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We discovered an absolute gem 60 km outside of Ensenada. Go out east on 3, toward San Felipe, turn left at km 43.5 and go for 20 more km.

You'll get to La Cava de Quesos - Cheese Cave. This beautiful valley with water, big trees and rolling pasture fields, looks like you've suddenly been transported to somewhere in Europe. Very well kept buildings, barns and lots of big, healthy Holsteins. There are about 30 cheesemakers in the valley. Follow the signs to Cava de Quesos and for 120 pesos you can get a tour of the facility a tasting of 6 cheeses, butter, ricotta and a big glass of a lovely red wine. These are absolutely the California (albeit BAJA California) happy cows - lush grass, absolutely no pesticides and no stress. High milk protection that's plenty rich for unbelievably tasting butter, ricotta and cheeses. They have an underground cheese cellar where you do the tasting, surrounded in a room that looks like a high end Napa-Sonoma wine tasting room, only it's 10,000 wheels of cheese under strictly climate and humidity controlled space.

They have guys standing by in chef's whites (we noticed local culinary school and University pins) at a big outdoor kitchen. Menu items included appetizers of San Quintin oysters roasted with local cheese and spinach, thinly sliced lengue with a selection of sauces, sardinas done a couple of ways and salads. Entree included a duck comfit torta, linguini with local butter, cheese and or tomatoes/basil, local beef, lamb, and I can't remember it all....

Our group of 3 had the oysters, lengua, duck torta, linguini and a quesadilla. The torta came with fries, the quesadilla came with a fresh micro green salad and the linguini came with more linguini (BIG bowl).

We sat outside on picnic tables with music playing, there were hammocks, a pond, big trees and grass everywhere.

All 3 of us speak some level of Spanish, but I'm not sure you really needed that. Most of the people there spoke some English. It was an unexpected treat. We're definitely going back!

Whoa; that sounds really good!

Thanks for posting it.

Thanks for the Info, we will have to check it out

Here's a link to their website in English: La Cava de Marcelo

They are open Sat & Sun from 1 - 6 pm. It took us longer than we thought it would to get there. We were shooting for 2 pm and it was closer to 3 pm, but that's mainly cause we took a 'short cut' through Ensenada and had to stop and ask directions three time.

Love to hear some feedback after others visit. We are blown away by the place.

I think it's out by Ojos Negros. Used to drive through that country a lot on my way to Laguna Hanson. That's been a while so I have to take a road trip and see this place.

It's about 4.5 KM past (towards San Felipe) the Ojos Negros turnoff. Look for a small sign on your left. A great concrete road for about 6KM, then a good graded dirt road for about 5KM.......just keep following the small blue signs on the right side of the road.

Great tour and you can buy cheese and butter there or eat outside in the picnic area or inside the small house. The Rib Eye steaks looked outstanding and I hear the lamb is very good.

Recommended trip if you are visiting or live in Ensenada!!!!!!

A friend tried to describe how to get to this place but we could never figure out exactly where it was located. Thanks for the review/link - we will definitely make this a stop on one of next trips to Ensenada...

Thanks for sharing. I'm always looking for different places to take my grown children when they come down for a vist.

REMEMBER........open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6PM

Teniente, some info ... good stuff as usual ...

Hey, what did ya do ... on that 4 x 4 thingy .. ya got something new to buzz around in ??

Originally Posted by wessongroup

Teniente, some info ... good stuff as usual ...

Hey, what did ya do ... on that 4 x 4 thingy .. ya got something new to buzz around in ??

If you go, I would suggest the Rib Eye or the Lamb.......both outstanding!!!!!!

Regarding the 4x4 thingy, still in consultation with the Minister of Finance and Director of Family Happiness........

Originally Posted by Teniente

If you go, I would suggest the Rib Eye or the Lamb.......both outstanding!!!!!!

Regarding the 4x4 thingy, still in consultation with the Minister of Finance and Director of Family Happiness........

I know what you mean I have the want's for a Jeep, We are definitely going to check out the La Cava de Quesos

JP............been looking for a decent 1971 Jeep Commando with a stock V-6 and auto trans. I'm getting too old to restore one, just want a daily driver

Originally Posted by Teniente

JP............been looking for a decent 1971 Jeep Commando with a stock V-6 and auto trans. I'm getting too old to restore one, just want a daily driver

Saw a couple 60 something's on San Diego Craigs List.If they are in reasonable shape 4.000 or better.

JP.....check your PM

I think we should plan a group dinner there one evening. If you give me enough lead time I can plan for it around one of my trips north...

I would go to a group thingy. Interested Board members living in La Mision area maybe we could get together and car pool. I know Chuck lives across the estuary from me. Heck I forgot his board name.

I would definately like to go. let me know.

We've been back a couple more times now. It's a great trip with visitors because it will completely blow any preconceived notions on Mexico.

My new "must" is the ricotta cheese. Last time we were there, they made the ricotta fresh for us. I've never had super fresh ricotta before and I am hooked!

You will go through a military checkpoint just before the turn-off. When asked where we were going by the young soldier, I said "La Cava de Quesos" and he asked "Quesos?" like I'd lost my mind. We all said "Si!" and he passed us through. I'm guessing he's new to the job and he figures Americans will fall for anything. It's still pretty undiscovered by Americans. I saw one group of 3 guys on motorcycles who were Americans. All the rest looked to be wealthier Mexicans.

Originally Posted by BajaGoodLife

We've been back a couple more times now. It's a great trip with visitors because it will completely blow any preconceived notions on Mexico.

My new "must" is the ricotta cheese. Last time we were there, they made the ricotta fresh for us. I've never had super fresh ricotta before and I am hooked!

You will go through a military checkpoint just before the turn-off. When asked where we were going by the young soldier, I said "La Cava de Quesos" and he asked "Quesos?" like I'd lost my mind. We all said "Si!" and he passed us through. I'm guessing he's new to the job and he figures Americans will fall for anything. It's still pretty undiscovered by Americans. I saw one group of 3 guys on motorcycles who were Americans. All the rest looked to be wealthier Mexicans.

I have found that the soldiers at the checkpoint seem to know where we are going if we say "La Cava de Marcello" or "Queso de Marcello"......instead of Ramonetti's Cava de Queso.

Also, there is an outlet for their cheese (including ricotta) and their butter in Ensenada near the Rivera Events center on the Costero.