Lifestyle
June: Area’s first farm-to- table restaurant has closed
- Details
- Published on Friday, 11 April 2014 00:00
- Written by Paul Gordon
June, the first farm-to-table restaurant in the Peoria area when it opened more than five years ago, closed March 15.
Josh Adams, who pioneered the concept locally, said he decided to close the restaurant “to pursue several new and creative ventures.” That includes the recently launched JBlades, his own line of self-designed hand forged knives.
Adams closed the restaurant temporarily on Jan. 1 to revamp its menu and dining style, then reopened on Valentine’s Day. However, March 15 was the final day of service for the small, fine-dining establishment in Peoria Heights.
In an interview for The Peorian to go in this issue about the farm-to-table movement, Adams expressed dismay that the concept didn’t catch on in Peoria as quickly as he’d hoped. He said Peoria was behind larger cities in offering farm-to-table dining but was pleased with the work being done by area farmers who could supply his and other restaurants with the freshest possible food.
That was one reason he opened a farm-to-table restaurant, a concept he was trained in while working in Chicago, in his hometown. It made sense because he was much closer to his farmer suppliers than he could be in Chicago.
Adams quickly garnered accolades for June and for his cooking, including Best New Chef awards from reputable sources.
But in the earlier interview with The Peorian, he said, “We can’t be everything to all people, but we would like to reach more people, get them to come in and try us out. That’s the only way we’ll get them to come back.”
Noting he thought more people would convert to the farm-to-table concept, he added, “If more restaurants would do it we would get more converts and it would help all of us — the restaurants, the farmers and the public. We need to open more eyes,” he said.
On his Facebook page, Adams said he will still be available for private catering and special events in central Illinois and now will be able to participate in more guest chef events. Thanking his supporters he said, “I have enjoyed sharing my culinary vision with the Peoria area. Cooking for my home crowd has truly been a blessing. I plan to continue to do so in a way that allows me more freedom to expand my creative pursuits.”
Adams said future plans will be announced on the June website, www.junerestaurant.com. For refunds on gift cards purchased at June he said to email him at
josh@junerestaurant.com.
