Home Grown

Roots Run Deep

Agritopia flipped the urban-farm concept by establishing the farm first and building a community around it. Twenty years ago, streets lined with single-family homes and spindly trees sprang up around the venerable Agritopia Farm. Today, the tight-knit community has grown to include shops, a school, restaurants, and gathering spaces where neighbors mingle under mature shade trees. Joe’s Farm Grill is a favorite spot on the farm surrounded by citrus groves and fields of seasonal produce. At Uprooted Kitchen, the same bees pollinating the garden might buzz by fresh vegetarian dishes. 

Another pillar of the East Valley’s origin story, Hayden Flour Mills has been an Arizona staple since the late 1800s, when the mill processed desert-grown grains in Tempe. The new mill set up shop next to Sossaman Farms, a prolific Queen Creek grower. Hayden sells its flour mixes, pastas, and crackers in a Gilbert market open to the public. On Tuesdays they open their kitchen, too, preparing farm-fresh lunches and selling loaves from Barrio Bread. Barrio owner and James Beard Award-winner Don Guerra knows his customers can taste the difference stone-milled heritage grains make and wants to tell that story in
Gilbert too. 

Over the years, good neighbors kept coming. It was a natural fit when Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. chose Gilbert for its flagship location more than 10 years ago. The popular brewpub takes a leave-no-trace approach to producing beers flavored with prickly pear fruit, peppers, and other seasonal ingredients grown in Gilbert. Agritopia Farm provides the oranges used to sweeten AZ Dreamsicle and Hayden Flour Mills provides the Sonoran White Wheat used to brew Kachina Kolsch.

Good Neighbors in the Heritage District

Liberty Market was the only grocery store in Gilbert from the 1930s until 1981. Today, the historic charmer operates as an all-day café with a wood-fired pizza oven and an espresso bar. A vintage neon sign marks the spot. Directly across the street is newcomer BATCH Cookie Shop, featuring an assortment of yummy gourmet cookies and bars baked fresh on-site. From warm lava cookies and gooey lemon bars, they even boast a collection of gluten-free options.

The same script of fresh ingredients and scratch cooking carries over to recent additions to the district. Prep & Pastry quickly became Gilbert’s favorite brunch and day-drinking spot with spicy micheladas made with local beer and mixed drinks sweetened with Arizona citrus. Upstairs, Sotol Modern Cocktail Kitchen is the first rooftop bar to come to Gilbert. Prickly pear, citrus, peppers, and other local flavors find their way into colorful dishes and cocktails at this agave-centric concept. Throughout Gilbert, visitors find homegrown eateries that share a passion for everything local.