Outstanding in the Field

Outstanding is right. This past week I had one of the most amazing eating experiences of my life. Outstanding in the Field is (as they put it) a "roving culinary adventure" that travels across the country, and even across seas, with the mission of re-connecting diners to the origins of their food. Basically this is the fancy way for saying that people pack up a bus full of stuff, choose gorgeous locations across the country, set up a huge table for about a hundred people, and then invite a chef from the area to create a five course masterpiece.

The dinner I went to was in Alexandria, Virginia at the Arcadia sustainable farm at Woodlawn with the team from Birch & Barley leading the way with food. On top of that, Birch & Barley is known for its extensive beer list so it was fitting that each course was paired with a unique beer.

I probably ate about 20 different items that night but just to highlight a few favorites:
- pumpkin flatbread, cardoons, pecorino & pine nuts
- salad of arugula, roasted peppers, grilled watermelon, grilled bok choy, white balsamic vinaigrette & lardons
- ricotta cavatelli w/ braised pork shoulder, lima beans & fresh herbs
- grilled pork loin, sauteed sweet potato greens & jalapeno corn bread
- and last but not least: apple pie with cinnamon chantilly, caramel & granola

The Woodlawn manor that sat beside the lawn where beer and appetizers were passed out


Speaking of which, here we all are drinking and standing around


Pumpkin flatbread (YUM)


RhinoFest, Lost Rhino Brewing Company beer


Table peaking out from behind the farm


Mismatched plates Outstanding in the Field has collected over the years that make the table look adorable


The long communal table


Me and the boyfriend, Zack


And then it got a little dark... but fear not!


The team from Birch & Barley



Um, so yeah. Basically, take my word on it, if you ever have the opportunity to go to one of these, do it.