Now THAT is a reception table, is it not??!! Last week we were lucky enough to have a seat on the Malibu Pier with Outstanding in the Field and 250 of our closest food-loving friends and it was definitely an amazing way to kick off the start of summer. Have you heard of OITF? For 20 years they’ve been hosting pop-up dinners in unlikely and beautifully rustic places, showcasing local food, the farmers who grow it, the chefs who cook it, and the land where it is grown. It’s an incredibly special organization and the dinners are bucket-list kind of events. Oh AND… yep. They do weddings.
The bus! It’s a 1953 touring bus and it still runs!! Though they don’t take it across country anymore. But she sure is cute! And an iconic part of OITF.
It was such a perfect evening in Malibu, after a few days of cold drizzly weather, the clouds parted and it really started to feel like warmer days are coming.
The evening always starts with a cocktail hour, featuring one or two beverage partners from the local area. Our wine service came from Solminer, in Santa Inez. And their rosé is absolutely worth seeking out for summer soirees!
During wine hour, you can expect delicious passed appetizers, beautiful views, and a farm tour if the event is held on a farm. In this case we were dining on a pier so the tour was really enjoying the ocean, watching dolphins and surfers, and drinking.
In the tradition of Outstanding in the Field, everyone is encouraged to bring their own plate, which makes for a super charming mixed dinner table.
The spirit of honoring the place where food is grown by bringing the restaurant *to* the farm instead of the other way around, is such a special way to share a meal with friends and interesting people in your community. Meals are served family-style to encourage conversation and sharing and it’s really lovely.
Our meal was prepared by Chef Ernest Lopez of Malibu Farm, with host fishermen and farmers from Bear Flagg Fish Co and Intuitive Forager. Which is one of the most unique parts of OITF… the entire dinner revolves around the location and the ingredients available from that soil (or water, as the case may be!). Details of our dinner can be found here.
Oh hai… most perfect pink striped bench.
Can you imagine this being your wedding table?! It would be soooo spectacular! Their private events team can plan as much or as little as you like of your wedding. Word is they can even help find a stunning, unique venue! But one thing you can be certain of… a masterfully prepared meal served at a long table, in a beautiful location. Your guests would be talking about your reception for years to come!
We’re so grateful to have had the opportunity to join in this unique dining and community experience to kick off summer. And we really sincerely suggest checking out their calendar for the rest of the 2019 season. Many of their dates sell out as soon as tickets are released, but there are always new dinners popping up throughout the season so if you’re curious, sign up for the newsletter to be the first to know! Which is exactly how we heard about this Malibu dinner, FYI.
Here’s to more beautiful meals outside this summer. And if you do by chance host your wedding with Outstanding in the Field, please send us the photos!!
Photos by Scott Clark Photo
