Cheese Board Collective
Berkeley-based, employee-owned Cheese Board Collective is two legendary establishments: a bakery and cheese shop, and a pizzeria. The pizzeria offers exactly one type of pizza each day; always vegetarian, always using ingredients that are in stock and in season.
Widely recognized as one of the original influencers in the California Cuisine movement, the Cheese Board has provided ingredients to Chez Panisse for over 50 years. Founded in 1967, by 1971, the progressive owners had divided shares equally between themselves and their employees. The business has been a worker-owned collective ever since, and went on to establish and then spin off Cheese Board Pizza in 1990 and several other employee-owned bakeries in surrounding towns.
The first thing you'll notice if you're new to the Cheese Board is the line stretching out the door of the pizzeria (two doors down from the cheese store and bakery) and around the block. Rest assured the wait is worth it, and the line moves very quickly. There is also a salad offered, buffalo milk soft serve, sodas, beer and wine and often live music.
The bakery produces dozens of different treats, but the most popular items are their French baguettes. The cheese shop has one of the best collections of cheese in the Bay area, and often holds events that highlight individual cheese makers and educate a curious and enthusiastic clientele.
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