The farm-to-table concept is nothing new. But it’s a rising social movement worth noting, especially if you are a foodie. This concept refers to the food using fresh ingredients including meat, seafood and vegetables sourced directly from local farmers or vendors. Below are the selected 8 farm-to-table eateries you can dine in Malaysia.
1) The Farm
The name of this restaurant says it all. The Farm delivers exactly what you are here for — a farm-to-table dining experience using their self-grown fresh ingredients harvested from their urban farming lab. They even source other ingredients that are not grown in-house from local vendors and farmers. Love salads? Try their fresh produce such as The Farm Mix Salad or Lovely Harvest, where the latter combines mixed greens, strawberries and pistachios in a tangy citrus plum dressing. For mains, they have hearty choices like Farmer’s Grilled Free Range Chicken and Pommeri Salmon. Finally, finish off with one of their sweet offerings, namely a slice of cake or the freshly-made American-style Waffle & Ice Cream.
Address: Unit G-01 & G-02, Level Ground, The Sphere, Bangsar South, 59200 Kuala Lumpur.
2) Caffe Sprouts
The classy glass-walled interior isn’t the only thing that attracts attention upon dining at Caffe Sprouts. Their menu is just as noteworthy, offering the farm-to-table concept sourced from their partnered local farms. They have assorted pasta dishes such as the creamy fusion Duck Egg Carbonara and Pumpkin Al Fredo. Or dig into one of their wholesome rice bowls, namely the signature Bowl-dest Steak (charcoal grilled Angus skirt steak) and Bowl of the Sea (cured grilled Saba mackerel with laksa pesto). They serve a breakfast menu too from the classic Eggs & Toast to Fennel Chicken Panini and Avocado Hash Sandwich.
Address: L2-05, TSLAW Tower, 39, Jalan Kamuning, Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
3) Bug’s Paradise Farm
This family-friendly Bug’s Paradise Farm in Puchong is known for its guided organic farm tour. Once you are done, you can visit their restaurant serving farm-to-table vegetarian steamboat. They use fresh and organic produce like lettuce, tomatoes and cabbage to pair with the available soup base of your choice such as kimchi, miso and spicy pepper.
Address: Lot 46692, Jalan Pulau Meranti, Kampung Pulau Meranti, 47120 Puchong, Selangor.
4) Farm Cafe
As the name suggests, Farm Cafe’s menu heavily on the farm-to-table concept using fresh and high-quality ingredients sourced from local farmers. They have an all-day breakfast menu such as the bestselling Big Abang Breakfast using cage-free eggs as part of their ingredients. When comes to entrees, their house speciality Nasi Beringin offers choices like Ayam Panggang, Gulai Kambing and the slow-braised Lamb Shank. Fancy a pasta meal with a local twist? Try their wok-fried Spaghetti Mamak or others like Laksa Harimau, which combines spaghetti and curried coconut broth. Farm Cafe even has its own grass-fed organic dairy farm, offering its signature cold fresh milk and flavoured milkshakes.
Address: 1, Jalan Industri Batu Caves 1/1, Taman Perindustrian, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor.
5) The Gift Tilapia Restaurant
Fans of tilapia fish might want to head to The Gift Tilapia Restaurant, where they are known for their quality freshwater fish. They adhere to the farm-to-table concept, ensuring customers can enjoy freshly caught fish and have it cooked upon order. They offer different cooking styles such as Steam Soy Sauce, Ginger Sauce and Nyonya Sauce. Apart from their signature tilapia dishes, don’t forget to order their soft Poached Free Range Chicken, available in quarter or half per bird.
Address: 11, Lorong Merbok 6/1, Taman Bunga Blossom, 70100 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
6) A Little Farm On The Hill
Escape from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle and consider driving to Janda Baik to enjoy a unique farm-to-table dining experience at A Little Farm On The Hill. This restaurant only accepts pre-booked reservations, offering curated seasonal choices of dishes using fresh produce that is grown and harvested from their own farm. They have two places that you can dine in: the 18-seating Dining Room and The Farmhouse, which can accommodate up to 60 persons.
Address: Lot 161 Tanarimba, Persiaran Enderong, Kampung Janda Baik, 28750 Bentong, Pahang.
7) Nada Natural Farming
Penang is home to many famous local street foods but if you prefer a farm-to-table experience, there’s one available at Nada Natural Farming. You get to enjoy good food in the rustic comfort of a shack surrounded by lush greens and mountain views. Speaking of foods, start with their Hand-Cut Russet Potato Fries with a choice of Original (served with homemade chilli sauce), Aonori (aonori flakes with homemade mayo) or Truffle. You can go for one of their toasted crusty baguettes such as the Italian Meatball or their pasta dishes, namely the classic Carbonara using free-range egg yolks and Squids & Ink. Don’t forget to pair your meal with their house speciality, refreshing Kefir with flavours like Nutmeg, Apple & Lime and Pink Guava, Pineapple & Mint.
Address: Lot 646 & 647, Jalan Kuala Sungai Burung, Kampung Sungai Burung, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang.
8) Our Land Eco Farm
Located at Tuaran, Sabah, Our Land Eco Farm houses a seafood restaurant serving fresh seafood and locally-grown produce. And by fresh, live seafood such as fish, prawns and lobsters are picked directly from the tanks and cooked to order, depending on the respective customer’s choice. Among their must-try dishes? Do try their signature butter tiger prawns cooked in creamy buttermilk that brings out the meaty and seafood sweetness of the fresh crustaceans.
Address: Kg Batangan Baru, 89200 Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
