The Farm Table makes up made-from-scratch meals

Brandi Peerman and her husband bought the Whitefish Hostel in 2019 and turned it into a bed and breakfast. 

Striving to create made-from-scratch meals made with local and organic ingredients, the couple had much success. But after her husband unexpectedly died in 2021, Peerman took a step back to focus on caring for her four children.

As an entrepreneur, real estate agent, and homeschooling mom, Peerman found solace in her work, and after a rough couple of years, which included caring for her oldest son after he broke his back, the family was brought closer together, said Peerman as she now works alongside all of her children at their new take and bake restaurant, The Farm Table, in downtown Kalispell. 

“There’s been a lot of trauma, but I don’t regret one single thing that I’ve been through. Everything has put me right where I’m at right now, and I couldn’t ask for more,” said Peerman.

The Farm Table, which offers made-from-scratch meals, uses as many local and organic ingredients as possible. Peerman says she enjoys the predictability of making the bake-at-home meals as opposed to a restaurant, as she can maintain her first priority of being a mom, while still providing her community with fresh food. 

“It’s done ten times better than I expected,” said Peerman. “Fast food is popular for a reason, but a lot of us don’t really want to eat it. I really try to price things well so it's comparable to grabbing fast food. I cook just like you were to cook at home.”

Lasagna, Indian butter chicken, Thai curry soup, chicken pot pie, and Wagyu meatloaf are some of the current menu offerings. Popular items also include the chicken enchiladas and the huckleberry turkey sriracha sandwich. 

“I tried to pick things that my family likes and I really try to think about all different types of people,” Peerman said. “We have families who come in and stock up for the week and honestly, the single-serving meals can probably feed you twice.”

Peerman sees the menu staying relatively the same but hopes to figure out ways to increase production to keep up with demand as they often sell out of things. She also uses the space to help local makers sell products like candles and flowers.

Farm Table also has baked goods – pies, cookies, fruit bars, and kolache – and drinks including cold brew coffees and teas.

“We have a Dutch chocolate cold brew and a vanilla bean cold brew. We make the vanilla bean syrup ourselves and use organic cream,” she said. 

Peerman said she cooks all the Farm Table’s meals as if she were making them for her own family, avoiding GMOs, pesticides, and added hormones. Growing up in a rural town of 300 people, Peerman raised chickens, hogs, sheep, and cattle, and understands the importance of getting local products. 

“By the time you get meat from the grocery store, there’s not a lot of life left in it and it doesn’t smell good,” Peerman explained. “I get my Wagyu from Standing Heart Ranch, a local farm, and it smells so fresh.”

Standing Heart Ranch is just one of several local farms she supports. Others include Terrapin Farms, Wicked Good Produce, Kalispell Kreamery and Farm to Market Pork. 

Though other businesses have come and gone in the building she currently occupies, Peerman said she sees herself here for the foreseeable future. 

“The thing I love about restaurants is the sense of community that comes with it,” said Peerman. “So many people have said ‘businesses come here to die’, but they haven’t seen me do business. I want to provide something for my community and I don’t see this going away.”

Farm Table is located at 25 4th Street East in Kalispell and is open Monday to Friday. They can be contacted by phone at 406-260-4444. To find out more, visit their website at thefarmtablemontana.com or their Instagram page @the_farm_table_montana.

    An Italian sandwich from The Farm Table in Kalispell (Brandi Peerman photo)
  

    Wild huckleberry Czech kolache from The Farm Table in Kalispell (Brandi Peerman photo)
  

    Chicken and wild rice soup from The Farm Table in Kalispell (Brandi Peerman photo)
  

    Chicken pot pie from The Farm Table in Kalispell (Brandi Peerman photo)
  

    Indian butter chicken from The Farm Table in Kalispell (Brandi Peerman photo)