The Cheese Blog
Chèvre, Coconut & Guava Sandwich Cookies from Shortstack Chevre
If you've ever searched for a killer goat cheese recipe online- say you've already made that chèvre and arugula salad and are aching to put the extra six ounces of the log to tasty use, you'll likely have noticed most chèvre recipes are savory. That is to say, not sweet. Beet and goat cheese salad. Chèvre and quinoa bowls, you get the picutre. Which might lead one to believe that that's all chèvre is good for.
Not true.
While I would never turn down a goat cheese tart, my hands-down favorite way to enjoy chèvre (fresh goat's cheese/goat's milk fromage blanc) is sugared up.
When sweetened with sugar, dark chocolate, fruit, or honey, chèvre transforms whatever dish into which its incorporated into a bright, luscious, sunny dish. Its lemony notes help lift sweet and rich creamy desserts to lighter places, bring out layered notes in chocolate, and add a subtle creme fraiche or buttermilk flavor to baked goods.
So I'm very happy to share with you Tia Keenan's Chèvre, Coconut & Guava Paste Sandwich Cookies from her latest cheese book- Chevre- a slim yet dense Shortstack book.
Now my friend Tia is skilled (she opened Caselulla and Murray's Cheese Bar in NYC), so it's not the only recipe I'm batting my eyelashes at, but it was the first one to scream "make me now," or to put it more accurately, "eat me first." When Tia describes the recipe in the intro and says the chèvre gives the cookies a buttermilk biscuit flavor rather than a chèvre flavor, she's spot on. I might even try them with an extra thin layer of chevre spread over the guava if I was serving them to a fierce goat cheese crowd, but they're charmers as is. I served them at a Memorial Day party, and they off the cookie plate fast. And I brought my friend and her husband two for a treat and my friend ate them both. I did not tell her husband.
Thanks for sharing these Tia! The recipe follows. Buy the book here for more chèvre love.
Chèvre, Coconut & Guava Paste Sandwich Cookie Recipe
These hearty, biscuity sandwich cookies are best with a big ol’ mug of milky tea or coffee. The chèvre lends a buttermilk biscuit twang to the cookie, which is a nice contrast to the sweet filling made from guava paste. Guava paste is the working-class cousin of cheese-plate-stalwart quince paste—and a more affordable and readily available fruit paste for pairing with cheese.
3 1⁄2 cups cake flour, plus more for rolling out the dough 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar 1⁄2 cup packed light brown sugar 2 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 11⁄2 teaspoons kosher salt 4 ounces (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes 6 ounces chèvre, crumbled 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 1 egg 1⁄2 cup heavy cream 2 teaspoons demerara sugar 16 ounces guava paste (such as Goya brand; available at super- markets), cut into 2-inch cubes
Preheat the oven to 425° and place racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a food processor, combine the flour, granulated and brown sugars, baking powder, baking soda and salt and pulse to combine. Add the butter, chèvre and coconut and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and cream; set 3 table- spoons aside in another bowl. Add the remaining egg mixture to the flour mixture and pulse until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently to bring it together. Roll the dough flat to a 1⁄4 inch thickness and cut out rounds with a 21⁄2-inch cookie cutter or rim of a drinking glass. Place the cookies 1⁄2 an inch apart on the baking sheets, 16 cookies per sheet (you’ll have less than that for the last sheet and will need to bake in 2 rounds for 4 sheets total).
Brush the cookies with the reserved egg mixture and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Bake for 10 minutes, rotating the sheets between the upper and lower racks halfway through baking, until the cookies show just a bit of color. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then, using a spatula, transfer them to a cooling rack.
Place the guava paste and 1⁄4 cup of water in a small saucepan. Melt the paste over medium heat, stirring occasionally at first, then more frequently as the paste melts, 15 minutes. You will need to stir vigor- ously, forcing out any lumps in the last minutes of cooking.
Drop a 1⁄2 teaspoon of the hot filling onto the bottom half of a cookie, then place another cookie on top of the filling to make a sandwich (if the filling cools and gets stiff before you finish assembling the cookies, reheat the filling to make it easier to work with). The cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Reprinted with permission from Short Stack Editions Vol. 33: Chevre, by Tia Keenan (shortstackeditions.com).
