Type Private Headquarters Kensington, MD Founded 2008 | Industry Restaurants Number of locations 3 restaurants | |
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Founders Michael Vucurevich & Dan Simons Key people Michael Vucurevich & Dan Simons, Owners
Mark Watne, Owner, Investor
Joe Goetze, Head Chef
Jon Arroyo, Beverage Director
Amanda King, Executive Pastry Chef Profiles | ||
A look inside founding farmers menu
Founding Farmers is an American upscale-casual restaurant owned by North Dakota Farmers Union and Farmers Restaurant Group. The restaurant was founded in 2008 when the owners of VSAG, Dan Simons and Michael Vucurevich, partnered up with North Dakota Farmers Union to open Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Founding Farmers is the first Leed Gold Designed restaurant in Washington, D.C. The restaurant is headquartered in Kensington, MD and has locations in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and soon to be Pennsylvania. Founding Farmers also has two sister restaurants, Farmers Fishers Bakers and Farmers & Distillers, both located in Washington, D.C.
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Founding farmers featured on fn s best thing i ever ate
History
In 2005, members of North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) were interested in developing a restaurant where guests could have access to, and benefit from, food grown, raised, and harvested on American family farms. NDFU first started a restaurant called Agraria, which failed due to numerous factors. North Dakota Farmers Union soon partnered with restaurateurs, Dan Simons and Michael Vucurevich, and opened the first of their restaurants, Founding Farmers DC, in 2008.
Menu
The menu varies slightly by location,each incorporating local tastes and trends. All of the food prepared in Founding Farmers kitchens is made in-house daily, and all locations are part of the Certified Green Restaurant® association. All bread is baked at their in-house bakery, with approximately 118,000 loaves baked per year. Their most popular items include: cornbread, chicken and waffles, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and bacon lollies. In 2013, Founding Farmers published a cookbook with 100 of their menu items. Their bar has gained recognition for their pre-prohibition style cocktails, wine, and craft beer. Founding Farmers also has their own line of proprietary beverages offering guests Founding Farmers Gin, Founding Farmers Rye Whisky, and more.
Critical Review
Travel and Leisure Magazine named Founding Farmers “The Best Farm-To-Table” in Washington, D.C. Founding Farmers was also among Americas Top 100 Brunches in 2016 by Forbes Magazine. In 2015, Founding Farmers gained recognition in the New York Times for their gender-neutral restrooms. In early 2011, Chef Robert Irvine discusses Founding Farmers’ Devilish-Eggs on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”. In June 2016, popular food critic Tom Sietsema reviewed Founding Farmers in The Washington Post, Founding Farmers review, Zero stars for the mega-popular D.C. eatery.
Awards
Locations
In 2016, Founding Farmers has three locations throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, and two more set to open in 2017. Founding Farmers also has two sister restaurants, Farmers Fishers Bakers and Farmers & Distillers, both located in Washington, D.C.