Chef's Corner
Rob Townsend is a busy man. As Executive Chef for Ayrshire Farm in Upperville, Virginia he and sous chefs Missy Chaffins purchase, plan and prepare food for Ayrshire’s three retail food establishments: Hunters Head Tavern; The Home Farm Store; and Ayrshire’s expansive catering business.
Ayrshire’s Hunters Head Tavern is an old English style pub serving lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. The restaurant is located in the historic Carr house in Upperville, VA a building which dates back to 1750. Menu offerings include sandwiches, soups, salads, fish and chips, fried chicken, grilled steaks, pork chops and fish, as well as several vegetarian offerings and desserts.
The Home Farm Store located in Middleburg, Virigina is a gourmet butcher shop and market offering certified USDA organic, Certified Humane Raised and Handled®, pasture raised meat and poultry. The store carries Ayrshire’s famous heritage breed meats and heirloom produce which comes from Ayrshire and other local farms. Also available are a large selection of groceries including dairy items, wine, prepared foods, and gift baskets.
Visitors to Hunters Head Tavern are treated to a journey back in time. At the time of its last purchase in 1997, the upper-story addition to the original cabin was falling into the first floor because the original, one-story cabin’s ceiling couldn’t support the second floor, added sometime in the early 1800’s. Determined to keep the original character and historical significance of the building, Ayrshire worked closely with local builders and architects. According to one builder who worked on the restoration, “I’ve been in this business for thirty-five years and I have no idea why it’s still standing.” The house had settled so much that most of the windows were inoperable and the doors unable to close.
The original Carr house well is visible in the basement. The only change to the house has been the addition of the small kitchen at the back of the original building. It is rumored that the heavy gate into the walled garden is from the old Upperville jail.
The house is reputed to be home to several ghosts, one, a middle-aged colonial-era man dressed in brown. He seems to be a happy spirit, possibly because the old Carr House, after almost 100 years as a tenant house, antique shop, and office, is now once again serving food and drink to local visitors.
How does one man juggle food purchase and preparation, a restaurant, an organic market and a thriving catering business? “I work all the time,” said Rob, but its work that he truly loves.
Besides managing the retail business and developing fresh and innovative recipes, every few months, Rob arranges and prepares tasting for local foodies as well as Chefs in the DC area. Guests are invited to sample Ayrshire’s fine variety of meats, turkey, beef and pork and other seasonal items. Each tasting ends with rave reviews.
Rob embraces his work and the farming way of life at Ayrshire. “Every morning I come to work and drive thru the gates of the farm and watch veal calves in the yard happily playing, carrying on their natural behaviors, grazing. It’s a natural, holistic way to raise animals for food, and results in a better life for the livestock and better quality food for the consumer.”
Ayrshire is successful in bringing livestock and crop production to both self-sufficiency and profitability and achieving these goals using humane, organic, sustainable farming methods. We are pleased that Ayrshire is part of the Humane Farm Animal Care family.
Ingredients
Directions
Add more olive oil if necessary and brown carrots, onions and celery all together until lightly caramelized.
Deglaze pan with red wine.
Cover with parchment paper or lid and simmer on the stovetop about 1 -1/2 hours adding the sweet potato in the last half hour of cooked.
Salt & Pepper to taste. Serve with crusty bread and a salad.
About Upperville
The Virginia Piedmont country is known for its rolling hills, thoroughbred horse farms and several American Civil War battles. The Battle of Upperville took place on June 21, 2863 and was part of the Gettysburng Campaign.
Upperville even has its own poem, authored by John Updike. An excerpt follows:
