If you’re visiting Mountain View, you definitely need to go to Milk Pail Market. Originally a drive-thru dairy back in 1974, today they’re an open air European market. They still carry plenty of outstanding dairy products, and they're well known for their reasonably priced fresh produce, and lots of unusual products from all over the world. They’re still owned and operated by the same family.
If you live here, I’m sure you already know how amazing Milk Pail is and you’re just as happy as the rest of us that they didn’t get swallowed up buy all the construction in the area.
Milk Pail Market is famous for a few things that must not be missed. First on your list needs to be the hand rolled fresh croissants. They’re in the freezer and they’re outrageously popular. Buy a big bag and take out however many you need for breakfast. Let them rise all night long and in the morning bake them at 375 for 15 minutes. They’re made in Redwood City and they’re going to be the best croissants you’ve ever eaten. I promise.
The second item you must try is the fresh ravioli. They’re also freshly made and all you need to do is boil them. Anyone can do it. They’re delicious and it’s very easy. I’ve taken them to a dinner party and they were a big hit. I had two big bags of them and we only cooked one package. The hostess asked me I I would leave the extra bag at the end of the evening. Of course, I was happy that she liked them so much.
The cheese used in the ravioli comes from Milk Pail’s cows. They live in Orland, California.
And there are a few more things for your list of ‘must try’ items. I recently got some handcrafted Framani chorizo at Milk Pail. It was delicious. And it comes from Berkeley.
There is a bakery/grocery store in Pescadero that is famous for their artichoke bread. Milk Pail now carries their bread so you don’t need to drive all the way to the coast. When you buy the sourdough-stuffed-with-artichoke-bread, bring it home and warm it up in the oven before you slice it. It would be perfect with a big bowl of homemade tomato soup.
I love the fromage blanc cheese from Milk Pail. I use it instead of ricotta cheese in dishes like lasagna. And I’ve used it in crepes too. It also comes from their cows in Orland.
And they had some fresh cheese curds that are ready to be pulled and turned into mozzarella cheese. Lots of people like to do it themselves and now that I watched a few videos on the subject, I think it looks like fun.
There’s plenty to explore in this tiny little store. And it doesn’t get any more local than Milk Pail Market. I love Mountain View.
