Page 16 - The Peorian, Vol 3 Issue 2

16 thePeorian.com
J une, 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.
The Present
(Photo by Jeffrey Noble) Chef Josh
Adams, who owed and operated
June restaurant in Peoria Heights,
was the first to bring the farm-to-
table concept to Peoria when he
opened more than five years ago.
JUNE: AREA’S FIRST FARM-TO-
TABLE RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED
By Paul Gordon