ISO Organic (edible) Rose Petals in SF Area

[tom in sf]

Houndz,

I'm making a Turkish salad of organic (fresh) rose petals, mint and parsley (http://www.saveur.com/article/food/Ro...).

Any clue as to where I could find the petals?? Whole Foods, Rainbow and Boulette's are all "Good Luck with That"

Anyone have a nice, organically grown rose bush that's overflowing and needs a bit of a trim?

Thanks in advance.

tom in sf

[Pandora]

When I was wedding cake shopping a couple years ago, I was told Rose and Radish in Hayes Valley-ish has organic rose petals. I never followed up, but it would be easy to call and ask.

[tom in sf]

Thanks everyone. I found some. Karen's suggestion to poll my friends worked. My friend has had organic roses forever. She lives in Oakland, but hey, I'm a hound.

I remember when I first found out about chowhounds. What I remember was the article saying something about the difference between foodies and chowhounds is that hounds will go 25 miles out of their way for a hot dog. Or something like that.

Works for me.

[Karen_Schaffer]

Happy to have helped, and thanks for reporting back! Let us know how the salad turns out. In my experience, rose petals are mostly a visual thing unless you're using a LOT of them. I make rose petal jam and jelly, but it takes a huge number to get any real flavor. Rose butter, otoh, doesn't need as many, as long as they're strongly scented.

Good luck!

[tmso]

I found them in the past by asking around at the Berkeley farmer's market.

[Janet]

Try the Berkeley Bowl

[rworange]

Berkeley Bowl has edible flowers, but I've never seen roses or rose petals there.

This old link suggests asking the flower vendors at farmers markets for organic roses
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/28976

Also there is a suggestion in there for a produce vendor to call.

The other thing might be to call some of the upper level bakeries and see if they can suggest where to get fresh rose petals. Lots of them do wedding cakes with fresh rose petals.

[Karen_Schaffer]

Have any friends who are avid organic gardeners? Or indifferent gardeners who don't spray their plants? I've got lots of roses, but I'm in San Jose and I'm sure you can find some closer to you. Maybe the folks at Scarlet Sage Herb company would have a suggestion. Or Rainbow Foods.

If you have a choice, taste the petals. Some are sweeter, most have a bitter edge. And that bit about the white tip being (more) bitter seems to be a myth, at least for all the roses I've tasted. Good luck!