setting a long table on a farm and inviting the public

A dinner in California.

Let's keep talking about food! I received the official email about the 2015 Outstanding in the Field dates and locations yesterday and was really thrilled about it until I realized none of them work with our schedule. Ugh. I was REALLY looking forward to treating ourselves to a farm to table meal with wine in nature, but it looks like we are going to have to wait until next year. 

We had a few places in mind, but the dinners either take place during the week, or overlap with plans we already have. We also were not going to pay that price for dinner just anywhere - we had our favorites (Vermont, Maine, Hudson Valley, and western Massachusetts). Hopefully, this idea catches on and more people do it, which would hopefully in turn lower the cost. It is steep, but seems worth it if you are into the outdoors and knowing where your food comes from. The photographs are absolutely beautiful too and who doesn't like a pretty picture? So, I guess I will wait until 2016 and for now, our dinners in nature will take place on our back patio. Click here to browse the wonderfulness that makes up this food movement.

a field trip to a beautiful grape-filled place

The grounds at the vineyard.

My weekend with my sister was glorious - much too short, but very fun. We visited one of our favorite wineries, Sakonnet Vineyards, in Little Compton, Rhode Island. We love, love, love it there. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and every time I visit I talk about how I would love to throw a party (of some sort) in their tasting room. I am not even sure they rent it out, but it is a dream of mine. It is made of stone and there is a huge fireplace. It is really nice. The event would take place during the fall and we would drink wine and eat harvest delights full of apples, root vegetables, cheeses, and cured meats. Want to come?! Their wines are pretty good too, although the last two times I've gone for a tasting I have opted for more red than white and regretted it. That was my motivation for this post - to remind myself to choose more white, rose, and dessert wine. Noted! My favorite wine they make is called Rhode Island Red, but I need to skip the others. I picked up two bottles of Vidal Blanc for our Thanksgiving dinner and a bottle of Rose to bring to a dinner party tonight. If you're in the area I would recommend stopping by. Click here to visit the website.