It’s hard to believe the huge flavor potential that grains can offer until you introduce your taste buds to whole grains. Ann Taylor Pittman, author of Everyday Whole Grains, experienced this transformation firsthand.

In her book, Pittman recalls, “My kids told me to throw out all other brownie recipes and only make the teff ones from now on, and they literally licked their bowls clean of the creamy tomato soup made with creamed brown rice. My husband learned that he loves freekeh in his frittatas, and that a layer cake made with whole-wheat pastry flour tastes more chocolatey than one made with all-purpose; it’s become such a favorite that it’s now his birthday cake.”

If you, too are ready to experience the whole grain revolution afoot in kitchens across the globe, then join us today in celebrating the 6th annual Whole Grain Sampling Day! For our Boston-area friends, a number of local establishments will be celebrating with special tastings and menu items.

Boston-area Whole Grain Sampling Day Events

• Bon Me will be offering samples of their brown rice or soba noodle bowls at their Chestnut Hill Square, Alewife, and Boston Public Market restaurant locations, and will also be promoting their whole grain choices on Twitter (@BonMe).
• Mei Mei will be featuring a multigrain kimchi fried rice, made with whole grain wheat berries and rye berries, along with Hawthorne Valley kimchi, Piggery farm hot dog, and charred scallion crema. 
• b.good will be sampling their kale & grain bowls at the Boylston St. location in Boston (655 Boylston St) during the lunch rush. They will also be promoting their whole grain choices on Twitter and Instagram.
• Oat Shop, Boston’s first oatmeal cafe, will be providing samples of their delicious overnight oats to customers in the morning. Check their social media pages on that day to learn more (@OatShopBoston)!
• At Northeastern University, award-winning author Maria Speck will be doing a guest chef demo in the Xhibition Kitchen to educate students, faculty and staff about grains. [Details here.]

To find out if a store, restaurant, school, or community health center near you is participating, check out our Interactive Map.

And for those anywhere across the country, many of the most popular food companies will be doing Whole Grain Sampling Day giveaways and contests on social media!

Whole Grain Sampling Day Social Media Giveaways & Sales

Don’t forget to share your Whole Grain Sampling Day experience on social media using the hashtag #SampleWholeGrains! (Kelly)