London Time

With our appointment to visit Trealy Farm a few days away we set off to the opposite coast of England and a quick visit to the Sportsman Restaurant and chef Stephen Harris.

London being on the way we stopped for a visit. Jim visited the Tate Modern Museum on the banks of the Thames to check out the huge gallery space, hoping to fit something of his art work there someday. While touring the museum Jim received a message from the chief adjudicator of the Guinness Book of World Records stating that Jim had been confirmed as holding the world record for the "largest artwork in history".

We dined at St. John Restaurant near the Smithfield Market, a London classic that should not be missed.

Jim at St John

Another kind relative of Dave's, Dora's sister Lucy, put us up for the night at her place in the Bethnel Green area of East London.

Weather conditions were icy cold so Jim made a quick ice drawing.

Across the Pond

Our first destination after a smooth flight to London was Dave's cousin Dora Marlow and her husband Robin at their house in Bristol, England. We were greeted warmly into the Marlow home and served tea and traditional English fruitcake that Robin had prepared. The large city of Bristol is very close to the border of Wales. Wales is the place where things are really happening in the U.K. food world and the site of two major food festivals, Abergavenny and Ludlow. Chefs, farmers and artisan producers in the area enjoy access to a large population of interested and hungry fans of their work.

On the walk to Dora's house Jim spied a healthy fox running between cottages, seems many Bristol residents raise chickens and quite a few of those chickens are taken off by local foxes. These two chickens, located in the backyard of our hosts Dora and Robin, are safe for now.

Bristol is famous as the place where legendary graffiti artist/vandal Banksy got his start. Soon enough there it was, a Banksy original, high on a wall. A nice work had in turn been vandalized with paint bombs from another 'artist'.

Considering Banksy's frequent night time graffiti forays and his many years of successfully eluding capture and identification by police it comes to mind that the stealth of Bristol's foxes may have been an artists inspiration.

Near Abergavenny, Wales

Wales countryside

We rented a car (careful which side you are driving on Dave) and as we entered Wales the rural countryside became more and more green. Sheep multiplied and our appetites grew as we pulled up for lunch at the Hardwick and our first chef visit! Stephen Terry was recommended to us by our potential dinner site, nearby Trealy Farm. Hugh Fernley- Whittingstall has described Trealy Farm as the best charcuterie maker in the UK. Soon we were comfortably seated and sharing several tasty Trealy Farm favorites. The handsome restaurant is in the style of a traditional English pub with an atmosphere that retains the casual pub style but is elevated in food quality with excellent ingredients and creative technique. As we traveled and learned more about the UK food scene we saw this theme repeated at many places we visited; very good food served in a more easy going setting. Stephen is a noted champion of local Wales sourced ingredients in an area that already has become the epicenter of the UK's growing interest in local food. Stephen expressed great enthusiasm for the Outstanding mission and plans were made for a late summer collaboration at Trealy Farm.

Sheep!

BBC Radio classical station - perfect for a drive in the Wales countryside...

Trealy farm charcuterie served at the Hardwick in Wales

Chef Stephen Terry of the Hardwick

Get to Know

As 2010 season planning begins and we look back on our guests experiences over the years we are pleased to notice that more and more folks consider traveling to visit our farm table a great opportunity to get to know and understand a place they are unfamiliar with. Typically wherever we set the table, 25 to 40 percent of those attending are from outside the area, arriving from other states, provinces and countries. At an Outstanding in the Field event, diners are sure to mingle with both guests coming from a distance and local people who are steeped in the identity of a particular place; guests from nearby, farmers, winemakers, fishermen and cheese makers. It is great to see that the experience of a farm dinner results in a rapid familiarity and connection for travelers.

Planning for 2010: North America and a Euro Tour

After a holiday rest the Outstanding in the Field team are deeply involved in planning for the new season. This year we head out on our seventh terrestrial voyage across North America with tables, chairs and a trunk full of mismatched plates in tow, visiting both new and familiar friends. With our Farm dinner mission continuing to thrive we've decided to go even further afield. An Outstanding team of scouts, Jim Denevan, Katy Oursler and Dave Sanford are now preparing to leave for Europe with a full schedule of farm visits and chef meetings!

Jim Denevan

Katy Oursler

Dave Sanford

Seasons End

We finished the 2009 farm dinner season with our traditional foraging feast in the warm barn at Pie Ranch in San Mateo County, California. Forager Freddy led us on a long forest hike, regaling the guests with tales of the woods and working up everyone's appetite. The Dec 6th event included many Outstanding guests that had attended events earlier in the season. It was great to catch up and reminisce about previous dinners. We've barely caught our breath after 58 dinner events across North America, as we begin exciting plans for 2010.

Here are some pictures from events of the latter part of the season.

Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Fairview, NC

Wattles Farm, Los Angeles, CA

Arugula's Star Farm, Columbia, TN

Ayrshire Farm, Upperville, VA

Love is Love Farm, Douglasville, GA

Aquidneck Farm, Portsmouth, RI

Animal Farm, Cat Spring, TX

EECO Farm, East Hampton, NY

Jolie Vue Farm, Brenham, TX


Dingo Farms, Bradford, Ontario, Canada

Cherry Grove Farm, Lawrenceville, NJ

Eckerton Hill Farm, Kutztown, PA

Talus Wind Ranch, Galisteo, NM

Good to go

We've been cruising along on the new old bus, a 1963 GMC. Only 1 minor breakdown this season. Everyone is amazed and happy to cross the country without having to worry about breakdowns. We can even dart across slow moving streams.

Arugula's Star Farm, Columbia, TN

The 2009 OITF Crew

Pictured below are the folks that signed on for the whole tour. They're the ones that make it happen. Besides the full-timers, two other great contributors this season were Outstanding tour veterans Katy Oursler and Aubrey Schatz, who joined us for "half tours". Also thanks to Florike Martens, our European intern, and teen interns Brighton Denevan and Joya Cazel who were there right when we needed them.

Jeremy Fenske and Elaine Skinner

Together since forever, sometimes called Jerlaine or Eleremy

J & E hail from food crazy Chi Town

Midwest work ethic keeps the rest of us movin'

Sally Summerson

Cute as her name, southern belle from Georgia
With culinary bona fides

Journalist, milk drinker

Leah Scafe

Tour mother and tall Canadian, fairest of the fair
Keeps it all together with common sense and
Profound organization skills
Looked up to by entire staff

Even Jim who is 6'4''

Jon Thurman

110% all the time
He'll do what it takes to get 'er done
Worked at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture in NY
Both on farm and in kitchen

Jim Denevan

OITF founder and figurehead

Chef gone wild

Alternately stern & over-concerned
Or distracted & barely communicating
Filled with wonder of life's wonders

Eden Reilly

Reggae enthusiast
With killer wine knowledge
Stands out in the field

Caleb Coe

Bus driver, bus driver, bus driver (that is a lot of driving)

With a full load of culinary adventurers
Safely moving from place to place

Also chef, waiter and bon vivant as needed

A Taste of the Season

Outstanding in the Field has been very busy with events taking place across the country. Here's a peek of some of the pictures we've gathered from this year's events. It's been a very exciting successful season.

West Star Farm, Madison, WI

Powell Gardens, Kingsville, MO

Riverbend Farm, Delano, MN

Square Peg Farm, Forest Grove, OR

North Arm Farm, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Four Season Farm, Harborside, ME

Blue Willow Farm, Stevensville, MT

Full Circle Farm, Carnation, WA

Half Pint Farm, Burlington, VT

Kinnikinnick Farm, Caledonia, IL

Seattle Youth Garden Works, Seattle, WA

Munson Farms, Boulder, CO