Pappardelle's Pasta

Pappardelle's Pasta, which now has a large stall inside Pike Place market, is a dry pasta heaven. The endless medley of dry pastas, balsamic vinegars, salad dressings, and olive oils is a feast for the eyes.

IMO, their most fantastic product is their whole wheat orzo. Whole wheat orzo is virtually impossible to find, in general. And anything approaching Pappardelle's size and quality of the orzo is, I think, non-existent. The grains retain their large and beautiful jewel-like shape on cooking, and have such a rich, nutty flavor that you don't need much in the way of a coating sauce. I tossed the cooked orzo in olive oil over a medium flame, with lots of minced garlic, shallots, fresh chopped spinach and watercress, roasted chicken, and roasted red, orange, and yellow bell peppers. Tasted FABULOUS.