Outstanding in the Field

I attended a FABULOUS event this afternoon!  When wine is involved at 2:00 in the afternoon it is off to a very good start... just sayin'.

So check out http://www.outstandinginthefield.com/... beautiful table settings... local farms... fresh food... this is the "real deal" if you're a foodie.

The setting was http://www.lattedadairy.com/.

The centerpiece is... the table.

Set in a long sequential row along the available landscape...

in this case a sidewalk on a goat farm.

What? Does a goat farm not sound very inviting?  Well mix in a 5-course gourmet meal, (did I mention wine pairings), artisan cheese makers, a chef, a great friend, unknown strangers who share a love of all things delicious and delectable, the great outdoors, some really cute furry creatures (goats)... and equally impressive "guardian" dogs and you have a combination for an extremely lovely afternoon! (understatement).

This is the menu... simple, elegant and filled from tip to top with layers of rich deep flavors... and of course goat cheese!

So your only assignment is to bring a plate... any plate... this way each table setting... at each event... is unique... and lovely... and filled with stories. They stacked them up like mismatched jewels.

 

I chose this one...

I picked it out when I was only 15 years old.  At a darling little antique store in Brenham, TX that was once a drive in theater.  When I was 12 we moved from Houston to Austin and we journeyed this route maaaaany times.  With each passage I would stop in and leave a little cash in order to pay down my "layaway" plan. 

Finally... when my grandparents came for my high school graduation, they stopped in and paid the ransom left on my china set and brought it to me as a graduation gift. happy sigh.

It now lives in my china cabinet and comes out on special occasions.  It is very old fashioned... and quaint.. and not progressive... and I adore it.

My friend brought this one... Her grandmother dined upon it.

The gentleman across from us was charming... hilarious... enthusiastic!

His wife a doll.

He asked a great question!

"What is the most amazing thing you have done in your life?"

That's a biggie! Wedding and children weren't allowed as an answer... those are the obvious ones. 

Something else? What?

Not sure the answer... Something epic? 

I'll have to hover over the options.

I've got to ponder this one.  I love questions that require pondering.

We shared stories with strangers... we laughed... and almost cried... and tantalized our senses.

In addition to the layers of flavor... there was laughter and faith and friendship folded into the afternoon. 

It was good. It was very good.