Sheepskin blankets, open-flame heaters and $12,000: How Farmhouse Tavern winterized their patio by building a barn – Toronto Life

Sheepskin blankets, open-flame heaters and $12,000: How Farmhouse Tavern winterized their patio by building a barn

After eight years, Farmhouse Tavern finally has its own barn. The Junction Triangle restaurants new outdoor patiobuilt shortly after the province shut down indoor dining for a second time this yearis an appropriately rustic shelter, featuring element-blocking wood walls and a sloped roof, sheepskin throws on every seat and open-flame heaters between tables to keep diners warm. We spoke with owner Nancy Thornhill about the restaurants fast-paced barn-raising, and how she plans to keep things cozy (and delicious) throughout the cold winter months.

In the summer, Farmhouse Taverns patio fit 27 people, but it was uncovered and unheatedmeaning the restaurant was planning to depend on seating guests inside throughout the winter. But when indoor dining was, once again, shut down on October 9, Thornhill knew she needed to winterize the patioand fast. Thornhill enlisted construction and masonry firms to build what theyre calling The Barn. They did the work for about $12,000 in just three days. The Barn can seat 27 physically distanced patronsthe same number as the original patiobut sheltered from the elements. A corrugated steel roof has yet to be built. When that happens, were going to have a barn raising, Thornhill says, but well stagger the party so we dont have too many people.

As with many restaurants that have new, pandemic-friendly patios, Farmhouse is planning to get thematic with their winter menus, mapping out seasonally themed snacks and drinksthink mulled wine and maple syrup snow candyto get patrons into a festive mood once the snow starts to fall. One of Thornhills big ideas is raclette, the oozy Alpine dish that involves melting cheese over potatoes, charcuterie and anything else that goes well with cheese. Each table might have their own raclette grill, Thornhill says, which will actually generate even more heat to keep people warm.

Thornhill says Farmhouse will resume indoor dining as soon as the Ontario government says they can. But shes taken taken steps to ensure the restaurant is making money even in the event of further restrictions: shes now selling pantry items such as house-made ketchup and barbecue sauce, shes turned part of the space into a small bottle shop, and theres Farmhouse-branded merch for customers to bring home with takeout orders to enhance their at-home dining experiences.

Thornhill took over ownership of Farmhouse Tavern in July, and will celebrate her six-month anniversary in January by offering $6 menu items. Shes also partnered with Romero House, a charity down the street, to provide brunch service for two families that use Romeros services each weekendon the new patio, if they like. Theres research that shows that kids who sit together with their families for a meal once a week are more successful, she says. So I thought, well, thats simple. We can offer that.

Farmhouse Tavern, 1627 Dupont St., 416-936-8547, farmhousetavern.ca

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Sheepskin blankets, open-flame heaters and $12,000: How Farmhouse Tavern winterized their patio by building a barn - Toronto Life