Farmer to Table
There is an increasing hunger to know and connect with the people responsible for growing and raising the food we eat.
At Farmers Kitchen + Bar, we are bridging that connection between farmers and diners. Farmers Kitchen + Bar is owned by the farmer-members of Minnesota Farmers Union, a grassroots organization that works to protect and enhance the prosperity and quality of life of family farmers, ranchers and rural residents.
At Farmers Kitchen + Bar, our recipe for success is simple, and it starts with high-quality local ingredients, treated respectfully every step of the way. From field-to-plate, relationships-to-recipes, our menu reflects our unwavering commitment to quality, community, and the importance of spending your food dollars locally. Minnesota is a great agricultural state, and the food we serve mirrors this greatness. When we say farmer-to-table, we mean it.
Building on Minnesota Farmers Union’s work to protect and bolster farmers and rural communities, Farmers Kitchen + Bar is dedicated to being a seed for positive change, strengthening urban-rural ties through each farm-fresh meal we serve you.
Meet Our Team
Gary Wertish was elected President of Minnesota Farmers Union in January 2017. He has served on the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Sweeteners in Washington D.C., and now is a member of the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds. Gary sees an opportunity with Farmers Kitchen + Bar to connect consumers directly with farmers through farm fresh meals, sharing the value that agriculture has in supporting local family farms. As president he believes in advocating for future generations and providing as many opportunities as possible for Minnesotans to farm and provide safe, nutritious food to consumers.
Gary and his wife have four grown children and four grandchildren. He ran a diversified grain and livestock farm and now assists his son in operating their family farm near Renville. He enjoys gardening and working with his grandchildren on the farm as they grow into future farmers.
Steve Cuateco
The man behind some of your favorite FK+B dishes is stepping up to lead our kitchen. Since 2023, Steve has been our Sous Chef, responsible for the hands-on work of running the kitchen and ensuring our food quality is top notch.
Steve has a broad background that includes Mexican, Mediterranean and Scandinavian cuisine in addition to classic American fare.
He got his start working in restaurants in his Wisconsin hometown. He came to the Twin Cities in 2014 to attend the Art Institute Culinary School and work in some of the top local kitchens including: The Bachelor Farmer, Sookie & Mimi, and Young Joni prior to joining Farmers Kitchen.
“Farmers Kitchen has provided me with an absolutely unique opportunity to demonstrate the versatility and potential of locally sourced ingredients by employing cooking techniques from various cultures,” says Chef Steve.
Steve is known for his creativity, having created some of our most popular dishes including the recent favorite Pasta Bolognese, the Ribeye steak with mashed and fried fingerling potatoes, as well as the legendary Hot Italian Farmer Pasta.
Steve has always valued the bonding and connections that occur when people sit down together over a great meal, and is very excited to create an exceptional culinary experience for you.
Summer Stover has nearly 20 years of experience in the kitchen as a baker, pastry chef and line cook. Summer’s experience at the well-known farm-to-table restaurant Wise Acre Eatery, helped inspire and shape a new passion for food and an appreciation for working with local farmers to bring farm fresh meals to the table.
Summer believes the most important aspect of her work is promoting sustainability and finds that one of the most effective tools to promote this value is food. Farmers Kitchen + Bar gives her the opportunity to work with local family farmers that use organic and regenerative farming practices. Outside of work you will find her gardening, outside building shelves, garden beds and compost bins.