Wander With Wonder – Discovering Wow Moments Around the World or Across the Street
Join me on the Mid-Atlantic Grain Trail for baked goods, unique beers, and scenic country roads filled with food and fun.
I love a good food or beverage trail and have found several in my travels, but I’ve never seen a grain trail. Therefore, I resolved to tell the world about the Common Grain Alliance, a non-profit organization that supports grain artisans, including growers, millers, bakers, brewers, and micro-distillers.
While shopping at the FRESHFARM Dupont Circle Market in Washington, DC, a couple of years ago, I spied the Mid-Atlantic Grain Stand. I couldn’t resist looking over the goods and bought cornmeal, pasta, beans, and popcorn, all from local small producers. At the Grain Stand, I first became aware of the CGA (Common Grain Alliance) and slowly went down the rabbit hole searching for the best grain products.
Each time I visit the Mid-Atlantic Grain Stand I buy as much good grain products as I can carry. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
To date, I’ve purchased products from at least 10 CGA members and recently decided to develop the Unofficial CGA Grain Trail. Since some members only sell online or wholesale, I’ll focus on the farmers, millers, bakeries, breweries, and micro-distilleries that allow customers to visit them and buy their goods. The CGA has members in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, and has been attracting grain folk from North Carolina and beyond lately.
Hit the Road
I’ll take you on a trip to devour some of the best whole-grain baked goods on the planet, chug some unique beer, and thoughtfully sip tantalizing spirits. We’ll buy some of the best fresh-milled flour this chef and baker has ever had. Part of the fun of discovering these CGA members is the road trip through scenic country roads in the Mid-Atlantic. I’ll point out places to stay, eat, and play along the way to engage all five senses.
The Waverly Farmers Market is just one of several I visited to conduct my research. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Starting in Charlottesville, VA
It wasn’t easy to pick a starting point. Over the past 15 years of living in Maryland, Charlottesville, VA, has been one of our favorite destinations for an extended weekend. With three great from-scratch bakeries in town, Charlottesville is my choice for the first CGA Grain Trail stop.
Albemarle Baking Company (ABC) has been a regular stop for my wife and me whenever we’re in town. We love their bread, hand pies, and tarts. Their custom cakes are also amazing. Not far from ABC is Althea Bread, a newer bakery for fans of whole-grain baked goods. I’ve not shopped there yet; sadly, they were closed during my last Charlottesville visit, but reviewers love their pretzel croissants, sourdough bread, and almond croissants.
Like some of the other small bakeries I’ve visited, Althea Bread is only open a few days per week. Call ahead to make sure they are open. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
While in town, I visited Cou Cou Rachu, where I met owner Rachel De Jong and tried several of her from scratch baked goods. The plain croissant was buttery, and my nose knew instantly what my taste buds were soon to find out. This croissant is worth buying two of, so you eat one now and take one home. I also enjoyed the almond croissant, which was decadently rich and not too sweet, thus allowing the almond paste to shine.
After a short wait in line, I was rewarded with four delicious Cou Cou Rachu pastries. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Beer Time
Another stop in town is Three Notch’d Brewing Company, where you can get a variety of craft brews and try their locally sourced lunch or dinner menus. The brewery has a large indoor seating area and a covered outdoor patio. Three Notch’d Brewing uses malt from CGA member Murphy & Rude Malthouse. Murphy & Rude produces and sells various barley, wheat, and experimental grains for breweries, distilleries, and home brewers.
Three Notch’d Brewery has plenty of room inside and outside. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Things to Do
While in Charlottesville, don’t miss a walk down one of the best pedestrian malls on the East Coast. We love the shops, two bookstores, Crush Pad Wine Bar, and restaurants like Petit Pois and Fleurie for French fare on the mall. Check into the 200 South Street Inn, a local bed and breakfast, to be within easy walking distance of downtown hot spots.
A walk on the downtown mall in Charlottesville is a must. I love the restaurants, shops, and buskers. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Visit a Real Mill
South of Charlottesville is Deep Roots Milling, one of my favorite suppliers of grains for home baking. The mill is named Woodson’s Mill and has been used since the late 1700s. Virginia used to have many water-powered grist mills from the 1700s to the early 1900s, but most have faded away.
A visit to Deep Roots Milling at historic Woodson’s Mill will take a road trip to get there. Photo by Deep Roots Milling
The owners of Deep Roots Milling are Aaron, Charlie, and Ian. They occasionally get help from David Woodson, who retired from the mill but still likes to lend a hand. I’ve only bought their grain products online or at the Dupont Circle Grain Stand, but I would love to visit in person. One of my favorite grains is the acorn skillet mix, which, when used in a pancake recipe, replaces half the flour with skillet mix and produces a delicious result.
I use Silver Bread Flour from Deep Roots Milling to make the tastiest sourdough bread. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Deep Roots has a once-per-month Mill Race Market where visitors can buy their grains, and other local artisanal vendors show up to sell their goods. I asked Charlie what products to expect, and he said, “We generally have a mixture of vendors who offer local vegetables, produce, meats, and crafts.” The hours are noon to 4 PM.
Baltimore Grains
Our next stops are in the big cities of Baltimore and Washington, DC. Some of these stops are places my wife and I have been to, and some are new. Kevin Plank of Under Armor fame started Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore City. Mr. Plank has shown his love of fine whiskey by opening up this extravagant micro-distillery. Come for a tour and tasting, and grab a bottle to take home for an excellent souvenir. Note that the brand has been sold recently to an Italian company but still retains its Baltimore spirit.
Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore City is a great place to taste Maryland rye whiskey. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Also in Baltimore is CGA member Atwater’s Traditional Food. Their four restaurants offer artisanal bread and other delicious baked goods for brunch and lunch. Big Kitchen is the main bakery and supplies all four locations, but the Catonsville location has its own bakery to produce an expanded list of baked goods. All locations have a loyal following for breakfast, lunch, and bread.
DC Bound
I recently visited RavenHook Bakehouse, an under-the-radar commercial baking facility. I met owner Chris Giradot, who showed me around and told me stories of his years of baking bread using the best whole grains in the region.
Chris told me, “We bake 2,000 to 3,000 loaves of bread weekly and distribute to restaurants, stores, and several farmers markets.”
I took home a loaf of rye and wheat bread and found them both irresistible. Their farmers’ market schedule is online.
Another bakery that showcases whole grains is Seylou Bakery in DC. At Seylou, the grains are ground in-house, and a map shows where they get local wheat and other ingredients. We especially liked the baguette, pain au raisin, and seasonal scones. Seylou also has a popular coffee bar and café tables where you can enjoy your purchases on-site.
Jonathan is the owner and head baker at Seylou Bakery in Washington, DC. We took home the three loaves he was holding, which were all amazing. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Visit a Historic Grain Mill
The Pierce Mill is located in Washington, DC’s Rock Creek Park. It reminds visitors of a time when water-powered grist mills were common. Thanks to restoration efforts in the 1930s, the mill building is still standing strong. Plan your visit to coincide with one of the annual special events held at the mill and get a look inside this priceless museum piece.
I’ve seen Pierce Mill from the outside a few times, but I want to get inside during a grain milling demonstration soon. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Before or after your visit to the mill, take a hike on the Rock Creek Trail and enjoy nature in the middle of Washington, DC. A convenient parking lot and restrooms are across the street from the mill. Check the Friends of the Pierce Mill website for events like milling demonstrations, children’s day, ice cream-making demonstrations, and the CGA Mid-Atlantic Grain Fair.
Washington, DC, is lucky to have Rock Creek Park for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
A Special DC Farmers Market
As mentioned above, the FRESHFARM Dupont Circle Market features the Mid-Atlantic Grain Stand. Of all the farmers markets I’ve attended in the Mid-Atlantic, this is the best market for veggie and food vendors and the grain stand, which offers a wide variety of popular grains.
I recommend staying at the Tabard Inn in the area so you can walk to the farmers market and shop to your heart’s content. Parking is a challenge in and around Dupont Circle, so if you’re driving, allow time to find a parking space.
I stopped at the Grain Stand in July 2024 for beans, rice, and pastry flour. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Note: the Grain Stand is also available in Arlington, Silver Spring, and Mosaic. Check the FRESHFARM website for details.
Nearby Spirit Stop
Not far from DC is Hyattsville, MD, a funky old town with a deep history. Sang Froid, located in the Arts District, is a new player in Mid-Atlantic distilleries. The two owners are brothers-in-law who love distilling Dutch-style gin, rye whiskey, and fruit brandies. I liked the fruit brandies best and love that they get the fruit from either their orchard or other no-spray orchards in the region.
I enjoyed my tour and tasting at Sang Froid Distilling. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Since you will probably imbibe, it’s good to know that the College Park Marriot Hotel is just minutes away by ride-share. When I visited recently, Jeff told me they plan to move the distillery a short distance from the current location. Check their website for updates on the move and days/hours of operation.
Out in the Country
Some of my favorite stops on the CGA Grain Trail are in Brunswick, MD, on the outskirts of Frederick, MD, and Lovettsville, VA.
In Brunswick, MD, Maple and Rye Bakery is in the historic downtown area. Abby Levine owns and is the baker behind this Mid-Atlantic bakery that opened in the spring of 2024. After testing local farmers’ markets for the public’s acceptance of her whole-grain baked goods, Abby and her partner found the vintage storefront on the main drag in Brunswick and are settling into the space nicely. Customers can grab an outdoor or indoor table to devour these tasty whole-grain goods.
While in the area, take a hike or bring your bike to explore the C&O Canal Trail that runs through town along the mighty Potomac River.
Wheatland Spring Farm Brewery
What I love about Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery, besides their beer, is the events held on the farm. John and Bonnie Branding own this farm brewery and practice regenerative farming methods for the grains they grow. It doesn’t get more local than the local wheat grown on their farm.
The historic Wheatland Spring Farm is a great place for a brewery. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
I loved attending their Saturday Farmers Market, where several local producers came to sell fruit, veggies, flowers, honey, lavender products, and meat. Maple and Rye Bakery also attends the WSFB Market, open every Saturday (April through October) from 11 AM to 1 PM.
Maple and Rye Bakery is one of several vendors at the Wheatland Spring + Farm Brewery Saturday market. Photo by Kurt Jacobson
Consider coming to Wheatland Springs Farm + Brewery in September for Octoberfest, a two-day, mid-month event. Live entertainment, games, beer, and plenty of food will make this a fun day for all. Outside food and drink are not allowed, but leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcomed.
Wheatland Springs Farm has a cottage on site that is available to rent. The cottage has a washer and dryer, a touchless keypad, high-speed Wi-Fi, streaming TV, a full kitchen, and scenic views of the circa 1832 property. Consider staying at their cottage on a Saturday, loading up on fresh produce and meats from the farmers market, and having a food and beer fest of your own.
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Last Crumb
I believe you will love visiting these CGA members. All of the bakers, millers, brewers, grain growers, and micro-distillers focus on using the best grains possible so you can taste the difference between conventional grain products and true artisanal goods. Find these grain mills on the CGA website to order regional Mid-Atlantic grains from home.
We invite you to explore Wander With Wonder for more of our favorite culinary excursions and other things to do when you visit the Mid-Atlantic states.
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