Outstanding in the Field has amassed a strong following, touring the United States in a vintage motor home and uniting eaters and farmers through a shared passion for fresh, local food. Dinners are often held on the farm, providing a context for what normally shows up in pretty packages at the supermarket. Menus are developed based on local and seasonal availability of foods, ensuring everything on your plate is ripe and natural.

Despite the threat of Hurricane Bill, our dinner was held at Cedar Spring Herb Farm in Harwich, Cape Cod. We were greeted with local wine and salty-sweet raw oysters. Yummy treats were passed around and introductory speeches were made by Jim Denevan, founder of Outstanding in the Fields and Donna Eaton, our host farmer for the evening. We were lead to the long communal table that meandered through the herb gardens-it was sculpted along the natural curves of the land. Diners found their places and became further acquainted. Menu highlights included gazpacho with creme fraiche and Stony Island Mussels, and line-caught striped bass. Farmers, growers, and fisherman came to introduce themselves to and explain their passion for what they brought to the table. Dishes were served family style on Heath Ceramics and plates that diners brought from home, adding personality to the table. The best was saved for last-locally grown peach shortcake with vanilla bean mascarpone cream in blackberry puree. People were practically licking the bowl.

Tickets for this week’s Queens Farm dinner are still available on Outstanding’s site.