I recently visited my hometown in Michigan as I often do, and on my way back I was passing through New Buffalo and passed a sign labeled Farmette. This immediately caught my interest as it just opened this past year and I had not heard of it, so I decided to stop in and check it out, and I couldn't be happier that I did.
The first thing I noticed before going inside was the building itself; it was very modern looking but still had a rustic appeal which felt very inviting. Walking in the front entrance leads into their café where they serve coffee, but they also have kombucha and wine on tap. I grabbed a coffee since it was the morning, but a few hours later I would have gone for the wine. They also carried pastries like muffins and croissants from Bit of Swiss bakery, which is a local bakery that makes incredible products.
The café then leads into the marketplace area which is illuminated by massive windows that bring in tons of natural light. The marketplace carries produce from their farm and other local farms as well. They also carry other prepared food items, many of which were made from local producers. There is a great wine selection and some other great imported goods as well like butter, cheese and dry goods. It was apparent that everything was curated with a lot of intention.
The marketplace area is also connected to their bakery where you can pick up a fresh loaf of their homemade sourdough or focaccia bread.
From the market, I stepped out into the outdoor seating area which is nestled up against their farm where they grow greens, herbs and flowers. It was so peaceful and scenic out there and was the perfect place to enjoy my coffee, and I intend on enjoying many more out there. There is plenty of seating in the outdoor area and is the perfect quiet place to gather with friends.
New Buffalo can be reached from Chicago in as little as 90 minutes, so I highly encourage you to get out of the city and check out Farmette as it is such a gem. It has such an emphasis on locality, as it should because Southwest Michigan creates truly incredible produce.
On my way out, I stopped back inside to pick up a loaf of fresh sourdough, which was easily the best decision I made that day. I brought it back home and it made for some incredible BLTs and then a Panzanella salad later that week.
If you want to learn how to make bread this good, sign up for our Hands-on How to Bake Bread Class on Friday, October 25 at 11am at Lincoln Square. We hope to see you there, and don’t forget to check out Farmette next time you’re passing through Michigan.
