Dining in bucolic Hollywood

Outstanding in the Field takes the guest chef/guest winemaker dinner a step further with the outdoors as guest star. Outstanding is a series of dinners around the country, each hosted by a farmer, a winemaker and a related outdoor space. It's very much in the Slow Food/eat local vein, but beyond that it sounds like a hell of a nice evening. (For those who think they'd like to take the idea private, Outstanding says they'll do it anywhere.)

On Sept. 23, it will be Los Angeles' turn. The space is the organic community garden of Wattles Farm, otherwise known as the former avocado grove and fruit orchard of the city-owned Wattles Mansion. The chef is Blue Velvet's Kris Morningstar; the vintner is Allen Quinton from Antelope Valley Winery. (Yep, that's Antelope Valley, as in Lancaster, CA. The valley's winery association is now working to create four local appellations.) A ticket to the five-course dinner is $200; they are available here.