What Makes Cheddar Orange? Or, When I Met Annatto in Jamaica
The most common question I get in my classes besides "when did you become so obsessed with cheese?" is ...
What makes cheddar orange?
From the neon-orange blocks chilling on grocery store shelves to the farmhouse wedges like Fiscalini's bandage wrapped cheddar in gourmet shops, cheddar ranges in hue from vivid tangerine to creme brûlée. But the majority of the cheddar that Americans grew up with was as orange as the Vermont leaves tourists flock to view in autumn.
Let's take a brisk stroll down the path to orange-dom.
Back in 17th century England, a few thrifty cheesemakers dyed their cheddar orange to imitate the hue of aged cheddar made with the milk of cows who grazed summer pastures. If animals are eating the best of summer fields- herbs, grasses, and wildflowers- the high doses of beta-carotene in what they're munching on turns their milk a buttery hue. When aged, their cheese turns deep yellow. Because English Jersey and Guernsey cow's milk from which Cheddar was originally made is especially rich and beta-carotene sticks to butterfat like a five-year-old does an ice cream cone, sometimes that cheddar turned orange!
When English cheesemakers realized they could make higher profits by skimming the cream from milk, using the cream for butter, then making the leftover low-fat milk into cheese that resembled delicious summer cheese if they added orange dye, tricksters did it. It sold. Many American cheesemakers followed suit. But slowly, consumers realized something was missing- butterfat and flavor- and sales dropped. Though the success of the heist wasn't long-lived, the effect of the coloring was.
Dying cheddar-milk stuck, and most big American companies continue to dye their cheese to this day. To add a little extra spin, Wisconsin cheesemakers often dye their cheddar, they say, to differentiate their wedges or curds from cheddar around the rest of the country.
But what exactly makes cheddar orange?
Annatto.
Among all the natural dyes available, annatto quickly became the fave. A tropical bush or short tree, annatto loves growing in humid, hot, damp locals close to the equator.
Have you ever seen the plant in person? I hadn't until recently. Yup, that meant when I told students that annatto made many cheddars orange, I had no idea really the fruit looked like.
This all changed when I went to visit a friend working in Jamaica (she worked, I vacationed) and we went on a eco farm tour to a working coconut farm that grew mainly native Jamaican plants so tourists could see what the land was all about. I'd highly recommend Sun Valley Farms ecotourism tours- think nutmeg and banana trees, coconuts, vanilla, jicama, soursop..... and yes, you get to taste most of the them.
And just like that, I met annatto.
Annatto is awesome. With the power to stain skin as easily as cheese, annatto can also be used as a lipstick, or to tint cheeks. The farmer made his fingers red simply by rubbing the seed. I can see why the power of the seed quickly popularized.
The pulverized powder is known in Mexican cuisine as achiote and can be found gracing dishes like the red-skined achiote-rubbed pork, and to add vibrancy to chorizo. Eaten solo, it's a bit peppery and sweet. Mixed in with cheddar, it's either undetectable or slightly... annatto-ish (ahem, sorry).
Now most smaller producers who dye their cheddar use annatto, and larger ones do their own thing (another type of natural cheddar dye that some bigger commercial creameries use is here).
Long live cheddar, and may all of us one day have the opportunity to rub our fingers on the annatto plant.
Making a Mother's Day Cheese Plate? Turn it up to 11.
If your mom is anything like my mine, she'd appreciate a Mother's Day cheese plate that rocks the dairy boat.
She'd like a Mother's Day cheese plate that was so unusual she'd have to ask twice if the cookies really were supposed to go with the cheese (yessss, Mom). One that featured fermented vegetables and preserved fruit. One that let her enjoy the many layers of her favorite cheeses in ways she never had before.
For Mother's Day, turn your mother's cheese plate up to 11.
Of course you can build a simple plate packed with cheese, and maybe a little honey or dried fruit. But a more contemporary option is pairing cheeses that you know your mother (or the mother-figure in your life) adores to exciting sides and condiments that she'd never cozy up to her favorite wedges on her own. Do the daring leg work for her.
