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Outstanding in the Field has grown to become one of the most beautiful examples of farm-to-table dining, hosting collaborative dinners with world renowned chefs on farms all over the globe. Since starting up 15 years ago in Santa Cruz, founder Jim Denevan has organized over 600 such dinners to 45 states, and even taken the show on the road to nine countries.
So if anyone would be prepared for whacky weather conditions, it was the team at Outstanding in the Field.
There were not one, but two, insane sandstorms the Saturday night of Steve Samson's dinner, but that didn't stop Sotto's chef from putting on a show. The meal served as a welcome respite from the chaos outside the rose garden, with well-orchestarated yet playfully casual service and incredible eats. And did we mention there was Barolo in the desert? Because that was nothing short of amazing.
Though many of the seats at the stunning 180-seat table were left empty, those who did dine were served up a real treat. (The organizers offered sold out tickets as part of a $600 package and likely some kids were just too busy raging to acts like Duck Sauce to sit down for Samson's exquisite duck liver paccheri pasta. Definitely their loss.)
Here's what we ate.
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