Limbert Mountain Farm

The first thing that hit me when I walked into the little gift shop/​food store at Limbert Mountain Farm was the deep scent of apple. It was their Circle Farm Tour Christmas celebration, and I was soon offered a lavender shortbread cookie (yum!) and a cup of hot apple cider. Yes please! They were making it right there on the little cast iron stove at the back, from apples that had been pressed on site.
The store is well stocked with preserves and sauces and spice rubs made from some of the farm’s own produce, with emphasis on garlic and lavender, as well as bath products by local companies and Vista D’Oro artisanal jams. They even have taste testers on hand so you can try just about any of the sauces before buying. Of course, that can make it more difficult to decide (Barn Burner Garlic Sauce +++1).
My friends and I wandered a bit around the farm before going into the café … since it’s winter, many of plants are well, let’s say dormant because lavender is a perennial. But walking around the barn and down to the garden, you get an idea of the abundance of herbs they grow here. Not to mention the views of the snow-​covered mountains — beautiful!
Several of us had lunch in the café — as mentioned, it’s a small space but they accommodated our group very gracefully. The menu changes according to what’s in season — in fact, it’s just a little chalkboard listing the day’s choices. Everything is fresh and made from scratch — a locavore’s dream! And it’s fun to watch the chefs working away in the open kitchen — complete with mirror on the ceiling so you can see what’s happening on the counter. (I think they offer cooking classes as well.) I had a pasta with a squash sauce with red cabbage, pomegranate and orange salad. And the chocolate pâté for dessert with a local cranberry sauce and whipped cream … light in texture, rich in flavour — perfection.