My mom (isn’t she cute?)
Should you be afraid to go bold in your pairings? If you reach out of bounds, will flavors get too extreme or clash?
No, and maybe. In case you're wondering, I can now speak from with confidence that dried mango with chili powder does not play nicely with cheese. Play around after Mother's Day- here are some pairings that are good-to-go now
Tried and tested, these are my picks!
My Mother's Day cheese plate features the lovely Comté: Stepladder Creamery's Cabrillo, Tomales Farmstead Teleeka, preserved lemon, Oreo's or Newman's O's, and Cultured's gingery sauerkraut.
Full disclosure, the Comté Association sponsored my post and asked me to pick 2 more cheeses to feature on the plate. More disclosure, Comté was already one of my top 10 cheeses (so, yay!).
Comté with Cultured's "Super Sauerkraut Salad:" I've recently discovered the joy of pairing krauts and fermented cabbage with this Alpine-style cheese. This one is one of my favorite duos. The kraut's gingery and tangy flavor slices through Comté's richness like a bright acidity wine does a triple-creme, while allowing the cheese's brown buttery and hazelnut nuances shine through. Pair a gingery and bright beet-hued kraut with golden Comté, or go a little bolder and pair with Kimchee (really- it's not to spicy-start with a tiny piece and go as bold as you like it). Even more pairing, you ask? Throw an off-dry Riesling in the mix. But the next way I'm trying this combo is in a grilled Comté and kraut grilled cheese sandwich with buttered country bread.
You can read more about Comté's culture and history here.
Steppladder Creamery's Cabrillo: A goat and cow's milk hybrid, Cabrillo already shows light notes of lemon from its goat's milk so matching it to a preserved, salty lemon felt natural. It made it even more sunny and bright. I also tried it with goji berries, and... well, let's pretend I didn't. Together the preserved lemon and the Cabrillo offer a liveliness fit for a cheese plate, or light appetizers. Another cheese option? Garrotxa, Panteleo, or Pennyroyal Boot Corner.
Tomales Farmstead Teleeka & Chocolate Cream Sandwich Cookies: Goat, sheep, and cow's milk- are you sensing a California theme here? Yup, when goat and sheep's milk cheesemakers don't have enough milk from the tiny producers (goat and sheep provide less milk during certain seasons), they often buy cow's milk from dairy farmer neighbors. This cheese is like a robiola, and the grassy hints of the goat's milk shine through while the sheep and cow's milk provide a thick, creamy texture. I've always loved fresh chevre with chocolate so I decided to test these cookies out here. Delicious. Bright and sweet and earthy. At one point I scraped out the cream filling from the cookie sandwich, replaced it with Teleeka, and liked the cookie even better. Another cheese option? La Tur, Tomales Farmstead Kenne, or Vermont Creamy's Crémont.
Enjoy your Mother's Day with an amazing woman in your life.
New Ridge Montebello Release + Cali Cheese = Spring!
One of my favorite times of the year, besides the day egg nog hits grocery store shelves or when the summer blackberries are ripe at my hiking spot, is serving the cheese at the annual RidgeMontebello releases.
The Ridge Montebello Release spells spring like strawberries, bunnies, and blooming flowers.
And sometimes Ridge Montebello even smells like blooming flowers. And black pepper, and boysenberries, and red currants, and herbs and... ah... Ridge Montebello.
Considered one of the best wineries in California and easily one of the top Bordeaux-grape focused producers anywhere, Ridge Winery helped to put the country on the wine map. When it and other Cali producers like Chateau Montelena took top scores at the 1976 Paris Judgement, they proved that California didn't just make ooey-gooey, boring wines meant for boxes. It made lively, age-able, well-structured wines that could fool French wine journalists into thinking they were swirling Bordeaux. And they did it again 40 years later.
How I come into the story beyond admiring the winery, and years of selling and swilling Ridge Montebello release at tastings and wine shops and hoping that someone offers to share their bottle, is that I am the lucky girl who gets to select the cheese for releases every year.
