Located in Honeybrook, PA, an hour and 10 minutes outside of Philadelphia, is one of my most favorite places to go for Sunday Brunch- Wyebrook Farm. You get to eat directly on the farm, with the freshest food you can imagine (it’s grown right there!) The food is delicious, and the scenery is gorgeous- it feels like you’re eating in a painting.

Wyebrook produces all their meats and produce without the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones or antibiotics. They sell the products directly from the farm, and raise the animals used for their meat-Grass Fed Beef, Heritage Pork, Pastured Chicken, Lamb and Goat. Every part of the animal is used, whether its for one of the dishes served in the farm, or sold in the market.

With Wyebrook Farm, Dean Carlson has created a special place people can visit to procure excellent food — and witness firsthand where it comes from. He produces remarkable meat and fruits and vegetables using sustainable farming practices that reduce natural-resource usage. The pasture-based system mimics natural ecosystems to maximize ecological diversity, rather than relying on the chemicals usually present in modern agriculture. His motto is: If you want to know where your food comes from, go to the source. – Martha Stewart Living

Tours of the farm are encouraged (either walking yourself, or guided on a tractor), so you can see exactly where the food you are eating comes from. The property is huge, and you can easily spend hours there.

Images via Instagram

The farm is beautiful. As soon as you walk around the back of the farmhouse, you can see just how big this farm is (and if you walk the grounds, you’ll really get a feel for it!) They have pigs, chickens, cows, goats, a duck pond, a tire swing- you name it, it’s there. If you happen to show up before your reservation be sure to walk around and explore (and then explore again after you eat). 

The restaurant itself is also beautiful. You can eat inside the cobblestone farm house, or if the weather is nice, (in the summer months), you can sit in their outdoor patio- either under their brand new covered deck, or out under the sun.

Images via Instagram

There is a Cafe, with items featuring the meats and vegetables from the farm. Cafe service is open Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays from 11AM-3PM. (Reservations are not needed for the Cafe).

Images via Instagram

Dinner is offered Wednesday-Saturday from 5PM-9PM- and reservations are required. Keep in mind that the Butcher Shop on the farm closes at 6 pm, so if you want to bring any meats home with you after, be sure to call ahead.

Images via Instagram

Sunday Brunch is my favorite, and is served every Sunday from 10am-3pm. Reservations are required, and can get pretty crowded. There’s just something so relaxing about ending your weekend on the farm, eating delicious food, with good company.

Forgot to make reservations? Don’t worry too much. Inside the farm house is a market, where you can buy fresh cheese, meat, and produce, and you can sit on the farm grounds and have yourself a picnic. The farm sometimes has live music (they do a Spring Music Festival and a Fall Music Festival), so this is a perfect option for enjoying the music. The Spring Music Festival this year will be on April 30, 2016– tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the gate, and kids under 12 go for free. 

The farm also offers yoga during the summer, so be sure to check out their schedule- you can get your savasana on before a delicious brunch. And that’s not all- the farm also offers various classes, where you can learn how to butcher meat, make a perfect charcuterie board, or make fresh sausage. These classes are the perfect hands-on experience, and sell out fast, so make sure to sign up quickly if you want to go!

Chef Dinners

Wyebrook also offers special Chef Dinners. Guest Chef’s from around the area come in and put their twist on the locally grown produce and farm-raised animals. These 5 course dinners are $100 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and are worth every penny (in my eyes, they’re actually a steal). 

I was able to attend one of the Chef Dinners this year on February 28, 2016. Chef Johnathan Adams (of Rival Cofee & Pub and Kitchen) along with help from Sam Jacobson (of Stargazy- read our blog post here) made a delicious five course feast for us to enjoy. The restaurant kept the group to about 30 people, which kept it cozy and intimate, and made it feel more personal when the Chef came to talk to us about the meal. 

COURSE ONE: Confit and Roast of Winter Vegetables, Black Walnut Crumble, with a Guanciale Vinaigrette. 

COURSE TWO: Cavatelli “Milanese” with Braised Chicken and Tomato Ragu, Saffron, and PA Pecorino.

COURSE THREE: Slow-Roasted Beef Chuck Roll, with Bone Marrow Popovers, Nappa Cabbage Cesar, and Red Wine Jus.

COURSE FOUR: Doe Run “Hickory on the Hill” Cheese, Preserved Cherries, and Rye Crackers.

COURSE FIVE: Coffee Pots de Creme, Chocolate Coffee Cookie Crumbs, and Spiced Cream.

Since the Chef has his roots in coffee, every dish (except for the pasta) had some sort of coffee element to it- which added a new and interesting twist, something I’ve never quite tasted before. In some dishes, it was obvious where the coffee was (for example, the cracker over the cheese), but it was harder to detect in some other dishes, which made it a fun little game guessing where it was. The flavors all melded together perfectly.

The Chef spoke with us and explained how each dish was prepared, and we learned where all the food came from. Everything was local, the pasta was handmade hours before the dinner, and everything was delicious. You could really taste how fresh it was. It was interesting to learn the process of the how the meat was cooked, which made it actually taste more delicious, knowing how much care and hard work went into it. 

Want to attend a Chef’s Dinner at Wyebook Farm? E-mail reservations@wyebrook.farm or call 610-942-7481 ext. 4. Next up on Sunday March 6, 2016 is George Sabatino of Aldine.

-Arielle

Cover Image via Instagram