A lot of students think of FARM Bloomington as one of the best brunch restaurants in Bloomington. Others may think of it as the place to go when your parents are in town. Maybe you are like me and think it serves the most mouthwatering burgers you have ever had. But when I visited the restaurant not only was I able to try some amazing and unique dishes, but I learned spoke with the chef, Daniel, and the bar manager, Doug, to learn about more about the history of the restaurant, their menu philosophy, and the many unique dining experiences they offer.
Growing up on a FARM, Chef Daniel Orr, has always had an appreciation for food and sustainably grown ingredients. He was always in the kitchen growing up and fell in love with it while cooking meals for his parents for special occasions. He went on to work in several restaurants where he developed his skills and then traveled the world to cook and found his experiences on the Caribbean islands to be particularly influential.
In addition to being a James Beard award finalist in 2015, Daniel has written several books including Farm Food and Paradise Kitchen. His books present various food related topics from traditional cookbooks, to how to live a greener lifestyle, to various cultural experiences. Inspired by his global experience, this very talented chef opened FARM to give people “real food” sourcing primarily local ingredients to give the best experience to Bloomington locals.
In addition to Daniel, FARM Bloomington now has a new chef named Chantel Adcock. Our chapter had the opportunity to try many of Chantel’s and Daniel’s creations and reviewed some of our favorite items in the article linked HERE.
In addition to serving amazing food day in and day out, FARM holds many events to show that they care about the community and value the diversity of Bloomington has. Recent events include their Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day dinners and their Wizard of Oz themed event where they partnered with the local Buskirk-Chumley Theater to create a special menu and dining experience.
What you may not know about FARM, besides their rich history, is their spirit and cocktail expertise. FARM has the largest whiskey collection in Bloomington and the bar manager Doug Spradley is one of the friendliest and most knowledgeable bartenders you will ever meet. While FARM occasionally has special whiskey flights or cocktails on the menu, Doug talks about how his philosophy revolves around getting to know your customer and creating a drink that feels like it was personally made for them.
And if you can’t get a reservation for FARM you can take a little taste of FARM home with you. Daniel created a line of products called Farm Flavors that included many of the unique sauces and jams used in the restaurant. Whether you are trying to create a unique meal at home or you just can’t get enough of FARM Bloomington, this new line of products will help you bring the flavors of FARM to your home.
FARM Bloomington should no longer be the fancy restaurant that you go to when your parents are in town. Grab lunch deals to make it your new favorite midday meal, go for a fun night out with friends, or go to one of their special events for a unique experience. FARM always has something special and to find out what is going on at the restaurant all you have to do check out their website or stop on by.