Chef Orlando Amaro’s next move was uncertain until Robert Evans from The Hope Farm sat down with him, resulting in a new opportunity for him and his staff.
For a limited time, The Hope Farm in Fairhope is offering an intimate Italian dining experience at The Barn, featuring classic Italian dishes crafted using authentic and organic ingredients prepared and cooked by Amaro.
Amaro is one of the most experienced chefs in Baldwin County. Born in Venezuela but growing up in Spain and Italy, he became fascinated with cooking from a young age, with his mother having been a pastry chef and teaching him the importance of farm-to-table cooking. As a chef and culinary director, he has led many restaurants across the country, including stints in areas such as Miami, New York City, Dallas and Washington, D.C. He has also worked under several well-known chefs in his career, including Ferran Adrià, formerly the head chef of the Michelin 3-star restaurant El Bulli.
Evans, who started The Hope Farm with his son, Bentley Evans, in their hometown, said they have been looking to do something collaboratively with Amaro for a while, seeking to promote the culinary scene in Fairhope. After Plane & Coastal closed, where Amaro worked as the culinary director, Amaro and his staff came to The Hope Farm for a new opportunity. Meanwhile, they are working on creating a new standalone concept with Amaro at the helm.
“Because we know that there’s going to be construction involved and all that, we decided why don’t we start doing a little bit of a test of the concept? Make sure people don’t forget what he was doing here,” Evans said.
That test started a little after the new year. Every Thursday night through Sunday night, Amaro cooks up what he describes as “a real, truly Italian cuisine made from scratch,” something he says makes them stand out from the rest.
“Different restaurants, they do Italian concepts, but it’s more like American Italian,” Amaro said. “This is 100% Italian from coast-to-coast, and then everything is made from scratch.”
Pasta is made by his own hands. Sauce is made using fresh tomatoes and ingredients such as mushrooms, herbs and greens are either grown in-house or locally sourced.
Since starting his Italian experience at The Hope Farm, Amaro had nothing but praise about the new environment and people he has been working with, saying he has a lot of support and is happy to be there.
“Everything now is about happiness. I can’t complain,” Amaro said.
As mentioned before, The Barn’s Italian dinner menu is only a preview of what is to come. Evans said they are actively working on giving Amaro his own brick and mortar. As a teaser of what’s coming, the new establishment will have elements of an Italian market, with patrons dining, of course, while also being able to purchase freshly made pasta, sauces, cheeses, charcuterie and other goods.
“We just want the entire culinary scene to continue to grow because Fairhope is already a destination for many, and we want it to be a culinary destination for many,” Evans said.
“It’s 100% going to be a destination because it’s something nobody does,” Amaro said. “It’s a huge project, and we’re really excited about it.”
Dining and Cooking