Outstanding in the Field, the pioneering farm-dinner series that has inspired pop-up supper clubs across North America and around the world, comes to the Central Florida at Lake Meadow Naturals in Ocoee on Saturday, January 19, 2012.
OITF founding chef Jim Denevan and his culinary gypsies will head east from their home base in Santa Cruz, Calif. to set their long white-linen table in host farmer Dale Volkert's fields for the group's first event of the New Year.
Chef Tony Adams of Orlando's Big Wheel Provisions will helm OITF's al fresco kitchen at the farm to createthe multi-course meal -- including Big Wheel's handmade condiments, pickles, and charcuterie made with lots of "local is lovely" love and fresh ingredients from Lake Meadow Naturals and neighboring farms.
Outstanding in the Field events start with a glass of wine and welcome hors d'oeuvres, followed by a tour of the host farm and a four-course meal paired with wines. Ticket price for the January 19 event is $190 per person, all inclusive. The event starts at 3pm.
Lake Meadows Naturals farmer Dale Volkert harvests fresh eggs daily from his flock of 3000 free-roaming and hormone-free chickens, ducks and quail. The farm also processes broiler hens and raises grass-fed beef and pork.
"We fell in love with Dale's farm when we first visited last year," said OITF founding chef and artist Jim Denevan. "All those happy birds running around is a sight to behold. We're looking forward to returning to Lake Meadow Naturals, and expect Chef Tony and his crew will kick it again like they did last time."
Outstanding in the Field puts the spotlight on local food producers with outdoor dining events staged at country farms and ranches, in urban gardens and sea caves, on mountaintops and sandy beaches. Wherever it goes, OITF's mission is the same: To re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food and introduce them to the local farmers and food artisans whose good work brings nourishment to the table. Ingredients for OITF meals are often sourced within inches of diners' seats. After a tour of the host site, everyone settles in: farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food artisans and guests serving each other at the communal table.
OITF founder Jim Denevan did his first farm dinner in his hometown of Santa Cruz, Calif. in 1999. Since then,Outstanding in the Field's culinary caravan has staged more than 400 farm dinners, welcoming nearly 50,000 diners in all but five U.S. states, three Canadian provinces and nine countries in Europe and South America.
