ISO Source for Bulk Unsweetened Valrhona or Callebaut Cocoa Powder

[TerriL]

I would prefer to buy this locally if possible by the pound or kilo, but Whole Foods stopped carrying it a while back. Marin or East Bay preferred, but all suggestions appreciated.

Just FYI the Pasta Shop (at least the one on 4th St.) only carries small packages of cocoa at this time. I used to buy it buy Callebaut by the kilo several years ago. TIA.

[Luber]

http://www.qzina.com (international wholesaler, branch in SSF)

[kungful]

You might try here: http://www.thegourmetcorner.com
They often have Valrhona, and always have Cocoa Noel.

[TerriL]

Thanks, kungful. Do you know what the prices are like -- not for the cocoa, per se, but generally? There are a few products I'd like to pick up.

[kungful]

They are generally pretty good, a tad high, perhaps, but not exorbitant.

[TerriL]

Just FYI I saw bulk Guittard dutched cocoa at Berkeley Bowl West today. I prefer other brands to Guittard, but it was a good deal (sorry, don't remember the price).

Anyway, I already got my shipment of Pernigotti from chefshop.com (2 kilos), so I'm set for a while.

[maxie]

Try Spun Sugar on University in Berkeley. They carry a lot of chocolate products, including bulk Valhrona. I'm not sure what brands of cocoa powder they carry. http://www.spunsugar.com/
1611 University, Berkeley

[Robert Lauriston]

Have you tried Pernigotti? I like it better than Valrhona (which is excellent). I discovered it at Williams-Sonoma, which has it off and on, but it's cheaper if you buy it by the kilo from chefshop.com. They also have the Valrhona in bulk.

[TerriL]

I like Pernigotti too, but hadn't seen it in bulk anywhere. If I can't buy locally, chefshop.com is a good idea -- thanks.

[sfpizzalover]

Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco sells cocoa in bulk.

[TerriL]

They do, but they couldn't tell me the producer. All they knew was that it wasn't dutched (they're also out of stock right now). I thought at one time they sold Valrhona, but I may be wrong.

[blackpippi]

Rainbow does indeed sell Valrhona. However, I kept trying to make the "perfect" cup of hot chocolate and it just wasn't working. Now I know why-I just stumbled on a Cook's Illustrated taste test from January 2005: "Valrhona has flavors of hot dog as well as burnt, woody, & smoky."
Yep, that about covers it.

[Michael Rodriguez]

Ratto's in Oakland sells Valrhona. Ask Elena, the manager, if she would sell you large quantities. I bet she would.

[chefj]

I know that Pacific Gourmet carries it . They are wholesale suppliers but you should talk to them and see. If you know someone in the industry they may be able to do the buying on your behalf that would work too. www.pacgourmet.com