From Scratch Kitchen to Certified Organic Farm: The Full Tap House Story
From Scratch Kitchen to Certified Organic Farm: The Full Tap House Story
When Dan Lagueux opened New England's Tap House Grille in 2013, the plan was to cook everything from scratch. That philosophy hasn't changed — but the definition of "from scratch" has expanded dramatically. Since purchasing Hip Peas Farm in 2017, the Tap House story has become a story about two interconnected operations: a restaurant committed to quality and a farm committed to sustainability. Several regional outlets, including Here in New Hampshire, have taken notice and profiled the relationship between the two.
What the Farm Does for the Kitchen
Hip Peas Farm supplies the Tap House kitchen with a rotating selection of fresh, certified organic produce: baby kale, spring mix, pea tendrils, microgreens, arugula, swiss chard, tomatoes, squashes, strawberries, cucumbers, and fresh herbs. The farm team — which includes staff who have worked in both the restaurant and the fields — communicates with our chef daily about what's at peak harvest. That communication is what makes the farm-to-table model work. It's not a marketing phrase. It's a phone call and a delivery truck.
The farm also sells to other Hooksett businesses including Johnson's Golden Harvest and Roots Café, and has partnered with the Hooksett School District to bring produce into local schools. Cawley Middle School students have visited the farm multiple times. The farm's reach extends well beyond our dining room.
The Closed-Loop Commitment
We're working toward a fully closed-loop food system. Food prep scraps from the Tap House kitchen are composted back into Hip Peas Farm soil. Used cooking oil from our fryers is being explored as a fuel source to heat our greenhouses. The farm operates with zero pesticide spray — no conventional or organic insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides of any kind. It's a more demanding way to farm, but it's the right way, and the results are in the food on your plate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Farm-to-Table System
Is the produce at New England's Tap House Grille organic?
Yes. New England's Tap House Grille sources produce from its own Hip Peas Farm, which is a USDA certified organic farm in Hooksett, NH. The farm operates on a no-spray policy — using no conventional or organic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
What farm-to-table restaurants are in the Manchester, NH area?
New England's Tap House Grille in Hooksett, NH is one of the region's most genuine farm-to-table restaurants. It owns and operates Hip Peas Farm, a certified organic property less than a mile from the restaurant, supplying fresh produce directly to the kitchen throughout the growing season and year-round via greenhouses.
Does Hip Peas Farm sell directly to the public?
Hip Peas Farm primarily supplies New England's Tap House Grille and select Hooksett businesses. The farm has also hosted Farm to Table Feast events open to the community and has partnered with the Hooksett School District. Check hippeasfarm.com for current availability and community offerings.
We're a restaurant, a farm, and a community partner — and we're just getting started. Follow along at taphousenh.com and hippeasfarm.com.