It’s no surprise that Mexico is our happy place. It’s where we eat delicious food, sip savory drinks, and recharge our batteries perched on a chair in the sand. Every year that we go we keep our eyes peeled for something fresh and new to inspire our design team. This last adventure, we were in Cabo San Lucas and were given a fantastic recommendation to check out an organic farm-meets-restaurant called Flora Farms.
Flora Farms, a ten-acre organic farm located in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in San Jose del Cabo, is brimming with crops that boast the organic seal of approval: zero pesticides or genetically modified seeds for nearly 10-years. Being located in ideal weather conditions isn’t so bad either– this region has a winter growing season, corresponding with a local high season and need for organic exported produce pretty much all of the time. After the farm was founded by local farmers seeking to make a difference in the way food is handled in Mexico, Flora Farms flourished into a brand and destination with the Flora Field Kitchen, Farm Bar, Flora Grocery, and Culinary Cottages.
The farmers that live and work on the beautiful land handle each crop meticulously and mostly by hand to ensure quality and abundant growth each season. From tomatoes to cucumbers to potted herbs, Flora Farms prides itself on its collection of organic crops that are available to purchase at the Flora Grocery, or dine on at the Flora Field Kitchen. Much like our own Farm to Fork movement in Sacramento, the farm at Flora Farms is making connections between the farm, ranch, restaurant, and market, using efficient farming methods and sustainable cycles, like feeding the older flowers and crops to the chickens to ensure that the animals and livestock are also certified organic. All of the animals on the farm can roam wherever they please, and are carefully examined and watched to make sure they are only eating the best crops and raised in the healthiest environment.
The farm workers’ sense of awareness and push for eco-friendly resources and practices are reflected in the food served at the farm, as well as the groceries you can bag yourself of the freshly harvested eats. Each bite is sure to be high-quality, and highly delicious, too!
The Flora Farms Field Kitchen operates with a sense of integrity. From the chefs who arrive at dawn to start preparing bread dough for the day’s meals, to the handmade culinary creations created from farm fresh ingredients, each plate is thoughtfully planned to represent the farm’s pure and organic values. Chefs, cooks, stewards, and butchers are totally hands-on throughout the day, often kicking off the work day at 4am and ending as soon as all of the guests have filled their bellies with gourmet bites and drinks. We were thrilled to secure our seats for a late-night dinner as Flora Farm is reservation only, and one of the hottest spots in town.
As if this place isn’t fun enough, Flora Farms is also equipped with the Farm Bar, a field-side gathering place for relaxation and celebration. We happened to be there on a night where a local band was playing underneath a halo of twinkling lights, but the Farm Bar does offer other types of celebration, too. Along with traditional Mexican and American cocktails, the Farm Bar has a menu of fruit and veggie infused specialty cocktails plucked right from the orchard.
The Farm Bar is perched alongside the expansive field and is framed by brick, metal, and glass, giving a very organic look to the structure while still maintaining its rustic barn aesthetic. Between the organically-crafted cocktails and super inviting ambiance, we were absolutely hooked on this cozy corner of Flora Farm.
If we didn’t make it clear by all of the oohing and aahing over Flora Farms’ high quality produce, delicious kitchen, and fabulous night scene, then Flora’s Grocery will surely convince you that you should pay this place a visit, stat. Stocked with produce from the fields, humanely raised meats, eggs, breads, sweets, pickled goods, sauces, dressings, and preserves, Flora’s Grocery is the epicenter of sustainable shopping. Enveloped by the aroma of freshly baked bread and potted herb gardens, we were entranced by Flora Grocery’s selection of goods, and the beautiful way they were displayed in lead-free containers and coupled with local artisan crafts, like bean pots and candles. If you ever needed an excuse to do your grocery shopping in Mexico, this is it.
We know what you’re thinking: But wait, can I live there? The answer, my friends, is YES. Flora Farms’ popularity and message has grown and reached so many people, that the team at the farm have created what they’re calling Culinary Cottages. Only 10 in number, the handcrafted luxury outbuildings are nestled within a private section of Flora Farms. Though they are mostly sold out (for now), tours are available, which is how we snagged these awesome shots of the chef-approved kitchen and rustically beautiful interior. So if you’ve always dreamt of going to bed in a handcrafted cottage perched on a Mexican farm full of organic eats and roaming chickens and hand-crafted cocktails, now’s your chance.
In summation, 10/10 would highly recommend exploring Flora Farms and all of its offerings on your next adventure down south. Who knows, you might score one of the last culinary cottages!
