White Lotus Farms has opened a new cafe on South Zeeb Road, bringing its house-milled sourdough breads, pastries and farm favorites to a permanent west-side location after years of building a following at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market and Detroit’s Eastern Market.
The cafe, open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., features a second bakery location for the farm’s artisan loaves and croissant-based pastries, espresso from Black Diesel Coffee, and a lunch menu with pizzas, fresh salads, toast and a fried chicken sandwich.
Manager Kat Tsomo, appearing on “Live in the D,” said the space also doubles as the farm’s first full-fledged retail store. “What’s really exciting about our new location is that we also have our first actual store,” Tsomo said.
Shelves are stocked with White Lotus staples alongside goods from Michigan makers, including Fustini’s, Tiffin Tonight Indian meals and The Brinery, plus fresh produce, greens and microgreens.
White Lotus Farms began about 15 years ago from a small community garden and now includes a creamery producing goat and other cheeses, pasta and ravioli. The farm will continue its regular market schedule in Ann Arbor and at Eastern Market; its on-farm market pauses for winter and returns in spring — along with baby goats. The cafe is about two miles from the farm, toward Dexter.
To watch the segment click on the video above.