Elegant Chatham Bars Inn Grows Its Own On Cape Cod

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Apparently game hunting was all the rage in wealthy Bostonian circles back in 1914. That's when Cape Cod's Chatham Bars Inn made its debut as a semi-private hunting lodge in the days when sunscreen and bikinis were nonexistent. Shore bird hunting soon yielded in popularity to 9-hole golfing across the street. Eventually, sunbathing became all the rage and remains a major attraction along with the authentic Farm-to-Table dining here.

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Chatham Bars Inn not only serves dishes made with local ingredients, they grow them on their farm just 15 minutes away in Brewster as well as hitting the town docks for just-caught seafood each day.

Stars and Sacred Cod, the inn's 2 signature restaurants helmed by Chef Anthony Cole both set the stage for artfully prepared dishes like Lentils & Frisee Salad and Fettuccini Bolognese. Dining areas provide spectacular ocean views framed by original wood paneling and vaulted ceilings.

Farmer Josh Schiff in collaboration with Chef Cole grows 75 different varieties of vegetables, herbs, and fruits during the growing season. Established in 2012 on 7.7-acres once home to a garden center, Chatham Bars Inn has invested over $1.7 million building up the farm's growing infrastructure like 2 plastic hoop greenhouses, a dozen 12 x 8 grow tunnels, and a vintage green 1956 John Deere tractor for plowing the fields. chathambarsfarm

In addition to planting cover crops like rye, Schiff fortifies the farm's notoriously sandy Cape Cod soil each year with compost directly from the tons of organic waste produced from the inn's kitchens. "Our growing capacity has nearly quadrupled from when we first purchased this property", says Schiff. "Our goal is to eventually grow all the ingredients we need for a dish like minestrone soup."

Joshua, a self-described heirloom tomato fanatic, grows nearly 35 varieties along with other crops like micro greens (not yet grown year round), cucumbers, cabbage, and cauliflower. Most produce is organic but not yet certified due to the lengthychathambarssalad

approval process. In addition to providing the Inn with fresh sustainable produce, Schiff takes social responsibility a step further partnering with Cape Abilities, a local nonprofit that provides job opportunities for disabled Cape Cod residents. Not only do Joshua and his staff help others gain meaningful employment, they have learned some finer points of greenhouse and hydroponic growing from the Cape Abilities team as well.

Photos courtesy of Chatham Bars Inn & Steve Mirsky. Coverage made possible by participating in a sponsored visit.