertoire of cheeses: four fresh and four aged varieties. Man, were they delicious! Yes, we bought one variety to take home.

… if you have a Friday available, go to Pt. Reyes Station to take Cowgirl’s “tour” inside a restored barn, where you will learn about cheese-making, see it being made, try a hand yourself at part of the process, and taste some scrumptious cheeses, to boot.

Read Bill’s entire account of his trip…

• Cheese , Food
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You Mon Tsang April 4th, 2009

Point Reyes and the nice folks at the Cowgirl Creamery have made a cheese lover out of me (see a past post on the best grilled cheese sandwich ever).  So it was no surprise to see that two local cheeses on the SF Chronicle list of 10 iconic California cheeses. The two are the (1) Point Reyes Original Blue and (2) Red Hawk:

The only classic-style blue cheese made in California, Original Blue is produced by the Giacomini family with milk from their own cows. The four Giacomini daughters turned to cheesemaking nearly a decade ago as a way to preserve their West Marin farm. The rindless Original Blue has a dense, moist, creamy interior with threadlike blue veins; its flavor is robust, finishing with a buttermilk tang.

On the Red Hawk:

Made with cream-enriched organic cow’s milk from Marin County’s Straus Family Creamery, Red Hawk belongs to the category of smelly cheeses known as washed rinds… A ripe Red Hawk has the luscious texture characteristic of triple-cream cheeses and aromas of mushroom, earth and spice.

So we have these two great cheeses and we now have grilled cheese sandwiches on the mind, so Morry Anne over at Fare to Remember comes to the rescue. She adds a hot dipping sauce to make a beautiful looking Hot Wing(less) Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Way to go!

• Cheese , Food
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You Mon Tsang February 16th, 2009

Greg at this Life’s a Picnic took these photos on his recent trip to Point Reyes Station.  Made me hungry!

We like to sneak out there for a morning walk through the streets before the crowds arrive. If headed to the shore we secure provisions from an assortment of food shops with a wonderful selection of local delights.

• Food , Photos
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You Mon Tsang January 23rd, 2009

Recently, a new restaurant has popped up in Point Reyes Station. Osertia Stellina, which focuses on rustic Italian food made with local ingredients, sits in the center of town where Rosie’s Cowboy Cookhouse used to be. I have not yet tried it, but the reviews so far are very good.

From the MarinIJ:

I’ve never tasted a better cauliflower side than the one served alongside a perfectly seared halibut ($18). Roasted chunks of this sometimes bland crucifer were brilliantly combined with a creamy mashed potato and together the two resonated with flavor. On the same plate a sauteed tangy Russian kale added a lighter note that brought the entire plate together – it was perfect.

The food here was good enough for me to overcome the slight pretense and one server’s bad attitude. I’ll be going back. Osteria Stellina (named after the owner’s daughter) is an impressive addition to Point Reyes Station. Not surprisingly it remains true to the community’s strong commitment to keeping it local.

Some quotes from submissions on Yelp, the review site:

Rustic provincial Italian meets Marin’s sensible food practices.

My husband compared the food to Chez Panisse.

i have eaten here 3 times and the food and service are so perfect and amazing i had trouble believing someone could give it a bad review.

… organic, fresh, tasty, creative, and rustic. The service is warm, the menu interesting, and the food yummy.

One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.

Tasty food using local ingredients – that’s the best of West Marin.

UPDATE on 2009-02-06:The Point Reyes Light reviewed the Osteria Stellina as well and they had good things to say as well:

Just under four months old, Osteria Stellina is already bustling with Point Reyes Station locals and tourists anxious to try Christian Caiazzo’s cuisine… The key to Stellina is simply prepared food that lets flavors shine… The antipasti, or starters, are small plates that are perfect to share. Two of them have become very popular and we’ve had them twice at Stellina. The first, slow cooked octopus ($9), is a tomato-based stew infused with mint and chilies. The small tentacles melt in your mouth and you will most likely want to request another slice of Brickmaiden bread-baked a block away—to soak up the remaining sauce. The second, roasted Brussels sprouts with chestnuts and walnuts ($7), is another favorite. The sprouts are browned until their outer leaves become crisp while leaving the insides juicy and sweet.

Read the entire review from the Point Reyes Light…

UPDATE on 2009-03-18: Good thoughts continue to come in, this time from blogger Original Bliss; she says:

Dinner at Osteria Stellina Restaurant in Point Reyes Station was THE BEST MEAL Jeff and I have ever eaten. And WE know how to eat! Three orgasmic appetizers, a kisk-ass pizza, and the fresh, melt-in-your-mouth black cod dinner with a bottle of wine we brought with us … $84. It is worth the drive and an overnighter JUST to eat there!

UPDATE on 2009-05-11: The SF Chroncile weighs in with a great review:

This quiet West Marin town may be off the fine-dining radar, but Caiazzo’s [the chef] combinations have the same integrity and sensibility as what’s served at restaurants such as Chez Panisse and Zuni Cafe… Caiazzo calls his food “Point Reyes Italian” because of his unwavering commitment to local products… Osteria Stellina is a modest restaurant that evokes the spirit of West Marin. It’s a marvelous way to escape without giving up any big-city sophistication.

