The 2004 women-founded Mission Hills flagship of Venissimo Cheese sits at 754 W Washington St between Falcon and Goldfinch, opened by Gina and Roger Freize as San Diego's first dedicated artisanal cheese shop. The case typically carries more than 120 cheeses at any one time across cow, goat and sheep milk categories, with gourmet-pantry overlap onto the cheese counter and prepared-foods program at Lazy Acres Market - Mission Hills. Register receipts print the cheese name, country of origin, milk type, pronunciation and wine-and-beer pairing notes so shoppers can reproduce the plate at home. The Academy of Cheese education arm runs paired tastings, beginner cheesemonger classes and ticketed dinners on a rotating Mission Hills calendar that has cycled more than 2,500 cheeses across the case since 2004. Grilled panini, sandwich boards and picnic plates head out to Mission Hills backyard lunches landscaped with seasonal plantings from Mission Hills Nursery. Grazing-table installations, fondue service and 3-foot charcuterie boards ship to wedding receptions, corporate holiday parties and the annual San Diego Cheese & Libation Expo crowds.