Coming Soon Easton's Newest Restaurant

For those of you who did not make the trek to the fun (but frozen) event at Edwin Keach Park, you missed a great time. Many town groups and businesses were on hand and lots of free gifts were available. It was wonderful to see the park, a great community effort, in such great shape. Just a perfect down home day and a chance to catch up with a number of Edwin's classmates. I think there will be more special days at this site as well as its use as a multi-sport facility

Perhaps the biggest news was a table set up by the couple that will be opening The Farmer's Daughter restaurant on Main Street. This long awaited opening will take place next month. The restaurant will be open for breakfast and lunch. Closed Mondays, I believe they will open at 6 Tuesday through Saturday and 7 on Sunday. Sadly the only samples being handed out yesterday were sample menus, but it looks like we may be in for a real treat.

For example, for breakfast you could start with the Farmer's Choice which is two eggs any style, crispy smashed potatoes and either  bacon, onion and apple sausage or sweet potato turkey hash. Both Huevos Ranchero and Arroz con Huevos add an exotic bit to the menu while the Stonehill is a bagel sandwich with either fried or scrambled eggs and Vermont Cheddar (you can add on more) In the sweet section there are enough offerings to make my blood sugar go off the charts just reading them although I'm imagining the possibility of the Blue Corn Griddle Cakes and a long walk at the Governor Ames Estate. The sample breakfast menu ended with small plates that included smoked salmon with toasted brioche, creme fraiche, capers and fresh dill. There will also be a Quiche of the Day and a Cheese Plate. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Green Eggs and Ham All Grown Up-toasted croissant, fried egg, pesto, crispy prosciutto, slow roasted tomato and baby greens. Then there's the Skinny "Chick" Omelet, but you'll just have to wait for that one.

Lunch will run the gamut from good old fashioned cheeseburgers (from locally sourced beef), and turkey, ham, or veggie sandwiches to more exotic offerings like the Bangkok Wrap, Pulled Pork, and their take on the Cuban. Perhaps most intriguing for a guy who has hated the look and smell of tuna sandwiches there will be a Not Your Mom's Tuna Melt with imported oil preserved tuna, fontina cheese, roasted peppers and salsa verde on pressed sourdough. The salads look good too from the Thai Steak Salad to a Pan Asian Salad that features black quinoa, slaw, edamane, and your choice of several proteins. I have fond memories of a wonderful Salad Nicoise eaten many years ago in Quebec so I'm especially looking forward to the version at the The Farmer's Daughter. If all this wasn't enough, this is only the sample menu remember, more is promised, and the menu notes that you can ask for things off the menu too! Their motto is "if we can make it, we will."

Suddenly Easton is developing a very competitive restaurant scene for the early part of the day. The Farmer's Daughter has huge potential depending on three factors. First, like all restaurants it has to find its niche in the price structure. The other factors are location based. As we all know parking is a problem in North Easton and we will be digging up the streets very soon. If we enjoy the food there we'll have to make a special effort to stop by until foot traffic from the new apartments at Shovel Shop can provide a solid base of every day customers. The owners plan to put up an awning and have a few tables outside bistro fashion, but that may not be possible due to the onerous necessity of putting in a handicapped ramp, the third problem. Doug King has already removed the historic doors from the building to meet handicapped code, but, as the buildings on Main Street get renovated we will be stuck with more and more unsightly ramps unless a historic preservation waiver is granted or a creative alternative like the ones at 100 and 104 Main Street can be devised. So far no luck on a historic waiver which is very sad. Don't get me wrong-I wheeled my Mom around for a couple of years so I know how important access is-but some compromise is needed if our historic downtown is going to add to the "brand" that is Easton.

We also need to remember our excellent other lunch spots like Andrews Cafe. Recently added is the new Slice of Greek across from Stonehill (try their Greek specialties, yum! The Moussaka lunch special is excellent)  and the wonderful Not Just Thaboulle (try their Mid-East specialties, but don't forget their Angus Burger or Grilled Cheese!).  Finally, for those that cross the border for breakfast there is the good old extremely consistent and highly affordable Stonebridge and Back Bay Bagel. Take it from someone who worked in Randolph in the old days-Back Bay Bagel makes great bagels even if you have to have them hollowed out to reduce the carbs. I'd hate to lose any of these spots not to mention my dinner favorites. I'm going to do my part-does anyone want to buy a used stove?