UPDATE on 2009-07-11: Stellina goes national with the New York Times:

A pizza ($15) followed: sea salt tomato sauce, broccoli spigariello and fresh mozzarella. The crust was crisp and tender, the greens pleasantly bitter; there were no leftovers… [For dessert, a] ruggedly inviting gingersnap Meyer lemon ice cream sandwich ($6), a sweet tooth’s waking dream.

Photo from the MarinIJ

• Food
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You Mon Tsang September 11th, 2008

At the Point Reyes Farmers Market, I’ve been too busy looking at produce and cheese to try out the grilled cheese sandwich vendor. Strange since I love grilled cheese sandwiches!

Luckily, the folks at Sunset gave it a try and declared the “best grilled cheese on the planet.”  Here’s what’s in it:

Two slices of locally-baked Brickmaiden wholewheat bread slathered with Straus sweet butter and pressed with Bravo Farm cheddar (available from Cowgirl Creamery), and, this is the best part, one Point Reyes Station egg, fried.

Next time I am at the market, you can be sure I will be on line.

UPDATE: Well, I tasted the three types: just cheese, with egg, and with caramelized onions. They were very decadent and delicious.

Read the whole article…

• Farmers Market , Food
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You Mon Tsang July 22nd, 2008

The Slow Food movement is defined:

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work, and that all people should have access to this good and clean food.

Given the agriculture and culinary experiences in West Marin, slow food proponents should love the Point Reyes area and indeed they do.  A huge Slow Food confab over Labor Day weekend will happen in San Francisco and two of the ten “slow journeys” will head to West Marin.

The Marin Creameries tour, which features cheese, oysters and wine (count me in!) is already sold out (oh no).  As of this writing, the Mysterious Bolinas tour, which features the wonderful and quirky farms of Bolinas still has some room.

• Food , Green , Slow Food , Sustainable
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You Mon Tsang June 21st, 2008

[Click for information on the latest on the Point Reyes Farmers Market]

Today was the first day of the 2008 season of the Point Reyes Farmers Market.  This market is the all local, all certified organic produce market.  If you passing through the area, definitely stop and pickup some produce for home and lunch for a beach picnic.  You will find many local farms and artisans represented as well as a nice mix of local flavor and international visitors.

The 2008 Point Reyes Farmers Market takes place every Saturday (June 21 – November 1, 2008) from 9AM to 1PM (rain or shine).

Location: Toby’s Feed Barn, 11315 Highway One, Point Reyes Station, CA.  Click for a map with a photo of Toby’s.

Here is the calendar of the Point Reyes Farmers Market’s events for 2008.

• Farmers Market , Food , Summer
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You Mon Tsang August 18th, 2007

Many people have been anticipating the opening of Nick’s Cove. After all, it is the creation of Pat Kuleto, who also created several San Francisco classics, including Boulevard, Farallon and Jardiniere. In addition, the void left behind by Manka’s needed to be filled. The restaurant has been open about 5 weeks when I had lunch there recently.

I was a surprised by how casual it was. From the road, it did not stand out as anything special. Even the interior looked pretty ordinary at first glance. But I started to see, all around, many interesting, funny and thoughtful touches, such as a gorgeous open kitchen, stuffed animals of all types on the walls, a set of vintage condom packaging in the men’s room (no joke) and a beautiful family elevated table.

The food was mixed for my wife and me. We felt our soups were tasty but thin. Mary enjoyed her salmon very much but my hanger steak started to battle me with its toughness as I worked through it. Our sundae was tasty but nothing special. I should say this: I expected a meal that was special and exceptional. It was closer to very good.

Furthermore, the service was spotty (uncoordinated and unsure) and the music was a real distraction (80s pop-rock, including Bon Jovi, Brian Adams and Madonna).

But in the end, we had a pleasant lunch in the place with stunning views that will surely grow to be (if not already) a destination spot in West Marin. I wish Nick’s Cove the best of luck.

P.S. The cottages at Nick’s Cove are as cute as can be. They’ll run you a pretty penny ($350-$650 as of this writing) but staying on the water and looking at the Point Reyes Peninsula is truly special.

P.S.S. Check out other people’s reviews as well:

• “Nick Has It All,” from The Press Democrat
• Reviews posted on Zagat’s
• Reviews posted on Yelp

Sep 09 2007 update: The San Francisco Chronicle reviews the restaurant and the cottages. The reviews are very positive.
Sep 10 2007 update:The Gourmet blog has a short and positive writeup.

Notes:
Location: 23240 Highway 1, Marshall, CA 94940 (click for map)
Web Site: http://www.nickscove.com (which includes a dinner menu)
Reservations

• Food
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You Mon Tsang July 25th, 2007

The San Mateo County Times has outlined a very nice eating trip from Point Reyes Station to the town of Tomales. It heads up Highway 1 on the east side of Tomales Bay. It hits many of the fun and tasty spots along the way, including:

• Saturday Farmer’s Market at Toby’s Feed Barn
• Tomales Bay Foods
• Bovine Bakery
• Tomales Bay Oyster Company
• Marshall Store
• Hog Island Oyster Company
• Tomales Bakery

Notes:
Great Tastes
Local Food
Tour

• Food , Tour
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