On a perfect summer evening, we found ourselves tucked away in the hills at The Farm at Glenwood Mountain, surrounded by nature, good food, and about 90 other lucky diners. It’s hard to believe, standing there in the golden hour glow, that just a decade ago, this 180-acre farm had been abandoned and completely hidden from the road beneath decades of overgrowth.
Owners Steve and Candice MacLean purchased the land 10 years ago and have spent the last decade pouring their hearts into restoring it—transforming the forgotten property into a thriving USDA certified organic farm, a wedding & private event venue, and farm market in Vernon, NJ.
Dinner in the Herb Garden
Dinner was served in a charming outdoor herb garden, just steps from the barn. A spacious courtyard beneath a canopy of string lights, rustic wood tables mixed with white linens, and vintage metal chairs. The atmosphere struck a perfect balance—simple yet elegant, country casual with a little edge of chic.
From where we sat, we could see beds of basil, rosemary, and vibrant summer vegetables wrapping around the dining area, with the gardens stretching into the horizon. Fresh flowers and candles adorned every table, while the soft murmur of conversation mixed with the occasional moo from the pasture beyond.
Between our salad and main course, they brought in their famous Highland cows for the evening, casually grazing in the distance like models hired for the perfect photo op.
The converted Coney Island Beer trailer, currently serving as their operating kitchen while their new kitchen is being built, was bustling with energy as the team served up course after course of farm-to-table dishes.
Steve, a professional chef trained at the French Culinary Institute in NYC, with past experience at top Manhattan restaurants and the renowned Brick Farm Tavern in Hopewell, NJ, leads the culinary direction here, crafting menus that highlight the farm’s own meat and produce. As each course was presented, Steve made a brief appearance to describe the dish we were about to enjoy.
On The Menu
The dinner menu, commonly not finalized until the morning of the event, was a true celebration of fresh, seasonal flavors, with every course thoughtfully crafted to highlight ingredients grown and raised right on the farm.
We began with Glazed Pork Belly, which was perfectly tender and glazed with a smoky-sweet summer barbecue sauce. It was served alongside a refreshing fennel and kohlrabi slaw, tossed in herbed buttermilk dressing, which was the perfect complement in both taste and texture.
The next course was a standout: Burrata & Beet. Creamy burrata was paired with crisp, raw spiralized beets, adding a refreshing crunch to each bite. Toasted pine nuts brought just the right amount of texture, while a white balsamic vinaigrette and a sprinkle of fine herbs made the whole dish bright and summery.
For the main, we enjoyed The Farm’s Chicken Caesar — a creative spin on the classic salad. It featured a silky lettuce velouté, crunchy torn sourdough croutons, and a delicate grana padano foam. The chef explained that their pasture-raised chickens grow much more slowly than the typical supermarket bird, resulting in richer, more flavorful meat. For this dish, they used the chicken carcasses to make a deeply concentrated stock, simmering it low and slow over three days until it reduced to almost 10% of its original volume. The result was an incredibly intense “chicken jus” poured over the chicken —easily my favorite dish of the night. You could taste the difference in every bite: rich, comforting, and unmistakably authentic.
Dessert was a Honey Ricotta Cheesecake, topped with berries picked fresh that morning. The ricotta was made fresh on the farm that morning, using milk from their cows. This creamy creation was nested in a toasted pistachio crust, and finished with a touch of fresh mint: light, flavorful, and just the right amount of sweetness to close out the meal.
Every course felt connected to the land around us—simple ingredients elevated by expert technique, all enjoyed in the heart of the farm where it was grown and raised.
Note: Farm dinners are BYO, and tickets can be purchased online. You can also sign up for dinner announcements, which are made approximately one month in advance, by following this link. The next farm dinners will take place on August 15, 16, and 17th.
More Than Just Dinner: A True Farm Experience
As the sun dipped behind the mountains, casting the sky in shades of lavender and gold, the fires in the cast iron kettles were lit, adding to the magic of the evening. Guests mingled in everything from linen summer dresses to relaxed jeans and button-downs, sipping wine and chatting about the night.
In addition to their public farm dinners, Steve and Candice now host weddings and private events, and have expanded their herd to over 1,800 animals, raising free-range chickens, pigs, sheep, and cattle, with turkeys coming to the farm this week. They also raise heritage rabbits and ducks, and keep bees for honey.
They also offer lodging on the property and operate a farm market stocked with their pasture-raised meats and fresh produce. While it’s remained a bit under the radar, this year marks their 10th anniversary—an incredible milestone for a first generation family-run farm that’s been a true labor of love.
Waking Up to Farm Views and Tranquility
The next morning, waking up in the cute renovated cottage directly across the street from the farm felt like we’d traveled a thousand miles away from reality. We sipped coffee from Adirondack chairs by a small fire pit, looking out over rolling fields where cows grazed quietly in the distance and a slow-moving tractor ambled up the hill. The farm also features a charming attached suite, often used by bridal parties on wedding days but also available for overnight stays. Just across the road, the farmhouse offers the largest accommodations on the property and can be rented for a more spacious, extended stay experience.
After an excellent farm-to-fork breakfast of bacon, sausage, fresh eggs, tiny tomatoes, house-made herbed ricotta, and fresh-baked bread, we headed out on the four-wheeler to get a tour of the property and see some of the livestock and the views of the Appalachian Mountains.
It was the kind of night—and morning—that reminds you how special these little pockets of the world can be when people put their hearts into them.
The Farm at Glenwood Mountain
1801 Glenwood Rd, Vernon, NJ 07461
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