Many restaurants claim to be “local,” but only a select few can cite ingredients from an on-site farm. At JW Marriott’s Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen, guests are treated to a true farm to fork experience. Whisper Creek Farm is a 7,000 square foot fruit and vegetable garden housing an abundance of produce from broccoli to citrus and even kumquats. Four beehives and a chicken coop neighbor the farm – adding to The Kitchen’s growing list of truly local ingredients.
“Since our organic garden for Chef Melissa Kelly’s Primo Restaurant first launched the farm-to-fork movement in Orlando, we have continued to seek out hyper-local culinary initiatives that can provide our guests with authentic, sustainable food and beverage experiences,” says Jim Burns, Vice President and Managing Director, Grande Lakes Orlando.
Showcasing a rustic yet polished design, The Kitchen features a variety of seating options and modern decor throughout the space. Open daily at 5 p.m., menu items range from small plates and sandwiches to flatbreads and seared grouper. Each item features truly seasonal ingredients from The Kitchen’s on-site garden as well as fresh eggs from the farm’s chicken coop.
We were lucky enough to get a preview of this fabulous menu – here’s what we tasted and so enjoyed at The Kitchen.
- Chive Biscuits: Featuring chives from the garden and served with pork butter and apple moonshine jam. Oh yeah – pork butter is a thing – and it’s as delicious as it sounds. These biscuits are a must-order to start your dining experience.
- Kale Pesto Flatbread: Topped with eggplant, gruyere, balsamic onions, a kale pesto and arugula. With farm-fresh kale and a memorable flavor profile, this dish is not your average flatbread fare.
- Whisper Creek Farm Harvest Salad: A colorful presentation featuring citrus ricotta cheese plus lemons and limes grown on-site. Tossed in a light vinaigrette and filled with vegetables, it’s a feast for your eyes as much as your tastebuds.
- Seared Grouper: Served alongside Anson Mills grits, leeks from the farm and anchored by a ham hock broth. An unexpected savory dish that’s the perfect alternative to your standard “Shrimp and Grits” plate.
- Smoked Ham Sandwich: Filled with a Whisper Creek Farm fried egg, avocado, and smoked ham on a house-made honey pecan roll. Served with airy chips dusted with their award winning barbecue spice mix. Originally inspired by a popular sandwich from the original 1927 Marriott Hot Shoppe menu, this dish is now poised to make a grand comeback.
- Kumquat Gelato: Creamy, light and made with kumquats straight from (surprise!), the garden. A nice alternative to overly sweet ice cream and a refreshing treat for those warm spring days.
- The Brewery: Each bite we enjoyed at The Kitchen was paired with a beer – some of which were made in their on-site 26-gallon nano-brewery. Click here for more on the brewery.
Between Highball and Harvest, Primo and now Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen, Grande Lakes is certainly emerging as a food lover’s oasis.
