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Located on an eponymous 130-year-old farm in southeast Fort Collins, Jessup Farm Artisan Village opened late last summer as a sustainable residential and retail community. With its mix of artisan small businesses (which operate out of rehabbed, century-old structures), the nearby Bucking Horse residences, and an on-site working farm, Jessup Farm is like a pastoral love child between the Source and Stapleton’s town center.
You’ll certainly want to carve out some time to browse the meticulously curated clothing at Heyday boutique or to marvel at the restored antique watches with 3D-printed cases at Vortic Watch Company. But the real allure of Jessup Farm is its handful of artisan food and drink purveyors. From single-origin coffee to hearty sandwiches to summery beer cocktails, Jessup Farm is a must-visit for any foodie. Here, a primer on what to eat and drink while you’re there.
A server at the Farmhouse with the avocado-grapefruit salad and burger
The farm’s anchor business is a brunch, lunch, and dinner restaurant operating out of the former farmhouse. Seating is spread across a front porch, backyard patio, five-person bar, and two-story dining room.
Eat: Go for locally sourced takes on home-style classics—fried chicken, lamb sirloin, and pork chops for dinner; daily doughnuts and Hatch green chile skillets for breakfast. For something on the lighter side, order shareable plates of spring pea and fava hummus or cauliflower hush puppies.
Beer cocktails at the Barrel House
A veteran of Durango’s Carver Brewing teamed up with the owners of Fort Collins’ Funkwerks to focus on barrel-aged and blended drafts for this new pet project. Enter Jessup Farm’s former barn to find bourbon, tequila, and red wine barrels filled with various aging brews. Head upstairs to the hay-loft-turned-taproom to try flights based on style or barrel. You’ll notice most ABVs are below seven percent, making these sippers day-drinking friendly.
Drink: Be sure to ask about the summer beer cocktails, which combine two Barrel House brews (like spiced wheat with tequila barrel-aged pale ale) with a splash of limeade or raspberry lemonade.
The iced Guillermo drink (espresso, lime, cinnamon-sugar rim) and a strawberries and cream turnover from Bindle Coffee
In the farm’s former mechanic shop, husband-and-wife team Andrew and Jenn Webb pedal ethically sourced coffee and pastries that’ll rival those of your grandmother’s. The beans (which come from Crop to Cup and Coffee Shrub importers) are roasted in-house and sell in smartly branded camping cups or takeaway bags for home brewing.
Coffee Break: Don’t miss the Bindle Mint Julep, which is made with cold brew Congo coffee, agave syrup, muddled mint, and cream. Pair it with one of the strawberries and cream turnovers and grab a window seat for optimal people watching.
Baked goods and a Colorado Cuban sandwich at the Loafing Shed
The village’s newest eatery is run by the same team behind the Farmhouse and offers a counter-service lunch and dinner option with casual community seating. House-baked breads are the backbone of a succinct sandwich, small plate, and pizza menu.
Eat: Grab a Colorado Cubano sandwich layered with lamb shoulder, ham, Swiss cheese, and house pickles. Wash it down with a WeldWerks Hefeweizen (Greeley) or Horse & Dragon’s Almost Summer Ale (Fort Collins) and finish with one of the Loafing Shed’s throwback baked goods, like the adorable take on a Hostess cupcake.
1957 Jessup Drive, Fort Collins, 970-631-8041
—All photos by Josie Sexton