Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens—Where Flavor Blooms

If you’re looking for a memorable weekend morning, make your way to the La Cañada Flintridge area, which is home to Descanso Gardens—150 acres of cultivated and wild land with trails and lush, botanical gardens. This urban oasis is only 20 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles. There you can opt for a great hike in the hilly neighborhood or walk for miles and take in the lovely garden views inside Descanso Gardens and then treat yourself to a bonanza of a brunch at Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens. 

Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens is a farm-to-table dining destination with a stunning 7,800-square-foot space where you can sip on curated cocktails and refreshments, as well as enjoy a seasonally inspired menu from Executive Chef Adam Cherney and Chef Partner Rich Mead as you relax in a grand, open-air patio.

During our recent weekend morning visit, we hiked in the surrounding area and checked out Devils Gate Dam. But you can also hike along the Flint Canyon Trail as well as Cherry Canyon Trail. And after you’ve worked up a hearty appetite, head over to Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens where immediately you’ll be struck by the impressive interior with its wide-open welcoming space.

Weekend brunch is served from 10:30am to 3pm. You may want to start with one of the Daily Pizza offerings. Our pizza on this day had burrata and peaches. It was fantastically flavorful and filling and the peaches were a very unique pizza topping.

A favorite dish we truly relished was the Seared Salmon with Tehachapi grain project Sonora grain, ginger, leek, mushroom, spinach, citrus, green beans and Thai vinaigrette. The blackened skin really added a terrific taste that paired well with Mandarin orange slices. A nice side item was the French Fried Satsumaimo Sweet Potatoes that satisfied any cravings for potatoes or fries. They were crunchy and savory and served with a papaya mustard dipping sauce and added a nice touch to the experience.

Speaking of elevating brunch, that would include the impressive cocktails. I was a little skeptical of the bar program here but was pleasantly surprised to find out that the libations were on point. The Palm & Prophecy with pineapple gin, herbal liquor, and lemon was a nice and easy and refreshing drink that kicked off brunch just right. This one was very pleasing.

Not to be outdone, the Rose Luna with tequila, aperitif, blood orange shrub, and lemon was a very nice offering with a bit of a stiff punch. This was a wonderful way to finish brunch. As was our dessert, well not really a dessert item but that didn’t stop us as the French Toast with crème brûlée bananas and dates and pecans was served open faced and was decadently delicious. We could not have asked for a better showstopper.

The powers that be here like to say this is where nature, great food, and community come together. The refined dining experience highlights local, sustainably sourced ingredients, redefining culinary excellence in harmony with nature. While that may sound lofty, I have to say we truly did experience flavors as fresh as the garden.

Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive in La Cañada Flintridge. Open Monday -Friday from 11:30am to 10pm and weekends from 10:30am to 10pm. Call (818) 949-4212.