So many new restaurants and shops are opening in our area that I have a backlog of newsworthy new-ish places to write about. The one that’s been on my mind for months is Farmette, a picturesque market on Highway 12 outside of New Buffalo.

If you closed your eyes and imagined the perfect, picturesque farm market in a charming lake town, Farmette would be it.

Already a cult favorite among foodies, plenty of people still haven’t heard of or experienced it. It’s easy to miss as you drive on 12 toward New Buffalo, past the dozen or so new pot dispensaries that have opened up in the past year. It’s set back a bit, and a shortage of construction workers (they’re all building the dispensaries!) has meant a delay in getting a sign on the road.

Farmette is the brainchild of owner Katie Burdett, who helped manage Rick Bayless’ home rooftop garden in Chicago, where vegetables and herbs were grown for his Frontera restaurants. Katie earned a certificate in sustainable horticulture and agriculture from the Chicago Botanic Garden and also built a garden at Big Delicious Planet, a catering company in Chicago.  

She moved to Southwest Michigan in 2015, and managed Granor Farm’s 250-acre organic farm operations. (More on Granor in a future post.)

Farmette is an Instagram fever dream, a charming spot with vegetables and flowers grown on the premises, a coffee bar, wine and beer for drinking around firepits or to go; a loaded specialty food section and refrigerated cases full of mostly local prepared food, cheeses, meats, and more. An in-house bakery makes wonderful focaccia and sourdough, including a chocolate loaf that sells out early. Locally famous Bit of Swiss in Stevensville provides muffins and pastries in the cafe.

It’s a terrific place to stop on your way to a vacation rental and shop, have a glass of wine, cold brew, a beer or cup of coffee, a muffin. If you’ve got kids in tow, they can run around the premises and check out the greens, flowers and vegetables growing in the garden. Gift boxes of specialty foods make great hostess gifts.

Farmette has been advertising for a general manager and a farm-to-table chef; I wouldn’t be surprised to see farm dinners popping up this fall. Note that while walking from downtown New Buffalo to Farmette would be a hike, a new bike trail passes right by.

Farmette, 18439 US-12, New Buffalo