Flavour, Place, and Community.

Rustic Farm Dining

The bistro is casual, counter-service dining: order at the counter, and we’ll bring your meal to your table, often sharing a little about the cheeses and dishes along the way.

We do not take reservations, but for groups of 8 or more, advanced notice is appreciated. Guests can settle at picnic tables, Muskoka chairs, or bar seating. The facilities are simple and clean, and the setting is rustic — in North Frontenac, you may spot the occasional black fly or mosquito during warmer months, all part of the countryside dining experience.

This is good food, served simply and thoughtfully. If you’re looking for polished, full-service fine dining, this isn’t it — but if you enjoy relaxed meals and genuine connection around the table, you’ll feel right at home.

The bistro is the heart of the farm.

Here on the farm, the kitchen begins in the fields. The ingredients served here come from our own fields, gardens, and pastures. Our cheeses, meats, and seasonal produce are grown and prepared on site, then brought into the kitchen where they are cooked simply and thoughtfully.

Much of the cooking is done in the traditional way — over wood fire — where flame, time, and good ingredients shape the flavour of each dish.

Set along the banks of the Mississippi River, the bistro is also a place to gather. Guests settle in for long tables, good music, and relaxed conversation, surrounded by the landscape that produced the meal before them.

This is a small, owner-operated kitchen run by a very small team. We make the cheese, we raise the food, and we cook the meals ourselves. Nothing here is designed for scale or replication. It exists simply as it is — a working farm sharing its table.

More than anything, the bistro is about connection: people connecting with food, with land, and with one another.

Meals are served seasonally at the farm. We invite you to join us at the table.

  • A hand holding a large ball of mozzarella cheese.
  • Three people sitting at a wooden table outdoors by a lake, drinking wine and beer, with a board and glasses, with nature and trees in the background.
  • Plate with roasted cherry tomatoes, garnished with herbs, served with slices of sliced bread
  • Cheese, cured meats, sliced bread, pickled vegetables, radishes, and herbs on a wooden board.
  • Close-up of three pieces of cheese in front of a cheese board with sliced cheese in the background.
  • Close-up of a freshly baked pizza topped with zucchini slices, cheese, and edible flower petals on a wooden serving board. Two other pizzas are visible in the background.
  • Pizza baking in a wood-fired oven with flames visible in the background.
  • Close-up of canapé with bread, sliced meat, dollop of cream, and artichoke garnishes on a dark stone serving board.
  • Dessert with a round baked good topped with a pink flower, green mint leaf, and a pink icing disc, served on a floral-patterned plate with fruit compote underneath.
  • Loaves of bread baking inside a brick oven
  • A backyard patio with outdoor seating, a bar area with stools, and a two-story house with a small balcony. Sunlight filters through trees, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.
  • Colorful boiled eggs on a wooden surface surrounded by leafy greens.

Frequently Asked Questions


Helpful information for planning your visit to the farm.

Preparing for Your Visit
We want every guest to enjoy the full Back Forty experience. Our FAQs provide helpful details about seating, food options, outdoor conditions, and what to expect while visiting the farm. Take a moment to review them so you can relax, plan ahead, and make the most of your time at the bistro.

View FAQs