You know you’ve arrived at Zingerman’s Cornman Farms when you pull up to a multi-story, historic, white farmhouse with large wooden pillars and a wrap-around porch with rocking chairs perfectly in a row, sitting on the edge of sprawling farmland. Look a little further and you’ll begin to see the magic that truly makes this venue and garden so special and unique.

Established in 2013, this 42-acre farm has been transformed into a historic, multi-award-winning event space. And not only that, there are more than 70 varieties of vegetables raised on Cornman Farms, all overseen by Managing Partner Kieron Hales, that supply the exhibition kitchen, four-season barn, historic farmhouse and tent pavilion venues that make up the farm.

Roasted Tomatoes with Herbs//Zingerman’s Cornman Farms//Photo by Kaitlan Foland

Zingerman’s Cornman Farms was one of our first stops during an Ann Arbor Press Tour, hosted by Geiger & Associates Public Relations and Destination Ann Arbor. The tour is meant to highlight communities’ emerging events, craft beers, and culinary scenes with stops at some of the most renowned restaurants, businesses and breweries Ann Arbor has to offer.

Originally spawning from Alex Young’s (a former chef of Zingerman’s Roadhouse) vision of an authentic farm-to-table experience at the Roadhouse, Corman first began as a 75-foot garden located behind his house in 2004. In 2013 Cornman Farms was acquired by Zingerman’s in order to expand upon his vision, hiring Kieron Hales as Executive Chef, with him soon becoming a Managing Partner along with Tabitha Mason.