Field of Gourmet Dreams

Picnics can now be haute. For nearly a decade, a small Santa Cruz, Calif.-based organization called Outstanding in the Field has created a traveling "restaurant without walls," roving the United States hosting dining events at beaches, vineyards and other venues. Top chefs hailing from foodie hot spots, such as San Francisco, New York and Chicago, fly in to handpicked locations—from Napa Valley to Miami—and whip up five-star meals using local ingredients and wines. The spread is served outdoors on a long white-linen-covered table that seats up to 140 people, who come from all over the world to experience owner Jim Denevan's events for themselves.

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Denevan, an artist and chef and a founder of the popular Slow Food movement, has hosted only a few foreign events, mainly in Italy. Now the group is undergoing a global expansion, with meals planned next year in Spain and France. Six dinners in Australia are slated for February. When asked where his dream locale for a future event might be, Denevan responds: "Antarctica … I want to hold one on all seven continents." For a schedule of dates or to register for an event, visit outstanding inthefield.com. Tickets run between $150 and $300 per person. You bring your own hat and sunglasses.

© 2008