Dinner at the Farm

NEWFIELDS__Through their new catering kitchen, the Vernon Family Farm has found an innovative way for people to get a taste of their locally raised food directly on the farm where it was produced.

Just 20 minutes from Portsmouth, off Route 87 in Newfields, the farm offers food through their catering business, Vernon Kitchen. Food can be ordered from Thursday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday for brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Along with food, the experience often includes live music by regionally acclaimed musicians.

“We do think that dining outdoors at the farm can be a really unique step into the local food community for somebody, especially someone who might not have shopped at a farm store previously,” said Nicole Vernon, who owns the farm with her husband, Jeremiah.

The farm was thrilled to bring on Chef Matt Jones, who has worked in fine dining across the Seacoast, on at Vernon Kitchen this summer. Jones uses meats and produce from the farm and brings a southern flair to his cuisine with recipes like buttermilk brined fried chicken, barbecue brisket sandwich and southern dirty rice. He’s recently created several specialty tacos, which are now on the menu, including the Hot Nosh Taco with Nashville hot chicken and a Tex-Mex Taco with brisket, pinto beans, pickled cabbage and more. Sunday brunch features everything from specialty mimosas garnished with fresh flowers to thick French toast casserole with blueberries to frittatas with local greens and cheese.

“You often hear about farm to table, but we’re really bringing the tables to farm with Vernon Kitchen,” said Nicole. “We’re hoping that somebody who comes to dine at the farm is able to taste the freshest ingredients, hear the sounds of the farm, smell the fresh air, and see what is involved with a working farm.”

The farm has several seating options from picnic tables to firepit seats to a side meadow where you can bring your own chair. They encourage guests to have a true agritourism experience from walking out to see the animals to strolling through the wildflower meadow to talking with the farmers. Recent visitors might have even had a chance to see a baby calf born this summer.

“We’re trying to bridge that gap to encourage a community of eaters that is excited to meet their farmers and see where their food comes from, while having more intimate conversations about the steps that go into raising your own food,” Nicole said. “They can really get a sense of the beauty, strength and challenges that go into the experience of modern farming.”

The Vernon’s really felt the enthusiasm for scratch food prepared with their farm raised chicken during the pandemic when they offered fried chicken meals to go via a drive-through pick up. This added to offerings like pot pies, soups, and broths, in their farm store, as well as continuing old favorites like their smoked rotisserie chicken. That led to the creation of Vernon Kitchen, the catering kitchen, which makes both prepared meals for the farm store, and meals people can eat at the farm. They are sensitive to dietary restrictions and have gluten-free options.

“We’re so excited to have a menu that pleases a diverse group of eaters,” said Nicole. “Dining here does encourage an opportunity to converse with your local farmers and get to know them.”

Their on-site farm store has local baked goods, pasta, meats, jams, produce and dairy products, all of which are either raised on site or from other local producers. “When you’re coming here and you’re supporting something like this in your local community, there is a ripple effect because we are working with so many other local communities that benefit from the support of this initiative,” Nicole said. “It’s good for the body, it’s good for the local economy and it’s good for the soul.”

Vernon Kitchen offers beer, wine and specialty cocktails complemented with fresh herbs and edible flowers for those who are eating at the farm.

The catering kitchen is open through the end of October and a full listing of music and special events can be found on the Vernon Family Farm website and social media. While the rain has put a damper on some of the live music, there are limited spots to eat under cover at the farm in the event of inclement weather. Food can also be ordered to-go.

The couple have operated the farm in Newfields for nine years. They both spotted and fell in-love with the same parcel of land independently. Jeremiah first saw the farmland as he traveled Route 87 to Riverslea Farm in Epping where he was working at the time. While Nicole saw the property from the rail trail while she was out coaching the cross-country team from Exeter High School, where she works as a Spanish teacher. When they realized they’d both been talking about the same property, and it came up for sale, the couple knew it was fate. The location, close to Portsmouth, Exeter, and Newmarket, seemed ideal.

Vernon Family Farm is located at 301 Piscassic Road in Newfields, where their farm store is open daily all year long from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. for local food shopping. Updated information is available on their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vernonfamilyfarm/ and Instagram pages.