For one weekend a month, three months in a row, I present cheeses from my favorite California cheesemakers (Cali only- Ridge rules) that shine with the wine. The Montebello blend is made up of the winemaker's favorite vineyards and aged in the best oak and is always a blend of Bordeaux grapes- Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot. Then there is always a Chardonnay as crisp as an apple, and single varieties like Cab Franc (my fave) and splashes of their age-worthy Zins to try.
Tomales Farmstead’s Assa
Choosing the cheese for it is an extreme pleasure. Plus, I get to work to with really cool people, like Ridge's chef of over twenty years, Kathy Martinich.
I'm already gearing up for April and May's.
Hope to see you there!
Oh, Hello Goat Cheese: I'm Back, Oozing Wheels & ❤️ Shapes
Oh, hello there! It's been a while, cheese lovers. Goat cheese lovers, this post is for you.
I'm sorry I've been away from this blog for so long (hopefully you've had your dairy needs met in other ways), but I promise I've been away for an amazing reason.
My cheese class business has been as busy as a hummingbird in spring.
As always, I've been teaching public classes at places like 18 Reasons and Preserved (<-- a new one for me, love it), but in the past few months, my private class business has ramped up to 11. It's been wonderful and I'm very lucky! So while I've talked about cheese, paired it, and made it, because I've been doing it so much front of other people, and working on my next book, I haven't had time to blog my heart out here.
Luckily, I just hired a couple wonderful people for inspiration and to help me with the nuts and bolts of the business (oh, hello invoicing and newsletter links). Meaning I'm back!. I'm excited to tell you about what I've been doing while away, too.
I'm been making those oozing goat cheeses! And the little heart shaped one? Yup, made that too. I ❤ making ❤ cheeses (the next time you can learn how to make something like this with me is at 18 Reasons later this month, or in a private class).
I hadn't played around with goat's milk much since I taught a queso fresco fundraising class at Tomales Farmstead (I got to use their own milk, yay!) so I've been having a blast. Using what I learned from making cheese with Sleight Farms, and reading books and testing recipes from some of my favecheesemakingbooks, I developed these little guys here. Of course there was a lot of research and tasting.
Did I mention they ooze? They do. I maaaaay have forgotten one in my cheese cave (otherwise known as wine fridge) for a week too long. Oops.
I was also excited to make these cheeses because it's an amazing time to use goat's milk. Those green hills around California from all the rain = tons of delicious grasses and herbs for the ladies to snack on.
This also means it's a great time to buy goat cheese because many goats around the country are likewise getting their nibbles on. My northeastern friends, we've got your back until your goats can prance outside. Stay warm please.
A goat cheese or two I'd give 5 starts to are those made by Stepladder, Capriole's Sofia or Wabash Cannonball, Bonne Bouche, Prodigal Farms beauties, and Ruggle Hill's gems. Just to start. There's a lot of exploring to do, my friends.
Pair with Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked whites and sparklings, Gamay, or Cabernet Franc, and enjoy in front of a fire or Burning Log watching it rain or snow.
Playing with Point Reyes Creamery's Milk & Wine Geek Speak
It's Christmas-lights-up, menorah-on-mantel, tinsel-in-trees, frosty mornings time. And yes, that is a stellar holiday cheese ball pictured above (and yes since you asked, I did make it!). Sure, the daytime temperatures are still in the mid-60's in California, but in general terms, it's winter. Accordingly, it's packed with classes- many of which I'm very excited about.
This winter I'll be teaching Wine 101 at 18 Reasons in San Francisco. Many of you know that while I was firmly establishing myself as the cheese lady (Capitalize- Y or N?), I managed the wine bar at Solano Cellars Wine Shop for 10 years, and I love returning to my viniferia roots. There, in our Wine 101 class (known by some as WTF is Wine, Anyhow?), we transformed millions from wine week to wine geek by breaking down the building blocks of wine like tannins, body, and oak so people could better appreciate their beverage of choice. It was one of our most popular classes, and I loved teaching it. I'm happy to say that in January I'll be at 18 Reasons teaching my rendition of the class. And yes, there will be wine tasting involved.
(above photo by Anna Voloshyna)
Peninsula cheese fans- I'm teaching public class in Menlo Park and Palo Alto in February at Draeger's.
