Sustainable Restaurant Ecosystems
Farm Bar Operates Its Own 140-Acre Supply Farm in Wisconsin
Grace Mahas — November 20, 2024Farm Bar exemplifies the evolution of farm-to-table dining by maintaining complete control over its supply chain through Brown Dog Farm, its 140-acre agricultural hub in Wisconsin. This vertically integrated approach enables the Chicago-based restaurant to deliver authentic Midwestern cuisine while ensuring quality and sustainability. The farm's diverse ecosystem includes a 200-tree orchard producing various fruits, alongside 40 beehives that supply honey for both culinary applications and retail sales at Farm Bar's Lakeview and Ravenswood locations.
The restaurant leverages its agricultural resources to create distinctive menu offerings that showcase the Midwest's seasonal bounty. Farm Bar's signature dishes incorporate fresh ingredients directly from Brown Dog Farm, including the Wolf River Flatbread featuring house-made apple butter and honey-infused craft cocktails. This model represents a growing trend among restaurants to secure their supply chains while offering guests transparency about ingredient sourcing, effectively bridging the gap between urban dining and rural agriculture.