Press release from Warren Wilson College:
Outstanding in the Field Comes to North Carolina on October 1
For a DinnerSet Between the Soil and Sky at Warren Wilson College Farm in Swannanoa
Roving “restaurant without walls” partners with Guest Chef William Dissen of The Market Place in Asheville
Outstanding in the Field’s vintage red bus will soon roll into North Carolina, stocked with all the accoutrements for a fabulous feast in a farm field.
On Tuesday, October 1, the pioneering farm-dinner troupe that has inspired pop-up supper clubs across North America and around the world will make its first visit to Warren Wilson College Farm in Swannanoa to host amulti-course meal created by guest chef William Dissen and his kitchen crew from The Market Place in Asheville.
“We’ve done four dinners with William Dissen, and he’s kind of a hero to us,” says OITF founding chef and artist Jim Denevan. “Partly because he’s so nice, which we really need when we’ve been on the road traveling around the countryside for nearly three months. And partly because we love his passion for good, local food. We’re excited to come to Swannanoa Valley and see what Chef William does with the bountiful harvest of Warren Wilson College Farm.”
Combining academics on a working farm, Warren Wilson College Farm started out in 1894 as the Asheville Farm School and has trained many successful young farmers in sustainable agricultural practices. The farm raises grass-based livestock and rotating feed crops of barley, corn and alfalfa. The WWC garden crew tend three acres of organically grown vegetables, herbs, cut flowers and fruits, including a one-acre apple orchard on Jones Mountain.
Outstanding in the Fieldstages outdoor dining events across North America, placing its long signature table at country farms and ranches, in urban gardens and sea caves, on mountaintops and sandy beaches. Wherever it goes, OITF’s mission is the same: To re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food and introduce them to the local farmers and food artisans whose good work brings nourishment to the table. Ingredients for the meals are often sourced within inches of diners’ seats. After a tour of the host site, everyone settles in: farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food artisans and guests serving each other at the communal table.
Since 1999, when Denevan did his first farm dinner in his hometown of Santa Cruz, Calif., Outstanding in the Field’s culinary caravan has staged more than 400 “table to farm” events, welcoming nearly 50,000 guests for family-style feasts in theU.S. andCanada as well asEurope and South America.
Outstanding in the Field events start with a glass of wine and welcome hors d’oeuvres, followed by a tour of the host farm and a four-course meal paired with wines. Ticket price for the October 1 event is $190 per person, all inclusive. The event starts at 2pm and will end around sunset.
For more information and to reserve a seat at the Outstanding table, visit www.outstandinginthefield.com.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.