In February I get to play with the same milk they use for the highly awarded Point Reyes Creamery cheeses to make homemade cheese! And so do you. For a gorgeous day of farm tours, visiting cows, cheesemaking, lunch, and a cheese tasting, please consider joining me at Point Reyes Creamery February 2nd. Speaking of February, I'm teaching a Daring Duo's & Surprising BFFs class on Valentine's Day...
More details & MANY MORE public classes follow. As always, please contact me at kirstin@itsnotyouitsbrie.com for private events. Classes fill up early. Happy Holidays and I hope to see you around!
Winter Public Events
Cheesemaking 101: Paneer, Fromage Blanc & Handmade Butter
January 10th, Wednesday 6:00-9:30pm
San Francisco, 18 Reasons
Making cheese at home is much easier than you think! From how to culture milk to making your own fluffy paneer, this class will teach you the delicious basics of cheesemaking. You'll learn how to make India's top cheese, how to ferment milk into fromage blanc (and when to add herbs to make the perfect party cheese), and how to make your very own rich, sweet butter by hand. After a cheese science overview and mini-tasting, we'll roll our sleeves up and don aprons to transform milk and cream into some of the best cheese and butter you've ever tasted, made better knowing you made it yourself!
Burrata By-Hand
January 18th, Thursday 6:00-9:30pm
San Francisco, 18 Reasons
The most exciting cheese on the cheese board needs little explanation: burrata is fresh mozzarella filled with luscious cream and more cheese. You get to make your own in one short night. And eat it too! In this action-packed evening class, you will learn the basics of cheesemaking, including which milk to use, where to find cultures, and options for rennet. You will also leave with a deeper understanding of the science behind the process...
Wine 101: From Tannins to Acidty- The ABC's of Wine
January 24th, Wednesday 6:30-9:00pm
San Francisco, 18 Reasons
If you've always had dreams of swirling a glass of Pinot in Burgundy while talking about its acidity, grow shy when handed the wine list at a restaurant, or just wonder what people mean when they say "fruit bomb" or "bold tannins," this Wine 101 tasting seminar is for you. In an approachable and lighthearted manner, It's Not You, It's Brie author, 18 Reasons cheesemaking teacher and wine expert Kirstin Jackson will break down the basics of wine culture and terminology for you with delicious wine examples....
Point Reyes Creamery: Artisan Cheesemaking at Home w/Kirstin Jackson, Farm Tour & Lunch
February 2nd, Friday 9:00-2:00pm
Point Reyes, Point Reyes-The Fork
Kirstin Jackson fell in love with cheese at a young age. Driving around Northern California and taking tours of creameries with her parents was Kirstin’s entry into the world of cheese. Says Kirstin, “A good way to bond and keep a teenager in the car with you is to give her cheese at the end of the trip.” Fast forward to 2007, when Kirstin decided to stop writing her wine and food pairing blog “because it wasn’t enough of an escape for me from my everyday work life working in a wine shop,” and committed to her passion for cheese online. With that decision, It’s Not You, It’s Brie, was born.... This tour includes a farm tour, lunch and cheesemaking- cultured butter, creme fraiche, queso fresco and ricotta.
Basics of Cheesemaking: Paneer, Mascarpone & Fromage Blanc
February 4th, Sunday 11:00-2:00pm
San Francisco, The Cheese School
Paneer, mascarpone, and fromage blanc are the cheeses that make appetizers and main courses sing. In this hands-on class, cheesemaker Kirstin Jackson will teach you how to make the cheeses that will become staples in your fridge for many more meals to come. You'll try your creations in class and bring some home to share, or not....
SF Beer Week: Drakes Beer & Cheese (and Me!)- More Info Soon Save the Date
February 13th, Tuesday
Oakland, The Dealership
Valentine's Day Daring Duo Class at 18 Reasons, More info Soon Save the Date
February 14th, Wednesday
San Francisco, 18 Reasons
Peanut butter and chocolate, Cabernet and steak, pumpkin and pie, cheese and... cookies? Clearly, wine and cheese have a longstanding friendship. But on this Valentine's Day, we're testing relationship boundaries by pairing everyone's favorite fermented dairy with a secret crush or two. It's Not You, It's Brie author and recent American Cheese Society "Dairing Pairings" conference presenter Kirstin Jackson will teach the class with a wealth of research experience under her belt, a list of do's and don'ts, and adventurous advice. Expect fromage drizzled in caramel, seaweed, cookies, sip tea, and... maybe even witness a polyamorous combo or two.
