Chocolate Pasta and Farro

Asked by Kathieblacker. Answered on 9th November 2012

Full question

Where can I buy the chocolate pasta used by Nigella on Nigellissima and also the farro barley? I live in Blackpool where specialist shops are extremely limited and an internet search delivered very poor results. Thanks!

After watching Nigellissima on BBC 2 (29th October), I was wondering where I could purchase the chocolate pasta? It sounds scrumptious and I would like to try this out. The local chain supmarkets (Tesco's or Sainsbury) do not sell such items. Thanks, Chowder.

Our answer

Nigella uses a dried chocolate pasta which is also often sold as "cocoa pasta". There are a few sources for various shapes. The fusilli shape (made by Bovetti Chocolates) can be bought on-line from the Italian Grocery and a penne shape can be bought on-line from Hotel Chocolat.

In Europe the fusilli can be bought on-line from Bien Manger. In the US you can buy a chocolate linguine from Pappardelle's Pasta.

Cocoa pasta is also sometimes available via Amazon, though at time of writing it appears to be out of stock.

The farro used by Nigella is the pearled type called farro pearlato (sometimes also labelled as semi pearled). This cooks much more quickly than the whole grain farro. It is available in the UK in some Italian delis, health foods stores or on-line at Melbury and Appleton. In the US it can be bought on-line at Claro's.

Links to the various websites are below.

http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk

http://www.theitaliangrocery.co.uk

http://www.bienmanger.com

http://www.pappardellesonline.com

http://www.melburyandappleton.co.uk

http://store.claros.com