The table arrives with the season
Outstanding in the Field has been around for a while–1999 a while. We are very last century, yet at the same time we are firmly in the now. The gathering of farmers, guests and ingredients exists only in the moment, but languorous, slow-knowing, feasts are increasingly elusive in this first century of the third millennium.
Not to imply that the now is effortless. Much planning precedes it.
Where will we go?
Who will join the ride?
Will the weather cooperate?
That’s the pretext and then we plot and plan the tour so that we arrive at each destination at the best possible moment. Like the farmer who tills and toils to reach peak ripeness, our planning has the goal of getting to the perfect spot at the perfect time.
This year the familiar cadence of our Winter tour followed by our cross country main tour was interrupted by the wildfires that raged across Southern California — more specifically a group of Pacific Palisades residents who sought our assistance in supporting those impacted by the disaster.
With the help of our sphere of chefs, farmers and friends in food and beverage, we constructed a 1000 person LOVE table on the field of the Rose Bowl Stadium and seated supporters alongside those who fought fires on the front line to raise money for the Altadena and Palisades Community Funds.
I’m humbled by the way our community came together for this effort and more inspired than ever to begin another season in celebration of the hands that feed us.
I hope you will join us on tour and raise your glass to them with me.