Our Story

About Chef Benedicto

Hello, Hopewell!

I’m Benedicto Gonzalez, and food has been my lifelong passion. My culinary journey began as a child in Guatemala, helping my grandmother transform our family farm’s harvest into delicious Sunday suppers in her magical wood-fired oven.

Over the past decade, I’ve honed my skills in leading culinary roles across Central New Jersey, most recently as Chef de Cuisine at the acclaimed Brick Farm Tavern. That experience deepened my appreciation for simple, farm-to-table cooking and brought me closer to achieving my dream: creating my own space where real ingredients, real people, and real, local flavors come together.

Farmer’s Café is a celebration of the incredible farms in our community. I’m proud to collaborate with local gems like Double Brook Farm and Taurus Moon Farm, as well as other Hopewell Valley producers, to bring the best of New Jersey’s seasonal produce to your plate.

My goal is to craft a menu that’s fresh, healthy, and delicious—rooted in sustainability and accessible to all. At Farmer’s Café, you’ll find dishes that honor the bounty of our local farms while offering a casual, welcoming dining experience.

I invite you to join me at Farmer’s Café, located in the beautiful, collaborative space of Hopewell Fare. Let’s celebrate the vibrant flavors of our community together!

About Hopewell Fare

It is a community space where pursuit of sustainability is at the core of everything. All of our collaborators source their product from local, sustainable sources. In additions to our vendors, you will find vocational opportunities, such as cooking and baking classes for all age groups, cultural events, such as concerts, talks and demonstrations and exciting pop-ups related to real food, agriculture and healthy living.