Making Feta Cheese from Scratch
February 15th, Thursday, 7:00-9:00pm
Oakland, Preserved
Rich, salty and crumbly, feta is one of the world's most popular cheeses. Join us as we explore the magic of cheesemaking at home. In this workshop, we'll DISCUSS the basics of cheese science, what milk to use and how to age your feta cheese to perfection. We will get HANDS-ON as we move through the stages of cheesemaking: fermenting the milk, curd cutting, pitching, forming and brining. Plus we will TASTE some of our favorite finished versions of feta. Everyone will TAKE HOME their own cheese to age at home, and enjoy 3-4 weeks later!
Beginning Cheesemaking: Queso Fresco, Ricotta & Fromage Blanc
February 24th, Saturday, 11:00am
Menlo Park, Draeger's
• Fresh, Handmade Queso Fresco • Fresh, Handmade Whole Milk Ricotta • Fromage Blanc Culturing Demo and Hands-On Fromage Blanc Prep and Seasoning • Tasting of Commercial Queso Fresco, Fromage Blanc and Ricotta • Crostini Topped with Seasonal Fruits, Preserves and Just-Made Cheese Learn about cultures, enzymes, shelf life, what milk to buy, serving possibilities and more. After nibbling on our creations in class, all participants take home samples of their cheese to share.
•Note this is at the Menlo Park Draeger's Location.
Mozzarella & Burrata by Hand
March 6th, Thursday, 6:30pm
San Mateo, Draeger's
• Fresh, Handmade Mozzarella • Fresh, Handmade Burrata (Mozzarella’s Cream-Filled Cousin!) • Comparative tasting of commercial cow and buffalo milk mozzarellas or burrata • Winter fruit and toasted nut salad with the cheese we just made Learn about cultures, enzymes, shelf life, what milk to buy, serving possibilities and more. After nibbling on our creations in class, all participants take home samples of their cheese to share.
•Note this is at the San Mateo Draeger's Location.
Support California's Farmers & Families for American Cheese Month
Flames are raging throughout California, and nearly everyone living in the state knows someone who has lost their home, has suffered the fate themselves, or fears that they or their loved ones will. October is a month that I normally celebrate American Cheese Month here. Though I of course still encourage you to eat all you can of our domestic beauties during October (thank you, our amazing cheesemakers!), a direct way you can help our cheesemakers and famers right now is by helping communities directly affected by the fire. Even more important right now is supporting the communities that have been affected by the fire. The good news so far is that I haven't learned of cheesemakers who have lost their farms, creameries or homes. Sadly, many have been forced to evacuat,, and many of their employees, loved ones and friends, and others who work tirelessly for them are suffering dearly. We all need strong communities to stay safe and strong and move forward.
I'm sure most of you have either helped any way you can or are looking for ways to help more. Below are a few ways we can do so.
Not all of these locations or links are confirmed as helping points so for efficencies sake, I suggest checking first to make sure they're the best places for you to drop-off things or help before showing up (they may have already taken loads up or have a better place to suggest).
Feel free to contact me with more info about how to help and I'll put it on the blog, too. I'd like to add to it as much as possible. Stay safe, readers! Much love.
Volunteer Info:
(click on link for even more info than what's included below)
JUST WANT TO VOLUNTEER SOMEWHERE? Any community members seeking to volunteer should contact the Sonoma County Emergency Operations Center Shelter division at 707-573-3399 to determine where they can be of assistance.
Medical Professionals:
Please contact the Red Cross at 707-577-7600 for volunteer placement and assessment. This number is used for all of Sonoma County.
