Tale of the Tape: Farmers’ Cabinet

What was once going to be the Grainery and then American Grain Exchange opened yesterday as Farmers’ Cabinet. We forgive the name changes as the Farmers’ Cabinet comes with quite the story.  Originally a Philadelphia publication of the early 1800s the Farmers’ Cabinet is believed to be the first place the word “cocktail” appeared in print.

The Management

• Farmers’ Cabinet is brought to us by Matt and Colleen Swartz and partner Matt Scheller
• The team is also behind:
  • Fork & Barrel (East Falls)
  • Tap & Table (Emmaus, PA)
  • The Bookstore Speakeasy (Bethlehem, PA)
• Chef Peter Felton
  • Has worked at each of the group’s restaurants
• Damon Dyer
  • Drinks expert of New York
  • Formerly bar-tended at Brooklyn’s Clover Club
  • Has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Wine Enthusiast and Food & Wine
• Terry Hawbaker
  • Award winning craft brewer
  • Former brewer of Williamsport’s acclaimed Bullfrog Brewery

The Space

• Space outfitted with large beer barrels
• Mounted animal busts
• Wooden beams lit by candlelight
• Victorian elegance
  • Tufted couches
  • oil lamps
  • Damask blue and white wallpaper
• Two bars, one for cocktails, one for beer
• Walk-up meat and cheese counter
• Communal dining tables
• Largest communal table seats up to 60
• The team did all the work in the space themselves

The Cocktails

• Classic cocktails and modern revisions
• Highlights:
  • Bespoke Whiskey Sour, with a choice of bourbon, rye, Irish whiskey, Scotch, Japanese whiskey or un-aged White Dog Whiskey, with fresh lemon and sugar
  • Pirate’s Coffee, a blend of Irish whiskey and spiced rum, served hot with brown sugar, coffee and hand-whipped cream
  • Round Midnight, dark cherry jam shaken with rum and fresh lemon and topped with Champagne
  • Barrel Aged Martinez, “The Martini’s Granddaddy,” gin and sweet vermouth stirred with a bit of maraschino liqueur and aromatic bitters and then aged for 30 days in a used bourbon barrel.
• Cocktails will range from $10 to $12
• Cocktail List (PDF)

The Beer

• 26 beers on tap
  • Primarily European craft beers
  • Taps will be grouped in to categories by region
• Beers priced $7 to $10
• Half sizes are available
• 80 bottles
• Look for frequent guests from European artisan breweries
• Coming later this year will be beers brewed by Hawbaker
  • Two barrel fermenting system built on premises
  • Expect unusual beers and sour ales
• Beer List (PDF)

The Food

• Chef Felton refers to the food as “‘wild’ in the best possible sense – the kind of things you might have enjoyed in this region back when much of it was farms and woolands.”
• Highlights:
  • Bone Marrow and Roasted Cippolini Soup with butter fried croutons
  • Tarro, Lotus and Beet Root Chips with black garlic and crème fraiche dip
  • Bourbon-Braised Escargot with Tasso ham and caramelized shallots
  • House-Ground Brisket and Bacon Burger, topped with fried egg, Bibb lettuce and heirloom tomato
  • Peekytoe Crab Roll Sandwich with heirloom tomatoes and lettuce
  • Spring Pea Barotto with sweet corn and wild mushroom preserva
• Dishes will range in price from $5 to $32
• Food Menu (PDF)

Farmers’ Cabinet
1113 Walnut St
215-923-1113
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Farmers’ Cabinet Slideshow [f8b8z]

Open daily from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Lunch and brunch will be added later.