Santa Cruz Community Table

This is where the idea of Outstanding in the Field was born. We will take over the street with our long table and the city’s blessing and celebrate both the past and future of Outstanding In the Field. Founder Jim Denevan spent more than a decade here on Cedar Street as chef of Gabriella Cafe. The restaurant’s owner and host, Paul Cocking, is still here charming the customers with his dry wit. One of Jim’s first hires, Gema Cruz is now the chef. Gema, fellow Gabriella Cafe alum Kendra Baker and Jim will be reunited at this creative meal featuring the farmers and winemakers that have contributed all these years. Several OITF favorites (including Kendra, who now owns The Penny Ice Creamery) do business on this street, and we certainly hope they will join us for this special event. After we dine, we will walk down the street and settle in to watch the Oscar-eligible documentary, Man in the Field: The Life and Art of Jim Denevan.

This event is part of our special series of Community Table Dinners, where we highlight not just farmers and the ingredients they provide, but also the local makers and artisans whose work becomes our tablescape. The OITF mission is to connect us through a celebration of all that is handmade, local and personal – forging bonds between those at the table and the people and place that helped create the meal. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to Food, What?! to support their work engaging local youth with land, food and each other in ways that are grounded in love and rooted in justice.