Farmer Girl Community Bistro Brings Farm-Fresh Cuisine To Lyons, Colorado
The small town of Lyons, Colorado, has a big, fresh secret — Farmer Girl Community Bistro. Owned by chef Tim Payne, this mall eatery on Main Street is where he works his culinary magic using locally-sourced ingredients, many of which come straight from local farms to your plate. If ever a menu had a slogan, chef Payne's would be "local, sustainable food with soul."
It's hard to miss the bistro as you drive into Lyons, a tiny town just north of Boulder. It is one of the small store fronts with a garage door-style front door and an interior reminiscent of a farmhouse. Reclaimed wood on the walls, retrofitted fruit baskets now being used as hanging light fixtures and soft colors all add to the informal and casual ambiance.
Chef Payne was a chef at various Longmont, Colorado restaurants and most recently the purveyor of the Farmer Girl food truck, which, he says, was an "ode to female farmers." Today, he creates dishes using the best and freshest of what the season can offer. During the winter, he uses local organic foods or ingredients that come from warmer climates.
Before choosing your fare, enjoy one of Farmer Girl's handmade cocktails sourced with local ingredients such as their Lavender 75 made with CapRock gin, lemon, and lavender.
The menu offers small or large plates, and for dinner, these run from around $7-$18, the latter being for a large plate lamb Bolognese. The menu does change frequently, depending upon the season.
For a starter, try the Farmer Girl salad with Oxford Garden's greens, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, parmesan, and nectarine vinaigrette ($6/$10). The chickpea fritters ($7) — another popular choice — comes with very vibrant and colorful beet ketchup, of all things, which tastes as good as it looks.
Large plates include meat and vegan options like braised flat iron beef or vegetable paella. The current menu features a stand-out adobo braised game hen with jalapeño grits, sunflower seed mole and arugula ($18).
The dessert offerings change frequently, and if available, the butterscotch pots de crème is a cool, heavenly finish to a great meal.
Part of the profits from the Farmer Girl Community Bistro go to the local agricultural community, and Chef Payne also hosts local farm and wine dinners that are posted on his website.
Happy Hour is 3-6 pm every day with $4 wine specials, $1 off draft beers and $2 off small plates and appetizers.
FTC Disclaimer: This was a sponsored visit; however, all opinions herein are the author's.