A new restaurant in Niwot by Longmont couple chefs Lisa and Patrick Balcom is highlighting hyper-local ingredients in small plate dishes.
The casual upscale Farow Restaurant tentatively will open its doors on Sept. 11. The majority of ingredients will be sourced within three to five miles from the restaurant at 7916 Niwot Rd, Lisa said. Because of this, Farow will have an ever-changing menu of 10 to 12 small plates depending on what’s in season.
Lisa and Patrick moved to Longmont about three years ago from South Carolina. Both working in the culinary world for nearly 20 years, they desired opening their own restaurant concept.
The couple’s idea for a high-end restaurant that supported Boulder County farms was supported by Longmont’s EforAll Business Accelerator in 2020. Farow was originally planned to open on an earlier timeline in Longmont — originally named Longmont Bakehouse — but Lisa and Patrick found the restaurant space in Niwot and rebranded.
“We're a little bummed that we couldn't find anything there, but we've found Niwot and Niwot is also an amazing community so it's so nice to feel so supported and have so many wonderful people nearby to help out and that want to see you succeed,” Lisa said.
The menu will change at least once a month with Lisa as the pastry chef and Patrick and sous chef Michael Schorn designing the savory dishes. Among the items offered during its September opening will be a goat cheese cheesecake with poached peaches and honey and an oyster mushroom on top of an eggplant puree with garlic chips. Lisa is especially excited to serve the heirloom tomato pie with a blue cornmeal crust, cheese filling and herb salad.
Farow will feature a six-course tasting menu and wine pairings from their staff sommelier, but customers have the option to have a drink at the bar or in the cocktail lounge and order individual dishes.
Some of the farms that Farow has partnered with are Buckner Family Farm in Longmont for the restaurant’s meat, MetaCarbon Organic Farm in Longmont for produce and chicken, Browns’ Farm in Niwot and Speedwell Farm & Gardens in Boulder.
“I think it's worth the effort and it's so nice to have that connection with the people that are growing your food and your food source,” she said.
Though it can be more work to find local ingredients than buying from larger distributors, Lisa said it’s important because it supports farmer wages near home. She added that Farow wants to work with farmers and ranchers who prioritize soil health and care for their livestock.
Lisa said Farow employees will be taken on tours of the different farms that the restaurant is partnering with prior to the opening date.
Update: The restaurant has experienced delays in opening on Sept. 4 and is tentatively hoping to open on Sept. 11.
