Water Buffalo In Marin

There's a boomlet in buffalo in America. Farms in southern California and New England are raising water buffalo, and started producing mozzarella di bufala, the pride-and-joy of Napolitano cheesemaking.

Now comes another American entrant: Craig Ramini, a reformed software consultant, has ditched Silicon Valley for a herd of 30 water buffalo, grazing a 25-acre field in West Marin, outside San Francisco.

Ramini has plans to start producing his own mozzarella this year, and like all entrepreneurs, has big dreams: He wants to build up his brand, then move part of the operation -- presumably, not the buffalo -- into San Francisco, where a cheesemaking operation could attract tourists and local foodies alike.

The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat profiles the fledgling operation:

Ramini, who is raising his own dairy herd of 30 water buffalo in west Marin County, hopes to be making small batches of mozzarella di bufalo — Italy's famous, fresh cheese — by this summer in his creamery near Tomales. . . .

Truth be told, Ramini said, water buffalo are as affectionate as Labrador retrievers, once you get to know them.

You can find the full story here.