Outstanding in the Field

Potato fields. These swaths of lush, green carpet are an enduring part of the Island’s pastoral, patchwork landscape that visitors and Islanders typically enjoy passively, as sightseers driving by or flying above. On August 26th, however, a humble potato field in Victoria-by-the-Sea will be transformed into an intimate dining space for Atlantic Canada’s first-ever Outstanding in the Field (OITF) dinner event.

The brainchild of California chef and artist Jim Denevan, Outstanding in the Field is one part pop-up dinner, one part farm-to-feast, and one part a celebration of local chefs. The end result is a triple threat that’s proven extremely appetizing to diners since OITF launched in 1999.

“Our mission is to get folks out to the farm and honor the people whose good work brings nourishment to the table,” Denevan says.

This year the culinary caravan will host over 90 events in fields, farms, vineyards, urban gardens and other unique venues across North America and beyond. And on Melis Visser’s potato field in Victoria, diners will be treated to stunning views of the Northumberland Strait and a locally-sourced meal prepared by Chef Emily Wells of The Mill.

 

OSITF – Ploughgate, Vermont.//Photo Credit: Emmy Hagen

 

OITF – Mead Ranch, Wyoming.//Photo Credit: Neringa Greiciute

About Shannon Courtney

Shannon is the co-founder of Salty and was its editor-in-chief for the publication's inaugural year. When she’s not writing about food, Shannon's either cooking, eating, talking, or thinking about it. Her food adventures have included milking a Jersey cow in Australia, almost overdosing on maple syrup in Prince Edward County, and studying local food systems in Vermont as part of her Master’s thesis research. Shannon is also a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and strongly believes you CAN make friends with salad.

View All Posts