THE LARGEST DINNER AND FASHIONISTA PARTY IN THE WORLD LE DÎNER EN BLANC
THE US EDITION CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY
In 120 cities worldwide, the wildly popular and highly anticipated culinary pop-up returns to New York on September 19th
5500 heads-to-toe dressed in white expected for culinary event of the year after two-year hiatus
In celebration of its 10th edition anniversary on September 19, Le Dîner en Blanc returns to New York with its legendary, French-inspired pop-up culinary event inspired by fine dining, chic white finery, and elaborate table settings. Having taken a two-year hiatus in the city that started it all, the world’s largest dinner party is returning after a two-year absence.
After its dazzling US debut in the Big Apple a decade ago, the elegant soiree beckoning food lovers, cultural enthusiasts, and fashionistas to gather at a secret location in white, exploded globally. Around the world, requests were flooding in for the posh picnic hosted by Le Dîner en Blanc International.
Each location of Le Dîner en Blanc has its own culture and culinary voice, with locations spanning 6 continents, 40 countries and 120 cities. The following events often sell out within days if not hours, with more than a million people on waiting lists worldwide. Over 60,000 people were on the waitlist for the 2019 New York dinner, which attracted 5,500 guests. As a result of the pandemic, Le Dîner en Blanc has been postponed. You don’t have to wait anymore.
There is an elegant soirée every year in New York and other cities around the world, where thousands of people dress entirely in white and descend on a landmark public space with everything they need, including folding tables, chairs, gourmet picnic food, fine china, silverware, and tablecloths, to host an elegant soirée. At designated places in the city, they meet in groups of 100 to 300 people and follow group leaders to the location. In order to create an air of mystery and excitement, the exact location remains a secret until the moment guests arrive. There’s something magical about it – thousands of people arrive at the same time, at the same location, from different points throughout a city.
In addition to live music, dancing, and festive white balloons, diners eat and celebrate throughout the evening. It is common for people to plan their menus weeks in advance. A charming spectacle is always created by the guests’ elaborate and creative outfits, fantastical hats, and decorative table settings.
One of the most visually stunning moments of the dinner was the waving of thousands of cloth napkins and the lighting of sparklers to announce the end of the dinner. Guests pack up their crystal, dinnerware, and tables when the trumpet call of the end of the evening sounds, pick up their litter, and head into the night, leaving nothing behind to remind them of their elegant evening.
“We have had to wait two years for our 10th anniversary edition in New York, so I’m thrilled to be returning to the city that helped launch the event.” said Sandy Safi, President of Dîner en Blanc International. I think our choice for this milestone will be a splendid surprise befitting this grand occasion, as we have carefully selected iconic outdoor venues like Lincoln Center and Bryant Park in the past.
The registration process can be found at newyork.dinerenblanc.com under the Register tab.
Guests must follow a few key rules in order to maintain the uniqueness of Le Dîner en Blanc:
As long as it is stylish and tasteful, you may dress elegantly and only in white. Originality is encouraged as long as it is stylish and tasteful.
Table setting: all white!
Champagne and/or wine. Beer and hard liquor are prohibited.
In accordance with New York alcohol regulations, guests may not bring their own alcohol. Guests wishing to enjoy some wine or Champagne must make an online reservation through Le Dîner en Blanc’s e-store.
Guests are escorted by Dîner en Blanc volunteers from assigned departure locations throughout the city to ensure that the secret location is kept secret until the last minute.
To ensure the location is kept as clean as when guests first arrived, guests are required to leave with all their belongings, leftovers, and litter.
Guests must bring
A table, two white chairs, white tablecloth.
A picnic basket comprising fine food and proper stemware and white dinnerware.
A catered picnic basket option, which can be picked up on site, will be available for those who do not wish to pack their own. Guests wishing to do so must reserve online through Le Dîner en Blanc’s e-store.
About Le Dîner en Blanc
Over the years, Le Dîner en Blanc has become a worldwide epicurean phenomenon. What was a “friends and word-of-mouth only” event has grown into an international sensation celebrated on six continents. Launched in Paris in 1988 by François Pasquier and a handful of friends, Le Dîner en Blanc de Paris marked its 30th anniversary in 2018 with a record 17,000 guests from Paris and around the world. While the technology behind the event may have changed over the years, the principle fueling this fantastic event has not: guests dressed in all white continue to gather at a secret location for the sole purpose of sharing a gourmet meal with good friends in one of their city’s most beautiful public spaces. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Dîner en Blanc International is responsible for developing this secret posh picnic in over 120 cities in 40 countries around the world. Each event is headed by passionate local organizers who fell in love with the concept and wanted to bring it to their city, giving this rendezvous a local flair.