576145 Sun Nov 30 08:23:26 -0800 2008 17 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 4209602 I recently moved to DC (I live near Cleveland Park) and have been trying to find spelt and farro. I've been to three Whole Foods and two Yes! Organic Markets, as well as a few misc. stores that seemed promising. Not one has had either (I'm looking for the whole grains, not spelt flour). I tried ordering it online and the package was never delivered. Does anyone have any suggestions? Sun Nov 30 08:23:26 -0800 2008 244484 VeraDC 1 4210112 Here's a link to a list of organic produce and farmer's markets in the DC area including organic retailers: http://www.rawdc.org/dc/fruitDC.html#foodDir For sentimental reasons, I'd like to mention one of the retailers on the list, although I have no evidence the store carries the specific items you're looking for. Years ago, I was a devoted customer of Kennedy's Natural Foods on Broad Street in Falls Church because my son was allergic to cows milk. Kennedy's was a reliable source of goat's milk, goat's milk cheese and ice cream. Whether or not Kennedy's sells spelt and farro, you may want to go there anyway for the excellent sandwiches and soups sold in Kasha's Kitchen, the small deli tucked at the back of the store. Here's the POST's review of Kasha's Kitchen. http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/kashas-kitchen-in-kennedys-natural-foods,1149442.html Sun Nov 30 13:49:02 -0800 2008 4209602 61567 Indy 67 2 4211077 and i'd suggest you might be interested in heading to the new well-reviewed here lebanese place just around the side of that shopping center: george's kitchen. Mon Dec 01 00:56:33 -0800 2008 4210112 105717 alkapal 3 4211143 sorry, the name is uncle george's lebanese grill : http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/573666 Mon Dec 01 03:58:37 -0800 2008 4211077 105717 alkapal 1 4211182 You used to be able to get farro from A. Litteri's, but last year I didn't see it at all. They have had it at Balducci's. Farros is a bit expensive, but the package will go a long way and it is very yummy. I've made a risotto with it, had it in place of pasta, and made soups with it. Mon Dec 01 05:07:40 -0800 2008 4209602 12627 ChewFun 1 4211191 anson mills is reliable and well-regarded, and sell farro/spelt: http://www.ansonmills.com/farro.htm Mon Dec 01 05:16:09 -0800 2008 4209602 105717 alkapal 1 4211257 There is a difference between spelt and farro. Yes some farro is spelt, but there is another better farro available on line or perhaps available at D & D in Georgetown, available there in NY called farro in chicci. Come in a 500 gm tan linen bag. At fancy food show NY last year, woman explained different type of farro and is better. From my cooking it does seem to have better texture. Pepolino, in SOHO, for their farro of the day has been using it, buying in bulk, for years. Amazon.com has it as Tenuta Castello whole farro in chicci. Mon Dec 01 05:56:06 -0800 2008 4209602 71113 Delucacheesemonger 2 4211269 spelt and farro here is some info: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_3_66/ai_113337720 http://italianfood.about.com/library/rec/blr0002.htm http://www.slashfood.com/2008/11/30/spelt-and-farro-not-the-same-ok/ http://www.languagehat.com/archives/003327.php Mon Dec 01 06:05:36 -0800 2008 4211257 105717 alkapal 1 4211683 The Italian Store carries farro. Expensive but worth it. Mon Dec 01 09:25:38 -0800 2008 4209602 11555 ciaohound 1 4211728 Hi all, thanks for the tips. Sorry if I was unclear, I definitely don't think they're the same thing, I'm looking for both. Mon Dec 01 09:44:42 -0800 2008 4209602 244484 VeraDC 1 4212670 they have farro at vace - it's around 10 bucks a bag Mon Dec 01 14:58:42 -0800 2008 4209602 156331 dcgdc 1 4213917 Did you happen to see the recipes using farro and spelt in last Sunday's NY Times magazine? Tue Dec 02 05:32:50 -0800 2008 4209602 55915 MartinDC 2 4214187 10 bucks a bag is pretty steep, but I haven't bought any for a year. Tue Dec 02 07:48:17 -0800 2008 4213917 12627 ChewFun 1 4287412 Trader Joe's has its own brand of spelt but it sells quickly when in stock and if often out of stock. Thu Jan 01 08:12:26 -0800 2009 4209602 253130 Mark K 1 4293477 Frankferd Farms sells it. They are at Frankferdfarms.com. They deliver every 4 weeks to Front Royal and many other places, I would call them. 724 352-9500 and see how close they get to your area. I buy spelt in 25 lb bags and mill my own flour for bread, cakes etc. I have no idea what Farro is. Steve Sat Jan 03 17:30:16 -0800 2009 4209602 253814 ssilverman01 1 4337911 The least expensive source of farro I have found is www.gustiamo.com at about $8.75/lb. I became addicted to farro after happening across a Rennaissance Faire in the Tuscan countryside, ate a bowl of whatever they were serving, and in response to my urgent questions in basic Italian, I was told that it was 'farro', a peasant country soup. Having never heard of it before, I looked for it in a grocery store in Italy and found a dry farro soup mix and when cooked in chicken broth and drizzled with olive oil, it was very simiilar to what I had eaten at the Faire. I saved a few grains so that I could try to find it in the States. I began a 2 year search for farro and did find a very similar soup mix at Trader Joe's which they called 'Spelt' but it is imported from Italy and tasted the same as what I had in Italy. By the way, what they call 'soup' is very thick and more like the consistency of risotto as was the farro at the Faire. I was blissfully happy with my find for a couple of years, and now I find that it is no longer on the shelves of Trader Joe's. I am pleased to learn from Alkapal that Anson Mills produces farro because I found Anson Mills quite impressive and responsive several years ago when I was on an urgent heirloom grits quest. I will now need to do a comparison of Gustiamo's Farro Perlato and also the 2 varieties that Anson Mills sells. I would like to hear the reasons for VeraDC's and other's interest in farro, and if it was the 'soup' recipe that started their interest or some other way of preparing farro. Sun Jan 18 21:54:46 -0800 2009 4209602 258497 chowwbella 2 4338087 chowwbella (cute name!): you too have now been subjected to the "curse of the discontinued good product" from trader joe's. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/383886 i'm glad you are going to get some anson mills. i look forward to trying this magical farro of which you speak, and your report to us awaiting hounds. ;-). Mon Jan 19 03:29:39 -0800 2009 4337911 105717 alkapal 3 4340605 I just bought a bag of farro at MOM's Organic Market in Rockville. I think it cost around $8 or $9. Their other locations might have it also. MOM's Organic Market 11711 Parklawn Dr Rockville, MD 20852 Now I just have to find a nice recipe for it! Mon Jan 19 20:57:41 -0800 2009 4338087 252428 darlin_clementine