You can never accuse chef Jason Weiner of fearing commitment.
Not only did he and long-time friend and business partner Eric Lemonides celebrate 25 years running their celebrated restaurant Almond in Bridgehampton, Weiner is getting a hat-tip for another important milestone this week: 20 years as the head guest chef for Outstanding in the Field‘s East End fête.
“OITF is the connective tissue between the farmer, the farm, the chef and the eater,” says Weiner. “In a regular old restaurant situation, there’s an inherent disconnect between all those things.”
Outstanding in the Field kicked off in 1999 when founder and chef Jim Denevan, formerly of Gabriella Café, had the idea of bringing the idea of a pop-up restaurant to the source of its ingredients, instead of bringing the ingredients to the restaurant. Denevan’s first was held in Santa Cruz, Calif., at his brother Jim’s home with the latter’s organically grown produce from his small farm as well as that of nearby Marquita Farms.
That little farm-to-table dinner grew to reach nearly 20 countries over the last quarter of a century, with the notion that place matters and connecting diners, chefs, growers and makers builds more than the sum of its dinner party parts. Now, in each dinner OITF creates, a different unique outdoor (often agricultural) spot is selected, with a long (long, long!) set of tables set up and connected, so attendees sit together like a big, happy family, eating family style.
“Jim and his awesome crew weave it all together,” continues Weiner. “It feels so right. The dinners we cook with them are the highlight of my year.”
Once again this year, the dinner will be held on Foster Farm, the sixth generation agricultural gem run by brother and sister Marilee and Dean Foster, and featuring the wines from nearby vintners Christopher Tracy and Allison Dubin of Channing Daughters Winery paired with the multi-course al fresco meal.
Outstanding in the Field’s East End stop happens Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at the Foster Farm at 729 Sagg Main St. in Sagaponack. Tickets are $425 and you can nab your place at the long table here.
