Outstanding in the Field

Farm dinners are all the rage and constantly in the news these days. Last night I attended my second Outstanding in the Field farm to table dinner. Held at Ayrshire Farm in Middleburg, Virginia, this amazing 880 acre property is a combination of working farm and refurbished, regal turn-of-the-century estate.

Over 150 people turned out to dine alfresco, tour the gardens, and converse with the animals. Some people I talked with had travelled from Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Outstanding in the Field was started by Jim Denevan, a quintessential, laid back California chef who had a vision of combining farm and food. Probably the pioneer in this quickly expanding niche, Jim told us the evolution of Outstanding in the Field while standing on a hillside overlooking majestic fields dotted with livestock (whose family members we were soon to eat!) Jim contacts organic farms around the country and then pairs them with local renowned chefs to create an unforgettable experience. He travels in a wacky 1960's bus with ten staff members.

Usually the table is set out in the fields, but due to threatening rain, the cascading table was set inside a giant paneled, chandelier laden barn. The rain arrived not long after we sat down to eat.

The dinner is five courses (including dessert) accompanied by different local wines. The barn was ablaze with light and abuzz with conversation, no doubt inspired by the setting and the continuous pouring of wine.

A few times something tickled my leg and when I looked under the tablecloth there was one of the many cats that roam the property. All in all it was a sensuous, relaxing, and wonderful evening that was well worth the drive and the price.