Eminent Eats

With the collaboration of farmers, chefs and culinary artisans, Outstanding in the Field keeps a consistent theme for their farm style dinners in honoring the people who work hard to bring superb ingredients, and therefore meals, to the table. Touring the nation from coast to coast once a year in their big red and white bus, these culinary dinner dates are designed to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of the food on their plate. Setting up table at a bounty of diverse locations, dinner scenes include farms, gardens, ranches, mountain tops and sea caves, to name a few. Founder Jim Denevan's idea to expand the farm-to-table dinners farther afield and go on tour every season has taken off, quite literally. The anticipated 2011 tour kicks off in May, with two stops in Petaluma. McEvoy Ranch and its beautiful 80 acres of olive trees will play dinner host on May 8 with guest chefs Beth Wells and Nathan Alderman from Chez Panisse Cafe in Berkeley. At the end of the month, Outstanding in the Field will be passing through Sonoma County for a second round but this time at County Line Harvest where culinary extraordinaire Charlie Parker and crew will be cooking up a sure-to-please spread on May 30. Tickets include a reception with wine and passed appetizers, four seated courses with wine pairings, producer discussions and a tour of the farm. Outstandinginthefield.com.

 Photos: Outstanding in the Field events. Credit: Jeremy Fenske