Grist & Toll

After having a kid and reading about how so many of the nutrients are stripped out of conventional flour, I decided many months ago that I would like for our household to eat only whole grains. Since I do much of the cooking, it was fairly easy to make the switch. I use brown rice, whole barley in soup, whole oats for oatmeal, etc. However, my wife does all of the baking, and simply refused to use 100% whole wheat flour. She doesn’t like the taste and texture ohe store-​bought variety.
Fast forward to discovering Grist and Toll. My wife had heard about it and sent me on a mission to Pasadena to pick her up a 5 pound bag of whatever flour they recommended. I came home with a big bag of Sonora, along with all manner of fun things like black barley, milled polenta, and pressed barley flakes. Not only does everything from pancakes to cakes to cookies that my wife makes with the flour taste unbelievable, it also has great texture. What’s more, even when we treat ourselves to cookies and cakes, we do so knowing that we’re using whole wheat from heirloom varietals that have not been messed with by Monsanto and stripped of their wholesomeness.
The woman who works there is always super helpful, and gives me more information than I even understand about protein levels and wheat varietals. She always has fun suggestions of things to cook with grains like teff or Tibetan purple barley.
Grist and Toll is a quality artisan purveyor of the highest order. And while it does cost considerably more to use their flour exclusively, not only is a better tasting, but it’s more for nutritious for my family. Thanks Grist and Toll!

It’s such a special place! How fortunate Angelenos and Pasadena folk have an urban flour mill. I bought both the rye flour and Sonora on my first trip. My daughter made cupcakes & I made biscuits with the Sonora and both had a golden hue with a light texture and taste. I’ll be using their flour in our up-​coming kids cooking class, too. The staff and owner are both knowledgable and friendly, really helpful qualities as not every type of flour is created equal. Worth the trip and worth the adventure trying different types of flours.

My visit to Grist & Toll was to buy artisan flour to make a country loaf bread using dutch oven that will give it that crusty texture and caramel color. I knew that a better bread flour would make the bread taste better. Coincidentally, I chose Grist & Toll, because I found them on Unilocal.
The flour mill is located in a nondescript unit of a commercial building. Through the doors is a tiny space with a small selection of pre-​packaged flours and some baking accessories. I asked for a recommendation for a flour to make a country loaf using a no-​knead process. It was suggested that I use the Fife Flour that is specific for bread baking. Then I was instructed to use half Fife Flour and half regular store bought flour as I might not like the strong flavor of a fresh milled wheat flour.
My recipe of choice is Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery in NYC. I used only the Fife Flour instead of the suggested half and half. The yeast took to the flour and water instantaneously, which was a good sign. I checked three times during the rising process and found that the dough was rising quite nicely without the kneading. I folded the dough onto itself and proofed it for another couple hours. The end result after baking it was beautiful bread with a dark caramel color, a crusty shell, and the toasty scent of popcorn or walnut throughout my kitchen during the bread baking process.
By the way, the bread tastes AWESOME! Grist & Toll processes a high quality flour that comes with a higher price than regular store-​bought flour. If you are looking to make homemade breads with superior quality ingredients, then this is the place to get the flour.

Grist & Toll is a local artisan flour mill. When I was there, the owner was super friendly and answered all of my questions about flour. Hydration wise if you bake a 50 white flour/​50 whole wheat bread, the water percentage is about 75%. If you bake a 100% whole wheat bread, water percentage is about 80%.
Prices are a little higher than the supermarket, but what you get is a high quality flour and a face you can associate with the flour.
If you like baking, I recommend picking up some bags and trying it out.

I am an obsessive bread baker and the discovery of freshly ground whole grain flour has changed my bread baking life. The flour is ground using an imported stone mill from Austria, and the organic grains that are being used for the flour is grown in California (at least the ones I have tried). I have tried the Sonora, Hard Red Winter, Spelt, and Rye. This flours are like nothing I have used before, and I have used a lot of flour because I have been baking bread for 30 years. The flours contain all of the bran and germ; nothing is sifted out of the flour. All of them have and amazing fresh sweet smell that I have NEVER experienced with any other flours. I use wild yeast starters some of which have been converted to Grist and Toll flours. The starters have become more lively with the fresh flour that includes the bran and germ. I have also used the polenta which was unlike any polenta I have ever tasted in my life! Not only are the flours wonderful, but Nan, one of the owners is very friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about her products. If you love to bake, particularly bread, I highly recommend Grist and Toll. If I could rate this using 6 stars I would!

I purchased 2 flours here — a general whole wheat and a pastry flour — and i have been so thrilled with the quality. I have used them in all sorts of recipes — both my own and those on their blog– and I have never been disappointed with the results. I can swap out ½ of my usual ap flour with the whole wheat with no change in result except for a lovely nutty flavor. We also purchased a loaf of sour dough bread that was amazing. The proprietress was very friendly and helpful and took the time to answer my toddler’s questions.
it can be a little tricky to find the first time — it is in a little light industry strip mall tucked off of arroyo parkway just north of glen arm. when you do find it, there is plenty of parking. Seek this place out! Such a great place to have in our neighborhood!

They sell bags of freshly milled flour and a few misc bread related knick-​knacks.
There were 5 flour varieties available, most from organic grains. If I remember right, the 2.5 pound bags ran between $ 7.50-$ 10.00. The 5 pound bags were $ 15 – 20. The Sweetie does a lot of baking so we got some of everything.
The owner (???) was super friendly and had ready answers to all of our questions.
Parking is a breeze and the location is convenient.
Their only competition (that I know of) is a vendor at the Hollywood Farmers Market who has a couple flours available. Prices are comparable.
I love supporting these small unique shops so we’ll be back. Worth a stop if you happen to be near Pasadena on any of the days they are open to the public (Fri, Sat, Sun only).