Go to Town On: The Farmer's Diner
When brainstorming sightseeing ideas for exploring the Upper Valley, a popular destination that comes to mind is the Vermont Antique Mall in Quechee, Vt. Understandable, as the Cabot cheese store situated inside offers unlimited samples their ubiquitous cheese, and it is only a twenty-minute drive from campus. However, on your next jaunt across the border, do not let the Cabot samples and knickknacks be the only stop in your itinerary, no matter how irresistible the cheddar and novelty items may be. Make room in your trip (and stomach) for The Farmer’s Diner!
The Farmer’s Diner is a tiny little restaurant tucked away to the side of the same lot as the antique mall. The diner itself is housed in a railroad-car-slash-house hybrid that has been converted into a restaurant. To get inside the Diner, one actually enters through the front door of the home, immediately entering a seemingly familiar and welcoming environment. Luckily, I had the chance to visit during their free pancakes event on Monday and to sit down with the manager, Ami Moore.
The Diner has an eight-year history in Quechee and recently changed management last March when Moore signed on as manager. Along with the change in management, the Diner staff also revived its values and renewed its commitment to its motto, “food from here.” From that point onward, Moore has managed a restaurant that is dedicated to strengthening the local community. To boast, the Farmer’s Diner obtains its produce and ingredients from almost twenty nearby farms in the Upper Valley. Additionally, the Diner participates in educational programs in the Hartford School District that teach young students about the importance of sustainability and sourcing food locally, Moore said.
But despite its revitalized outlook, the Diner continues to struggle as a business. The free pancakes event held on Sunday and Monday was a last-ditch attempt to breathe new life into the establishment, according to an e-mail from Boloco’s chief executive officer and founder, John Pepper ’91 Tu’97. In exchange for pancakes, the Diner owners asked customers to make a small donation to two Upper Valley organizations — The Family Place and the Upper Valley Humane Society. If customers, old and new, were able to rally a total off $500 for these two organizations, anonymous benefactors promised to make a matching donation.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you to make your way to Quechee, the pancakes themselves were delightfully light and fluffy and just small enough of a serving to leave me literally hungry for more. Very clever trick… So what should you order when you sit down for a bite at the Farmer’s Diner? Moore suggested her personal favorite, the Reuben sandwich, which is complete with sauerkraut made entirely in-house. If you aren’t a sandwich person, Moore also attests that you can’t go wrong with any of their burgers or omelets. And if you’re not typically the kind of person who goes for diner food, indulge yourself at the Farmer’s Diner and leave knowing you not only nourished your stomach but also the local community. Follow The Farmer’s Diner on Twitter at @TheFarmersDiner and on Facebook.