Dine on a farm amid the orchards and pastures where the ingredients in your meal are grown.
Farm-to-table dining has shifted from a trend to a call for deeper understanding of our food culture and economy—we want to know where what we eat comes from, if the animals are treated humanely, and that the ingredients are real and pure. Locally sourced means not only supporting our local communities but our environment (and bellies). Truly, you can taste the difference.
But actually visiting a farm is a rare occurrence (hello, farmers' markets), and being able to dine on the land where the ingredients are actually grown sounds like a vacant dream. But guess what? There are a number of local homesteads that offer delicious seasonal dinners to be enjoyed as fresh and pure as the moment of picking. From restaurants that have their own gardens to farms that offer unique dining experiences, these establishments source and prepare their own food in true farm-to-table fashion.
Harley Farms
(Courtesy of Harley Farms)
Harley Farms started with only owning six pet goats in 2011, to producing award-winning farmstead goat cheese from their herd of 200 alpine goats today. In addition to tours, Harley also offers private dinners. Whether you'd prefer to dine at the restored Victorian hayloft or spacious barn, you'll be smitten with the rustic charm of this restored 1910 dairy farm. Expect fresh seasonal blooms at the table and their delicious chevre ravioli with sage and brown butter at the meal—the chevre is made on-site, of course. And make sure to leave some space for their farm-made cheesecake. // 205 North St. (Pescadero), harleyfarms.com
Press
(Courtesy of Press)
A modern steakhouse, Press firmly believes in showcasing the best ingredients of the Napa Valley. It should come to no surprise then, that their produce is sourced in-house from their very own Rudd Farms. Located at the top of Mt. Veeder in the Macayamas mountains and just a few minutes away from the restaurant, Rudd Farms maintains three acres of farmland, fruit orchards, an olive grove, and more than enough space for animals to roam freely. There, they produce wine, heirloom produce and have free-range-livestock. While Press' dry-aged prime beef and other proteins are sourced from local vendors, you can be sure that Rudd Farms' plentiful bounty is always put to good use at Press. // 587 St Helena Hwy (St. Helena), pressnapavalley.com
Mustards Grill
This Cindy Pawlcyn establishment, which serves contemporary American cuisine, is certainly a Napa Valley institution. Before you eat though, make sure to tour Pawlcyn's two-acre gardens and see where the vegetables and herbs in your dishes are grown. The garden is maintained all year, so what you see depends on when you visit—the place is bursting with bright hues of marigolds, zinnias and zucchini blossoms in the summer, while cheddar cauliflower, various garlic and cabbage varieties, and other vegetables are flourish in the winter. // 7399 St Helena Hwy (Napa), mustardsgrill.com
Carmel Valley Ranch
Courtesy of Carmel Valley Ranch
From their chicken coop, lavender fields, organic vegetable garden, and bee apiary, the resort's culinary team truly integrates the best bounty of Carmel Valley into their menu. They even have their own salt house that regularly harvests from the Monterey Bay. If you want a more in-depth look of the ranch retreat's produce, you can take a tour of the organic garden—filled with herbs, fruit trees, vegetables, hops and olive trees. // 1 Old Ranch Rd (Carmel-By-The-Sea), carmelvalleyranch.com
Chef's Table at Long Meadow Ranch
(Courtesy of Shea Evans Photography via Long Meadow Ranch)
With over 2,000 acres of vineyards, olive oil orchards, vegetable and fruit gardens, and pasture, Long Meadow Ranch has incorporated their own full-circle farming system that fully supports all their needs—they even have a stand at their local farmer's market every weekend with their produce. But if you want the ultimate culinary experience at the ranch, be sure to try their dinner. You'll start the meal by walking through the ranch's own culinary garden, then enjoy a seasonal set menu from estate chef, Aaron Marthaler, at the historic Logan Ives House. Naturally, the meal will be paired with Long Meadow Ranch's award-winning wines. // 738 Main Street (St. Helena), longmeadowranch.com
Single Thread Farms
(Courtesy of Jason Jaacks via Single Thread)
Selected for our Hot 20 innovators this year, renowned chef Kyle Connaughton—whose extensive culinary credits include Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck restaurant in London—and his wife Katina Connaughton have been all over the world, but chose the heart of California's wine country to be home to Single Thread Farms, Restaurant and Inn. With Kyle constantly coming up with new, seasonal cuisine for the restaurant's eleven-course tasting menu, and Katina managing the five-acre property, Single Thread Farms truly showcases the love story of California's plentiful bounty and innovative cuisine. // 131 North St (Healdsburg), singlethreadfarms.com
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company
(Courtesy of Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese)
On top of making their infamous Original Blue, California's only classic style blue cheese, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company also offers intimate dinners at The Fork, the company's dining establishment. The four-course, farmers market-inspired meal is served family-style and limited to 32 people; which is why the dinners sell out almost immediately. During the dinner, you'll get to learn more about the farm from the herd manager and if you're lucky, maybe even sneak a glimpse of the Holstein cows. // 14700 Shoreline Hwy, (Point Reyes Station), pointreyescheese.com
