Café Nordo's Dreamy Dinner in the Trees at Lo-Fi

Several weeks ago, we shared tales from Burning Beast at Smoke Farm in Arlington. Now, we have the deets on a most likely once-in-a-lifetime opportunity twenty one lucky diners had at the Lo-Fi Festival, hosted by the Rubicon Foundation at the Smoke Farm, which happened last weekend.

Same 300-acre farm with river and mountain views, but this time, instead of a fundraiser focusing on all means of grilling animal flesh, we were immersed in all things visual. Hundreds made the hour-and-a-half trek to Arlington to experience installations and performances spread all over the farm. What they weren’t expecting was to be treated to a gourmet meal in a perch 30 feet in the sky.

Smoke Farm is a place for thinkers and doers and eaters of all sorts. The thrown-together potlucks on the farm have, on many occasions, turned into multicourse feasts. For Lo-Fi there was an artist and volunteer meal the evening before the festival that included cucumber salad, citrus and pistachio adorned cous cous, Mediterranean stew and spicy grilled chicken - all served family-style in the lower field near the loafing shed which served as base camp for the three days. But we digress - back to the dinner in the trees.

The way Lo-Fi works is that ticket buyers arrive at the farm and are given a map of the art installations and performances spread around the farm. The last artist on the list read: “49 The MaiTRE D’ catch him if you can.” Café Nordo’s name did not appear on the listing perhaps in an effort not to tip festival goers off as to what might be in store for them should they unhinge the velvet rope at the top of the river bank and descend down the slope to find an actor in a tux seated in a wooden chair who asked a series of questions to determine if you would be a lucky ‘dinner guest.’

After the festival I’m certain many festival goers noticed the @CaféNordo twitter feed did give a hint of what might be in store. The final tweet before the festival read “I will reward the nimble, fearless, and lucky at Smoke Farm's Lo-Fi Arts Festival. Will you find me? Dare you take the adventure alone?”

Those lucky enough to get a reservation were told where to meet but had no idea exactly what would be in store other then they would have a meal and need sensible shoes. Here’s what followed…Teggart Edwards (one of the Lo-Fi festival organizers) robed in a loin cloth led the group of surprised and delighted diners up a steep heavily wooded hillside to a tree house suspended 30 feet above their hungry heads. After arrival there was a leisurely and luscious meal artfully prepared and presented by Café Nordo assisted by Abactors Hideout's Kate Fernandez.

We're sure you are curious what one eats in the trees, so here you go:

• Arugula, Red Romaine and Oakleaf Salad Granita (apropos after trudging through the mossy and leafy green hillside.)
• Roasted Zuchini and Garlic paired with Cedergreen Viola Rose
• Braised Short Ribs and Fennel with potato coins paired with Eye of the Needle Syrah
• Homemade Ricotta with Smoke Farm Honey and local berries paired with Raspberry Frambelle

We think you’ll agree that’s the kind of fare that has you feeling like you are walking on air even when you’re not in a tree house. For more information on Café Nordo’s theatrical and culinary antics you may want to visit their site to find out when you'll get the chance to partake.