Valley Kitchen & Bar Set to Open

Valley Kitchen & Bar, a new farm-to-table restaurant located in Downtown Valparaiso, will be opening for business this Monday, October 24th. The restaurant is owned and operated by Cory and Blair Muro from La Crosse. Valley’s focus is on serving fresh and local ingredients in a casual atmosphere. Valley’s menu and namesake are inspired with a focus on community. Valley is named after Valparaiso’s nickname, “Vale (a.k.a. Valley) of Paradise”.

“The term farm-to-fork is related to the local food movement that is currently taking this country by storm,” said Cory Muro, Executive Chef and Co-owner at Valley. “The local food movement is all about producing fresh food locally, delivering that food to our community, and in turn, supporting the community’s economy," he explains, “Not only will local, fresh food benefit the local farms and community, but it is far more healthier and nutritious, everyone benefits,” explains Mr. Muro. “For example, why do we have to get tomatoes from 1,500 miles away , when our neighbors can grow it as little as 5 miles away in season?”

The 64-seat restaurant and bar features a variety of seating options, including a kitchen bar, where patrons can sit and watch their food being prepared from just feet away. “We wanted to design a restaurant where the kitchen is the focal point of the restaurant,” explains Blair Muro, Owner and General Manager at Valley. “Much of the food is from our neighbors and our community, so why wouldn’t we want the community to have the ability to see the process and be proud of it?”

“The menu will change seasonally and will be primarily based on what we can get locally,” explains Mr. Muro. “Winter will always pose a challenge for us, but you’d be surprised what we can get from local farms in the area even in the fall and winter months,” he said, “For instance, the restaurant is currently decorated with dozens of squash and pumpkins that we received from Le Garden in Wheatfield,” Samples of the menu include:

• Chicken 2 Ways (supper): Miller Amish Country grilled chicken breast & fried leg with creamy lemon-thyme rice, caramelized veggies and crumbled cashews.
  
• Ravioli (supper): House made sweet potato ravioli’s, local butternut squash, pumpkin seeds, fried sage, brown butter sauce.
  
• Chicken Salad Sandwich (lunch): Miller Amish Country Chicken, red grapes, toasted almonds, mayo & celery on a toasted croissant.
  
• Blackened Bluegill Sandwich (lunch): wild caught Lake Ontario bluegill, Cajun seasonings, mayo, shredded lettuce, tomato & pickle on a seared golden butter bun.

“Our menu is simple and focused,” explains Mr. Muro, “We have designed it this way so that we won’t be constantly challenged to find local ingredients and we will also have the ability to focus on each plate to make sure it’s delicious each and every time.”

Valley Kitchen & Bar also features a full-bar that offers a selection of micro-brews on tap, wines, and cocktails. Valley will also feature a selection of ready-made items in a small market area toward the front of the restaurant. “We want to provide a fresh resource for people that don’t have time to sit down and eat, but rather, can pop in and grab a sandwich or a salad and be on their way,” explains Mrs. Muro. Valley is a flex-casual restaurant, providing fast-casual dining during the day and full-service, casual dining at night. “Our customers can expect a quick lunch during the day and a relaxing, social supper at night,” explains Mrs. Muro.

Valley will be holding an invitation only V.I.P. opening over the weekend with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. The restaurant will be officially opening on Monday, October 24th for lunch and dinner.

Valley Kitchen & Bar is located at 55 S. Franklin Street in Valparaiso, directly east of the courthouse. The restaurant is open Monday thru Saturday for lunch 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and supper from 4:30 p.m. – late. The bar will be open all day. Valley does not accept reservations. For more information, please visit www.eatvlley.com, or call (219) 531-8888.

About Owners, Cory and Blair Muro

Blair and Cory Muro are the owners of Valley Kitchen, the couple married in September of 2010. Mrs. Muro grew up in La Crosse, part of a family rich in generations of farming the area. Cory Muro grew up on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Mr. Muro’s background and passion has always been about cooking and preparing food. “It wasn’t long after we married that we knew that not only could we make a great team as husband and wife, but we could make great partners in opening a restaurant,” said Mr. Muro, “With Blair and her family’s background in producing food and my background in cooking it, it was a great recipe for a restaurant.” “With a degree in Hospitality Management, I always imagined myself opening up a bed and breakfast, but when I met Cory I felt our future lies in a restaurant with delicious, fresh food,” explained Blair Muro.

About Valley Kitchen & Bar

Valley is named after Valparaiso’s nickname, “Vale (a.k.a. Valley) of Paradise” because of its rolling hills topped with trees and surrounding rich, fertile farmlands. We feel Valparaiso is a great place to offer a great restaurant with delicious fresh food.

At Valley, we believe fresh food and great cooking will improve the lives of our community. It is our commitment to deliver Northwest Indiana with the freshest, most delicious foods in an affordable, casual atmosphere.

It is Valley’s belief that the best food you can eat is the food that is grown closest to you. Besides the fact that local food will be fresher, better tasting and more nutritious; locally grown food is supporting your community. Our beliefs are based on the principles that fresh, delicious food can create a healthier community while providing a greater return for the farmers that are a critical part of our livelihood. This is what the slow food movement is all about!

Valley Kitchen has been designed to meet a very specific demand within the marketplace. With fast food and other casual corporate chains dominating the American dining scene, Valley is a refreshing change. As we speak, America is undergoing the beginning stages of a food revolution. Fuel prices continue to drive up food costs and the overall quality seems to be getting worse as it is becoming more difficult to deliver fresh food economically.

Many restaurateurs have risen to the occasion and capitalized on this food movement by offering farm-to-table fine dining restaurants that only cater to a high income customer.

It is Valley’s belief that fresh food should be available to EVERYONE at a reasonable price.

Valley Kitchen is one of America’s first casual farm-to-table restaurants. Valley Kitchen is casual, welcoming, friendly, comfortable and most of all, affordable. Valley Kitchen & Bar serves the freshest local meat and produce available in an atmosphere that will engage you.