© Corey Miller Photo
When Gloucester native Will Mitchell decided to open a restaurant in the former Morgan’s Drugstore, he had the perfect name for it: Farmasea.
And not just perfect because of the play on words, but because it also spoke to his cooking philosophy. “Farm to table and dock to dish,” Mitchell explains. “I cook seasonally with organic products wherever possible. I make my own pasta and cut my own meats and fish daily.”
The restaurant, open since March 2021, has a natural, open vibe and serves a menu that changes weekly based on what’s available and what Mitchell wants to cook. “I designed Farmasea like a mullet,” he jokes. “It’s refined up front, but it’s a party in the back. The bar is segregated from the dining room and the piano is up front.”
Because the industry is still experiencing staffing shortages, Farmasea is currently open for dinner Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays for brunch. Hours will increase as he’s able to staff up, both in the front of the house and in the kitchen, where he strives to impart his passion to his help.
Mitchell’s zeal for cooking means he’s always trying to grow his customers’ palates with a new spin on traditional classics to keep them happy. “I try to relate to my customers through food,” he explains. “I want to provoke memories of something they haven’t had in years, maybe remind them of childhood. What drew me to restaurants is making people I don’t even know happy through my cooking.”
CRAB & CORN SALAD WITH LEMON DRESSING
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. lemon rind
5 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. honey
½ tsp. Dijon mustard
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
Directions:
Step 1: Combine ingredients and whisk. Set aside.
Step 2: Grill 2 ears of corn. Remove kernels and season with salt, pepper, hot sauce and mayo to taste.
¼ cup red peppers, chopped
¼ cup red onion, chopped
Sauté pepper and onion with white wine and a splash of olive oil.
Step 3: Fold together dressing, corn, pepper/onion mixture with:
2 cups cherry tomatoes
6 ripe beefsteak-style tomatoes, sliced
¼ cup thinly sliced basil
1 pound lump crab
Farmasea I 6764 Main Street, Gloucester I 804-699-3659 I facebook.com/farmasearestaurant
