By Roger Naylor
The farm-to-table movement has been a growing force in the restaurant industry for many years. Establishing a direct connection from food producers to kitchens is certainly a positive trend and shows no sign of abating.
When diners sit down for a meal, most are pleased to know the food they are about to consume was sourced from within the community or region. This strengthens local economies and promotes sustainability. Farm-to-table dining prioritizes high-quality seasonal ingredients, which provides numerous health benefits. At Castle Hot Springs, they take everything a step farther.
At no other restaurant does the farm-to-table concept become so apparent, the significance so clear. When you sit down at Harvest, you can actually see the farm from your table — it’s just outside the window. The 3-acres of farming soil on the property produces more than 150 different crops cultivated during each season. That is where every exquisite meal begins.
“If you want to know the philosophy of the restaurant, it’s right there in the name,” says Chris Knouse, Executive Chef of Castle Hot Springs. “Harvest. It’s all about what’s coming out of the ground right now. That’s what we gather at its peak and put on the plates.”
This is farm-to-table dining celebrating its very essence. The farm and table exist side by side, creating an unparalleled level of fresh ingredients for every meal. This produce never gets packaged or loaded onto a truck. It is simply walked across the lawn and in through the kitchen door.
Yet it is more than just physical proximity that makes this such a special arrangement. At Castle Hot Springs, the farm and table are connected by a common purpose. Most restaurants rely on independent farmers to provide a selection of whatever they happen to be growing, usually crops that are easy to sell. But at Castle Hot Springs, the farmers are concerned only with pleasing palates.
Here, it is a team effort. The farmers and kitchen staff work closely together from the beginning. They choose which crops to plant, zeroing in on the varieties that will thrive in the desert environment and, just as importantly, produce the best flavor. Each delicious dish at Harvest and Bar 1896 is carefully curated every step of the way, from seed to plate. To understand it even more in-depth, be sure to take a Farm Tour early in your visit to Castle Hot Springs.
“With wellness being a top priority here at Castle Hot Springs, the menu is also health conscious and avoids many food allergens” says Knouse. “With that being said, you can still enjoy a juicy cheeseburger with locally sourced grass-fed beef if you want. The breakfast and lunch menus change seasonally but the dinner menu changes daily.”
That commitment to healthy and varied cuisine means that all guests can have a remarkable dining experience at the restaurant. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options are included at each meal, all highlighting the same freshness, the same vivid flavors.
Like each experience at Castle Hot Springs, meals are mindful. They are meant to be savored. That’s easier to do knowing the kitchen staff is working with ingredients they are thoroughly familiar with—ingredients grown organically and picked fresh only minutes before and footsteps away.
“We are always a vegetarian-friendly restaurant because we have so many options available,” says Knouse. “The vegetables come first; they’re the showcase. And since we practice regenerative agriculture, we can afford to be selective. Only what is absolutely prime that day lands on plates.”
Yet nothing goes to waste. Any produce that doesn’t meet the highest standards gets returned to the earth. It’s mulched, composted, or used to feed the farm chickens. Everything is done to replenish the soil. That’s the backbone of regenerative farming. Soil teeming with organic matter is not only good for the planet but produces nutrient rich food.
Each dinner menu is created that very day, depending on the daily harvest. Yet months of planning, hours of work, and thoughtful collaboration went into it beforehand. The culmination is world-class cuisine—fresh, vibrant, and unforgettable. It’s the kind of meal that reminds you that you’re really on vacation. How can healthy taste so indulgent?
There are many restaurants offering farm-to-table dining. Only one gives you a table at the farm. Welcome to Harvest.