It was while helping to plan to a wedding that fine art graduate Dany Kranauw first came across the images of Jim Denevan’s Outstanding in the Field, an initiative that serves meals outdoors on farms in California. Seduced by the images of long tables in the maize fields and tucked inside the farm’s greenhouse, Dany decided to see if she could create similar events in South Africa. And so began Down to Earth Farm Feasts.

Along with best friend Danielle Strydom, Dany went in search of a vehicle that would allow them to host dinners in the most remote farm locations. “Within the first week of research, Danielle came across a cute little Bedford bus, which had been converted into a kitchen. We loved the idea and the look and were convinced that it was supposed to be ours.”

Fortunately the pair didn’t buy the truck, because two months later, while visiting a truck graveyard, they found a dusty old bullnose Mercedes truck and fell in love. “We had the technical team completely rattled with our detailed requests,” says Dany. The pair drove the truck down to Piet Retief where furniture designer David Krynauw built a wooden canopy and installed an entire mobile kitchen inside the truck.

The very first dinner – a test run – took place on the Krynauw’s family farm, Madola, where the girls, and chef for the occasion, Regev Afek, served up a three-course meal that included slow-cooked goat with roast potatoes and seasonal berry tart. Head of the household Dawie Krynauw also served up his homemade gin and blackberry port.

The second event is taking place at Sunherbs Farm on Saturday 9 February 2013, starting at 3pm. Tickets are R500 per person and include all food and drinks as well as a tour of the farm and talk by the farmer. Bookings are now open; visit the Down to Earth website (http://downtoearth.travel/) to make yours.  

Now all that’s left to do is come up with a name for the truck. 

By Katharine Jacobs

In the Western Cape? Check out Cape-based farm pop-up Outlandish Kitchen; their next feast, a fish-themed dinner, is coming up on the 23/24 February.