Petaluma
Petaluma People Services Center is looking for Emergency Home Shares. They are looking to find temporary housing for those displaced by the fire. If you are interested in hosting please contact PPSC SHARE Sonoma County at SHAREfire@petalumapeople.org
Petaluma Vet Memorial Building
Petaluma Fairgrounds:
Medical Professional Sign Up for shifts at the fairgrounds.
(*Volunteer shifts rotate every 4 hours): 15-20 volunteers for shifts taking place 7am-12noon (this shift is covered now); 12noon- 5pm; 5pm-10pm. 5-7 volunteers for hours of 10pm-3am; 3am- 7am. Enter the fairgrounds from Gate #3 (Payran St). Park in the livestock area. Check in at Herzog Hall to be assigned a job.
Elks Lodge: (2105 South McDowell Blvd) Call 707-763-0901 ext 0 first for future volunteer needs (currently at capacity for volunteers).
Lucchesi Center: (320 N McDowell Blvd - 707-778-4380)
Volunteers needed overnight for upcoming shifts. Sign up at site. (10/11/17)
Calvary Chapel: Doing 6 hours shifts. Call to sign up for future shifts (707) 766-1567
Casa Grande Parking Lot - Student Parking lot needs cleaning due to lots of people going through this week
New Life Christian Center: Volunteer Sign Up
Santa Rosa/Rohnert Park/Sebastopol
Santa Rosa Fairgrounds: Needs help feeding livestock. Expecting more to show up animals to show up this afternoon.
Sonoma County Red Cross Red Cross is in need of volunteers to assist fire evacuees. Red Cross has exhausted their volunteer pool and many additional hands are now needed during this emergency. Anyone interested can call 707-573-3399 to volunteer or signup via their website at http://tinyurl.com/RedCrossVolOctober2017
Redwood Empire Food Bank All needs are met currently. Check back at 3pm for update of needs. Call first: 573-3399 for potential volunteer needs. To volunteer click here
Elsie Allen High School - 599 Bellevue Avenue: needs volunteers starting at 4am on Wed 10/11/17. Elsie Allen is in need of doctors and nurses for medically fragile evacuees. Sign up here > http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044faaa923aaf85-volunteer
Analy High School - 6950 Analy Ave Sebastopol
Sonoma Valley High - 20000 Broadway, Sonoma, CA: in need of clothing donations
Santa Rosa Memorial: needs medical staff
American Red Cross: Doubletree Hotel in R.P. Training at 9am-5pm
Hopalong and Second Chance: In desperate need of animal fosters, particularly kittens. To foster, go to www.hopalong.org/foster/. Also REALLY NEED supplies immediately. If you can, PLEASE DONATE. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/hopalonganimalrescue
Marin County
New Life Church: will be opening a NEW an Evacuation Center.🔺 4 TEAMS TO VOLUNTEER FOR: Check In / Registration, Security, Hospitality, and Donation Station. [Shift Sign-up & Info Link below] We need Volunteers AROUND THE CLOCK (starting at 12pm Thurs). Shifts are 4 hours, sign up for back to back shifts if possible.
SIGN UP LINK 👉 http://signup.com/go/KkFHgMg
Marin Center Exhibit Hall - If you wish to volunteer, do not show up, please register here > https://cvnl.org/volunteerism/
Lighthouse Church - 1915 Novato Blvd Novato: Needs Toddler Clothes, specifically 2T-3T boys and girls
MARIN COUNTY NEEDS. Please reference this doc. It is being updated by a separate team > https://docs.google.com/document/d/11K-2ubyB6_YsRVQW3RphtonfG1G1dz2ng2Y8dex4Enc
Napa County
Napa Valley College - Seeking volunteers to help sort donations. Currently in need of the following: - Pillowcases (new), Sanitary wipes, Tampons, Pads, Flip flops, shower sandals, Blankets, sheets (new), Under clothes (new) (all sizes and genders), Lip balm, Baby clothes (new), Pillows (new), respiratory masks, water
Spots to donate household items in Bay Area that will take items to Northern California (Marin, Sonoma, Napa spots listed in towards end of this link):
Cowgirl Creamery/Tomales Bay shops in San Francisco and Tomales Bay
123 Go! Records
Where to get help if you've been directly affected:
REE FOOD / WATER:
• Amy’s Drive Thru in Rohnert Park: offering free meals to those evacuated. If you choose to pay for a evacuees meal, 100% of that money will be donated to help in the aids effort. (10/10/17 3:30pm)
• Nopalito (10/10/17): offering free burritos from 11-3 (1905 Bodega Ave)
• McGuires is offering free food
• Mystic Theatre/McNears (10/10/17): Serving Breakfast 9-11, Serving Lunch-soup and sandwiches from 12-3, Serving Dinner from 5-8. They can deliver or make meals to go. Contact them directly at 707-765-2121
• Sauced BBQ Restaurant (10/10/17): Serving free food from 9-4, offering place to rest and view TV
• Sweet Zone (10/10/17): Offering free Gelato
• Quinua Restaurant (10/10/17): Offering free lunch
• Lagunitas, Tap Room (10/10/17): Giving away free water- bring containers and they will fill them
• The Drawing Board (10/10/17): Offering food delivery to those in need, plus a special menu for firefighters and victims.
