An Outstanding Last Minute Holiday Gift that Will Create Lasting Memories

Don’t panic! If you haven’t gotten something special for your loved one yet, there is still time. If you're looking for an incredible gift for anyone on your holiday list this year, give them a gift card for Outstanding in the Field. Founded in 1999, this roving farm to table dining event selects some of the country’s most stunning places to serve as a backdrop and inspiration for its dinner parties. 

Outstanding in the Field is currently in the midst of its winter tour, stopping in Miami, Palm Springs, Malibu, and more, your loved one can attend any of the farm dinners of their choice, or, they stay closer to home and wait for one the stops in Connecticut, New York, or Rhode Island next summer.

I attended a dinner in Orlando at Lake Meadow Naturals which is described as “a fragrant, blooming orange grove, a couple of charming farmers, and a friendly flock of egg-laying fowl. Farmer Dale, in his classic utilitarian Carhartt overalls, will share his passion for agriculture and take us for a leisurely walk around the property.” 

The integration of the farmers along with the event planners and of course, notable chefs who prepare the meals only adds the atmospheric euphoria only al fresco dining can provide. My dinner guest and I enjoyed walking along the grounds after the tour as well and chatted with several other attendees at Outstanding in the Field’s famous one long table that they have at each event as we shared the meal, family style of course. The food was as amazing as the picturesque central Florida farmland, where much of the food was grown. 

On its website, Outstanding in the Field explains that this event is far beyond a beautiful dinner party. “We aim to connect diners to the origins of their food while celebrating the hardworking hands that feed us: chefs, farmers, fisherpeople, cheesemakers, vintners, brewers and many more. We’re honored to have welcomed some of the world’s most renowned chefs and culinary artisans to join us and cook in our field kitchen.”

I’ve been lucky enough to have incredible dining experiences all around the world, but I can honestly say, this one is one of the best. I haven’t been able to attend a dinner in Connecticut, but maybe that will be a present for myself this year. Dinners run around $385 per person, but the memories made are well worth the price. The locations each year do differ, depending on several factors, but in the past, Outstanding in the Field has had dinners in Ridgefield and Wilton.

Outstanding in the Field was founded by Jim Denevan in 1999 as a radical alternative to the conventional dining experience. Rather than source ingredients for a restaurant, we bring our restaurant to the source.

Beginning with a humble dinner on Jim’s brother’s farm, our culinary caravan has now reached all 50 U.S. states and 24 countries around the globe – with tables set in vineyards, beaches, meadows, fishing docks, and city streets in addition to a long list of organic and sustainable farms.

Our roving restaurant without walls is rebuilt every morning and disappears every night. It is a momentary experience and a joyful celebration of human connection. Together we gather at one long table to share the most fundamental and universal human conversation: a meal.