Where to buy pine nuts?

OK, I never thought I liked pine nuts before, they always seemed too dried out and well...piney! That was until a friend gave me some he brought back from New Mexico that were roasted and salted in the shell. They were terrific, creamy and buttery and not piney tasting at all. Where can I find such a treat locally (Pasadena area)? I'd prefer unshelled, if I can get them that way, thanks!

Since I use mine for Pesto, the ones at Costco are great and reasonably prices as well.

SURFAS in culver city.

Wild Oats on Lake has the unshelled from New Mexico. In the produce section, rather than bulk.

SW pinon nuts are the best! The oil is very rich and as you said not too piney.

We found some for sale at the Southwest Museum's Intertribal marketplace in November, along with piki bread (see pic). You might look into other local Native American events where artists from AZ and NM are selling art, woven goods, and jewelry. The Autry National Center gift shop might carry them. Please report back if you find a lead, my supply is getting low!

Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22...

I went on a pine nut hunt recently....

Whole Foods in Pasadena has them (be prepared to pay top dollar). They are unshelled - towards the end of the aisle where all the bulk foods are located (where they have packaged nuts).

If you are a Costco member - you can buy a HUGE bag for about the same price as Whole Foods (probably 5 times the quantity). And the quality was comparable, if not better, to the Whole Foods version. That's definitely the way to go.

Are the ones at Cost-co un shelled as well?

Yes, unshelled, and in one of those plastic, resealable, zip-lock type bags.

Many grocery stores carry them, including Chowhound favorite HOWS Market. You will not usually find these with the other packaged nuts, but in the produce section, hanging up, or down below on shelves. There are two varieties of Pine Nuts/Pignolias, one being the traditional rice shapped that is most common and economical, and the other a shorter/square/corn kernal looking variety which is expensive and has a different flavor profile (more like pine)

In NM, some places serve a coffee that has pine nuts ground into the coffee and it has a really great flavor, I think it was something Mark Miller brought to fame?!!?

A good tip (sorry to digress Chowhound posting police) but a good tip is to ALWAYS toast your nuts before using in recipes or eating. It brings out the flavor and gives better texture.

Trader Joes carries New Mexico Pinon Coffee...different and very good!! As a matter of fact, I am enjoying a cup right now!

They have a coffee like that at Trader Joes

I'd try ordering online. The pine nuts I find in L.A. are mostly Chinese, and some Italian. Or you can drive to Santa Fe, it takes me about 11 hours from Studio City.

Try Whole Foods
Trader Joes
A good health food store

depending which whole foods u live near, if u can find it sold in the bulk bins (like you scoop the amount you need only instead of buying a whole bag), that's the best so u don't get a lot whole and they will let u get as much/little as u need. i love those bulk bins, esp when i am baking and only need like 1/2 cup of things or 2 teap of sesame seeds, etc.

but if your whole foods doesn't have bulk bins (like the westwood one, lame) they sell their own organic kind 365 brand in a small yellow bag with a zip-lock top to keep fresh.

i would also trust traderjoes.