Duke and Monica Gastiger have at last found the site to a make a reality of their vision for a local farm-to-fork restaurant.
The co-owners of The All-American Rathskeller and Spats Cafe announced Friday that they have purchased Windswept Farm in Patton Township to become the permanent home for RE Farm Café.
Located off Fillmore Road in Patton Township near University Park Airport, Windswept Farm was previously a bed and breakfast and wedding venue owned by Tom Songer. The site includes 57 acres of fields, pastures and woods. The existing house will be repurposed for the restaurant and the farm will transition to become certified organic.
Earlier this year, the Gastigers had initially planned to open RE Farm Cafe at J.L. Farm in Ferguson Township but decided it was not a viable option.
RE Farm will serve local,seasonal food, with fresh ingredients grown on-site. More than just a restaurant, though, the Gastigers seek to make it a community and educational resource. RE Farm plans to be a working lab for the public, students and farmers while offering a unique dining experience
‘Agriforesty, integrative experimental and demonstration agriculture, and constructed wetlands are a few of the exciting components already in the works,’ they said in a news release. ‘Strengthening the local food system, celebrating small family farm heritage and identifying ways to diversify and augment farm incomes are just a few of the goals.’
The cafe will have an open kitchen with theater-in-the-round style dining, a private dining room and 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape. It is registered with the Living Building Challenge and will be constructed to meet the program’s standards for sustainable and regenerative building design.
The Gastigers are planning a 2018 grand opening for RE Farm. The design team includes sustainable architecture consultants 7Group, State College-based PennTerra Engineering, Centre County construction management and design development firm Envinity, conservation planning and wetlands consulting group Biohabitats and other experts in agroforestry and ecology.
Penn State professionals are working with RE Farm to provide student opportunities, according to the release.
