We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again — communal dining is something we all need right now. With phones aside and strangers as neighbors, there’s a growing hunger for community that’s anything but artificial. It’s funny to think about, especially from someone who nearly a decade ago, as a young food writer, went on public television promoting a restaurant that hid chefs and servers from patrons, but the more we tend to rely on artificial intelligence, the more we crave intelligent conversation.
Which is likely why, after more than two decades, Outstanding in the Field is still as elusive a ticket as any in town. The one-night-only event is a nostalgia kick for the growing population of burnouts and nonnamaxxers ; a deeply renewing experience for food aficionados that seek connection and experiences just as much as they seek excellent cuisine.
“We have a simple goal,” says Outstanding in the Field founder Jim Denevan, “bring people to the land.”