Tales x Local Farms: Sustainable Farm Partnerships Behind the Menu

Farm partnership goes beyond sourcing, it’s a shared journey between chefs and farmers to nurture ingredients from the ground up. True sustainability means more than reducing waste; it’s about restoring balance between nature, craft, and community. Explore how this connection between farm and kitchen transforms into a story worth savoring.

Tales x Local Farms: How The Farm Partnership Began?

Farm partnership began with a simple desire – to grow ingredients that breathe purity. Chef Quang Dũng envisioned vegetables thriving in clean mountain air, untouched by the rush of urban life. Together with Head Chef Quốc Hùng, he journeyed to Đà Lạt, partnering with local farmers who share the same respect for the earth.

Today, more than twenty-five varieties of fresh produce flourish there, nurtured without chemicals and harvested at their natural peak. Each leaf, root, and herb carries the essence of mindful farming, bringing vibrant freshness directly to the kitchen. At Tales, sustainability is not a statement but a daily practice that connects soil, chef, and guest in harmony. Every dish served tells a quiet story of care, collaboration, and a deep reverence for the land that feeds us.

Farm Partnership And The Stories Behind Every Ingredient

Carrot

Every ingredient that arrives at Tales carries its own quiet narrative, shaped by land, hands, and time. Take the humble carrot, for instance – its sweetness deepened through Koji fermentation, its texture subtly reimagined. Yet the story doesn’t stop at the root. The leafy tops, once dismissed, spark a new question in the kitchen.

What if they could be transformed into something vibrant, something worth savoring? Inspired by Northern Vietnam’s traditional chẩm chéo sauce, our chefs grind the leaves with mắc khén, ginger, and hạt dổi. The result is a bold, aromatic dip that honors local heritage while embodying our zero-waste philosophy.

Each bite of carrot with this sauce reconnects guests to the farm – to the soil, spice, and spirit of transformation. In that moment, sustainability becomes more than practice; it becomes taste, texture, and storytelling on the tongue.

Beeroot

Freshly unearthed from the rich Da Lat soil, the beets shimmer under sunlight, their crimson hue quietly catching the eye. To Tales By Chapter, each beet is more than an ingredient. It’s a chance to explore, respect, and reimagine nature’s design. We asked ourselves: how can we honor its every layer, from earthy roots to the sweetness hidden within? That question led us through countless trials of tasting, pairing, and refining until five creations began to take form.

Grilled, pickled, spun into sorbet, blended into balsamic sauce, or turned into fine beetroot dust. When all five meet under a thin jelly veil, flavors bloom and contrast: sweet, sour, smooth, and crisp in harmony. Every bite tells a story of farm partnership and craftsmanship, of farmers’ labor transformed into edible art. To us, celebrating an ingredient means cherishing every humble fragment nature offers, turning simplicity into something profound.

Corn

To most Vietnamese, corn is a comforting staple, yet to Tales By Chapter, it’s a story of reinvention and respect. Inspired by the humble stir-fried corn often found on street corners, we reimagined it through three distinct varieties, each with purpose. Here, flavor is only the beginning. The real beauty lies in how every part finds new life beyond the plate.

After the kernels are removed, cobs and husks are dried carefully, later serving as natural fuel for our kitchen fires. Even the silk is treasured – our bar team turns it into a fragrant herbal welcome drink for every guest who arrives. When its final notes fade, the silk returns once more to fuel, completing a thoughtful, circular journey. To Tales By Chapter’s farm partnership, sustainability isn’t a statement; it’s a daily rhythm that guides how we cook, serve, and create. Every ingredient lives many lives here, each one closing gently before the next beautiful story begins.

“ZERO” Art Installation – The Bridge Between Farm, Kitchen, and Diner

At the heart of Tales By Chapter, beneath the soft natural light, the “ZERO” installation unfolds a quiet journey of transformation. It invites guests to look beyond the plate and explore how ingredients continue their lives through creativity and conscious design. Built in a conical form, it honors Vietnam’s cultural heritage while reflecting Tales’ philosophy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with quiet grace.

The installation visualizes each stage of an ingredient’s life, from Da Lat’s fertile farms to fermentation, biomaterial creation, and composting. Every technique showcased is the result of months of research, shaped by a shared passion for zero-waste gastronomy. This vision comes to life through artist Chloe Hiền Nguyễn, a plant designer known for her contemporary reinterpretation of traditional crafts.

From 2019 to 2024, she collaborated with artisans across Vietnam, mastering materials such as lacquer, wood, and bamboo weaving. By 2025, she began creating her own botanical installations, experimenting with sustainable biomaterials and plant-based art forms. Her artistic language blends natural femininity with craftsmanship, turning ecological concepts into experiences that feel alive and poetic. For Chloe, art becomes a way to nurture connection and bring sustainability closer to the human spirit.

Sustainable Impacts On Community

At Tales By Chapter’s farm partnership, sustainability starts with the seasons, honoring local produce grown through thoughtful and responsible farming practices. The vision aims for a zero-emission loop, where kitchen waste transforms into compost that nourishes the next harvest. Every dish reflects this cycle, connecting nature’s rhythm with the people who cultivate and enjoy its fruits.

Tales follows biodiversity farming and zero-waste principles, rooted in a belief that food and nature must coexist harmoniously. This approach embraces two key functions: “sink,” which restores the Earth, and “source,” which sustains human life. While many see sustainability only through supply chains, Tales views it through a broader, interconnected food system. It recognizes that true impact lies within the value chain, where every hand contributes meaningfully to the cycle of food.

The farm partnership at Tales by Chapter reflects a complete journey from soil to plate. It brings practical meaning by supporting local farmers and encouraging mindful, sustainable choices within the community. Come to Tales by Chapter and experience fine dining inspired by Vietnamese heritage and the beauty of zero waste.

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Tales by Chapter

The first zero waste plant-based dining in Vietnam

Add: 10 Nguyen Thanh Y, Tan Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City

Hotline: +84 368 150 125

E-mail: reservation@talessgn.com – Reservation

Opening hours: 7.00pm – 11.00pm (Closed Sunday)