An Experience: Outstanding in the Field
Howdy, friends! Aleah here. I’ve been excited to post this to share this experience with you all! Last weekend my amazing {seriously, you’d love her} mom took me to this incredible dining event for a girls’ night: Outstanding in the Field. Started in the summer of 1998 in Santa Cruz by chef and artist Jim Denevan, the thought behind each event is simple: showcase the best in local wines and farm fresh food prepared by renowned local chefs.
So my mom and I met at our hotel in Temecula and hitched a taxi to the middle of wine country and were dropped off in a field at Crows Pass Farm. Not quite knowing what to expect, we were both just eager to see what was ahead.
We were shuttled and dropped off to our first stop. Guests are encouraged to bring their own plates to dinner, which makes for such an eclectic and funky mix, don’t you think? I am totally borrowing this idea for our events and shoots!
We were greeted with fresh olives {oh my gosh, these could be the best I’ve ever had, I kid you not} and snap peas, as well as tasty hamachi bites with Meyer lemon marmalade and basil, a 2009 Rosato Secco {from Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery} with a kick, and a tasty watermelon cocktail.
Delightful.
Once all of the guests arrived Tina Barnes, our hostess for the night, took us on a tour of her family farm. We checked out the vintage orchard, these scrumptious red torpedo onions, strawberries, onions, and delightful little potatoes not much bigger than marbles.
I turned around at one point and was in awe at how cool this sight was. Nearly two-hundred or so people from Texas, San Diego, LA, and more. What a great excuse to come together, enjoy some fun company, and learn about local bounty.
I plucked one of these strawberries and can tell you that it’s definitely the best I’ve ever had. Not typically huge on strawberries, this was sweet, fresh, and juicy. I want more!
This was the exciting part!
When the farm tour ended we rounded the corner {yes, I might have jogged ahead to snap some photos of their world-famous table} to be greeted by a table and chairs as far as the eyes could see. Each setting was simple, yet tasty: bottles of Temecula Olive Oil {theirs is scrumptious you can sip on it}, crusty rustic breads and those olives.
We grabbed our seats next to a fun bunch and started off noshing on a refreshing late spring compressed fruit and vegetable salad with blood oranges, jicama, and an Aleppo vinaigrette. The first wine we sipped was a crisp, buttery 2009 Voignier, Buon Vicino Vineyard. I was a big fan.
Everything else was served up family-style, one of my favorite ways to dine. This sea bass verdi rested on a bed of Crows Pass Farm baby potatoes and green beans and was dressed in a light and savory chorizo sauce. It had my taste buds dancing. Our wine was a 2007 Mourvedres/Syrah that was the perfect match to this fresh and flavorful dish.
The final dish was a heartier one, but still light enough and just tantalizing; Nathan’s Alpine hog with slow braised and smoked romesco and Temecula honey onions. These little onions were so sweet you could eat them as a dish all by themselves! The last wine was my favorite of the night; a 2008 Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese Due Figli Vineyard.
Throughout dinner we enjoyed our new found friends and the company. We all told stories and laughed…and laughed.
We laughed, ate, drank, and laughed some more and really just enjoyed the surroundings. As the sun set the conversations got louder.
To top it all off we enjoyed a scrumptious family-style serving of strawberry shortcake with brown butter ice cream! Now I will say that Nick’s shortcake really rivals this one, but those strawberries…..to top if off our nightcap was a Frosty Evening, a potent cocktail
We will definitely be going to another Outstanding in a Field again soon, this time bringing along my dad and Nick! I highly recommend it; from Texas to dinners in Georgia, Santa Cruz, and beach side {and in Europe this summer!}, there’s something fun for everyone.
Outstanding in the Field | Venue: Crows Pass Farm | Chef: Paul McCabe 1540, Del Mar | Wine: Palumbo Family Vineyards & Winery
Pig: Nathan Rakov | Olive Oil: Temecula Olive Oil
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This looks so absolutely amazing! I want to go to this for sure! Thank you for sharing!
Wow, this looks SO amazing! Thanks for sharing the pictures. What a fun thing to do with your Mom. I'll have to keep this in mind and hopefully attend one of these in the future.
What a fun thing to do with your Mom! Very cool!
What a perfect evening- it was something new for us, with fresh food, interesting people and beautiful scenery. The best part for me was being able to spend some girl time with my lovely daughter Aleah. Thanks honey.
This reminds me of all the long lunches under the cherry trees at my parents' house in the French countryside. Those are the best kind of social gathering… I miss the French sun, the long lunches and this long table: OMG I AM IN LOVE with it
This is inspiring for small to big events: LOVE!
PS: you know I love your mum already
she is awesome. You both should come to visit in France one day for some fun times and long lunches!
Thanks so much, everyone! This really was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it! Steph – love the French countryside. Consider us there!