Want to buy fresh flour in Salinas/Monterey CA
Is there anybody nearby (Salinas/Monterey/Gilroy CA) who mills their own flours and would sell me some to play with before I invest in my own mill and supplies? Storage is a big issue. Every 6 weeks I go to the famous Gayle's Bakery in Capitola after a doctor's appointment, and will ask if they grind their own. However, the freeway one direction is always a parking lot for 15+ miles and sitting causes major pain, so driving there more often is not an option. I'll check with our two good bakeries in MontereyPacific Grove - also a 30-40 minute drive one-way.
The MockMill sounds like an option if I stay with KA. My 6qt recently died a second death; researching whether to have my husband replace the motor (with 3 repairs puts me over the purchase price 12 years ago) or get something else. My daughter just moved to Paris and gets great bread daily. She left me my original Hobart KA 5-qt from 1981. Though smaller, it out-performs the newer 6-qt which always sounded like a thresher and over-heated easily with dough.
I really like the Komo Classic. It is worth saving for. You won't have to hunt around for a miller.
The highway to Gayle's is so congested.
Hi MontBayBaker, I know it's been quite a while since you posted this but I'm new to the area and I was wondering if you ever found a solution. I'm in the same boat- tempted to invest in a mill but would be happy just to find a good source for the time being. Thanks!
Dear M. Stewart,
Hi again! Don't know how close to me (Prunedale, just north of Salinas) you are, but did you decide to buy a milll? If you did and are nearby, I'd be happy to discuss splitting the cost of bulk grain or other fresh flour topics.
I just received my new Ankarsrum mixer. Based on responses so far I may consider an independent mill rather than the ANK mill accessory so I will have more options for flour texture and grains/legumes. Maybe I'll luck into a used small mill sold by somebody who's trading up. I love the look of hand-crank, but because of increasing hand problems must go electric.
Sorry for the late reply. Welcome to the area! I haven't been seriously looking for flour as baking hasn't been a priority recently. I will ask at Gayle's Bakery when I see my doctor nearby next month. We''ve decided to not obtain a mill at this point. If you start grinding your own flour and are on my driving route (or could meet somewhere), I'd be interested in buying some from you.
Is there a Whole Foods near you? I know the locations near me carry hard red winter wheat. Also, if you ever decided to get serious Azure Standard (natural foods co-op)has a drop sight in Morgan Hill once a month. Azure Standard carries every grain you can think of and its all organic. They may have one closer to you. You can go on their website and look. I have been getting most of my grain lately from Montana Flour and Grain. Very good quality. Also, Amazon sells Bob's Red mill that you can order.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the tip on the co-op; will check it out. It's 35 mile, but my son lives nearby. Whole Foods is 35 miles north or south and I stock up there when passing through. Recently I've bought Bob's items from Amazon in bulk. Good prices (compared to the Safeway in my little town), with expiration dates at least a year from purchase. Every time I go to Safeway there are more mixes, fewer "standard" baking items and choice of brands, and packages are shrinking (but not the price) so I rely more on Amazon and Whole Foods.
My daughter lives in Paris with great boulangeries, including one who comes through the neighborhood on bicycle in the afternoon selling that day's extras cheap, in case she didn't get there in the morning.