FREE WIFI / COMPUTERS:
• Comcast (10/10/17) FREE Internet/Comcast/Xfinity: Removed restrictions and opened their WiFi hotspots for all to use through Fri. 10/13 Log in as “Guest”.
• Copperfield’s Books Petaluma: Free wifi, allows dogs, water, stickers & crayons for children
• Mystic Theatre/McNears/The Roaring Donkey (10/10/17): Offering laptops for fire victims to use if they need to get a hold of their financial institutions or family. Ask for Sierra Bradley.
• Roaring Donkey has laptops set up and wifi and chargers for people, as needed.
FREE HEALTH / WELLNESS:
• Petaluma Swim Center (10/10/17): Offering showers 8:30-10:30 am and 3:00-5:30 pm today. (Soap, Shampoo and Towels provided)
• Synergy Health Club (10/10/17): Offering free showers plus towels to those in need. Also a place to relax with couches and TV.
FREE CLOTHING / ENTERTAINMENT:
• Adventure Recreation – 2200 Petaluma Blvd. N. will be open until 6pm for kids to play out of the smoke. Free for fire victims. Proceeds from others will be donated to relief efforts.
• Petaluma Bowling Alley (10/10/17): Offering a free space to hang out and play games
• Sax’s Joint – 317 Petaluma Blvd. S – Collecting Men’s Basketball shorts and sweats, as well as socks and underwear for both men and women from 6am-4pm Tues. 10:10 to distribute to shelters.
• California Academy of Sciences Free, safe place for families during the day
• Ethical Clothing – 122 Kentucky Street. 707-769-8564. Open Tuesday. The middle room of the store is a free clothing boutique for those in need. For non-evacuees, they will also sell newly donated items for $25 a piece and donate the money to those in need.
• Yoga Hell: Free yoga classes, plus an easy drop-off donation site for locals
PETS / ANIMAL BOARDING:
• Petaluma Animal Shelter (10/10/17) – Snuggle Shuttle @ Petaluma Community Center at Lucchesi Park (707-778-7387) Offering pet food, water, boarding, and lost and found pet information.
• Strong’s Second Chance Ranch (10/10/17): Offering to home horses, can message on Facebook
• Chanslor Ranch – Bodega Bay, Offering free beds and campsite. Kid and pet friendly. (707) 875-2721
• Sonoma Humane Society – 5345 Highway 12 West, Santa Rosa. Taking in animals for boarding, lost & found animals. No cost vet treatment for burn victims, owned or stray animals affected by fires. Open 8-5 daily.
• Unleashed Dog Training for boarding and if you need a place to hang. Call at 707.763.9882
• Marin Humane Society offering free boarding
• Misc animal issues: Anyone encountering animal related issues can call 707-565-4406. This number will be available 24/7 until further notice. Donations can also be made through this line. Please be prepared to share information about the number of animals, type of animals, address and location for the animals, and any information about the families associated with the animals, if known.
• Adding: Better Homes and Gardens in Sebastopol will give you a cup of coffee and wifi and you can charge your phone. 186 Main st Sebastopol.