Heading off to Le Diner En Blanc. Photos/Swift and Click
Parisian tradition turned global pop-dining phenomenon Le Diner en Blanc is heading to the Bay in March, writes Annemarie Quill
Reach for your Persil and air your finest white frocks and flutes, gowns and bow ties, candelabras and camellias, because international al fresco dining phenomenon Diner en Blanc - the French for Dinner in White - is coming to the Bay in March 2017.
It is gearing up to be one of the most magical parties on the city's social calendar, certainly one not to be missed.
Hundreds of strangers will congregate at a surprise Bay location, revealed only on the night. The concept of 'pop-up' and 'word of mouth' underpins this event. Promoters assure the dinner will take place in "one of the most iconic parts of the region" and will start in the summer sunlight, fade into evening, and party on under the stars.
Revellers, who must be dressed head to toe in white, will bring their own fold-out tables and chairs, champagne flutes, fine china and silverware to create an elegant outdoor picnic. Paper cups and plates are not allowed. Some guests go all out and bring floral arrangements, table decorations and even candelabras.
There is an etiquette to the evening which is followed at Diner En Blanc events all over the world, in which guests line up their table and chairs in perfect order, unpack the picnic basket, pop the champers or wine and, after the waving of a cloth napkin, the party begins.
The 'dream team' bringing the event to the Bay is comprised of a trio who are no strangers to pulling off large and successful Bay events: Rachelle Duffy, of Little Big Markets and On the Lawn, Bay event manager Dayna Comeskey, and Night Owl Cinema's Kimberley Cleland. The trio has been working with Diner en Blanc International to bring this world-renowned event to the Bay of Plenty for more than a year.
"Our aim is to showcase Tauranga to the world and provide a world-class event to people in the Bay of Plenty and surrounding regions. We have watched so many Diner En Blanc event videos in stunning locations and think what we have here in the Bay of Plenty stacks up with some of the best locations in the world," said Comeskey.
The concept of Diner en Blanc is for guests to dine in a public space, enjoy a beautifully orchestrated outdoor picnic - with live music, entertainment and dancing - before packing up their baskets, leftovers and rubbish and leaving the space exactly how they found it.
The phenomenon began back in 1988 Paris, when Parisian Francois Pasquier didn't have a large enough back garden to host a handful of friends for dinner. As a solution, Pasquier instructed his guests to meet in a secret location in the French capital and dress in all white so they could easily identify each other. Le Dîner en Blanc de Paris now assembles over 120,000 guests every year.
Since Dîner en Blanc International was founded in 2012, the event has quickly spread to over 70 cities around the world, from Budapest to Bangkok, even reaching destinations as far flung as the Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Haiti and Mumbai. Pasquier's Montreal-based son Aymeric Pasquier runs the global movement as executive director.
Some of the global dinners attract huge crowds. The Trocadero Gardens under the Eiffel Tower hosted 6000 people at the 25th anniversary of Diner en Blanc. Five thousand others were at the pyramid outside the Louvre.
The first Diner En Blanc was run in Australia in 2012. Diner en Blanc has taken place in Auckland and New Plymouth in the past but the Tauranga event will be the first for the central North Island. Auckland has already had three Diner En Blanc events run by event professionals Vinny Sherry and Anna Hood. The first took place in 2014 at The Viaduct, then at Britomart in 2015, then at Baywater Marina in 2016. NZME's Viva magazine, which sponsored the last event, called it "Auckland's most visually stylish party".
The evening does follow a set of rules in keeping with the events around the globe.
According to the website, guests are to "conduct themselves with the greatest decorum, elegance, and etiquette", and to keep within the core values of secrecy, friendship, equality, elegance and gallantry. Plastic and paper plates are forbidden, as are any coloured or black items of clothing.
Attendance is mandatory, "come rain-or-shine", as is keeping the location a secret and following a precise seating plan - ladies on one side, gentlemen on the other - and waiting for your entire row to arrive before taking your seat. Other traditions include the waving of a cloth napkin to mark the beginning of the dinner and the lighting of sparklers to signify to guests that it is time to mingle and dance.
The most recent Auckland event partnered up with fashion designer Juliette Hogan, well-known for her contemporary minimalist white outfits as well as Mumm champagne. Comeskey said the Tauranga event is likely to have a number of collaborators but these were all under wraps at this stage.
Tickets are sold as a pair and people choose a departure point. We take care of your transport from there to the venue
"Part of the fun of the evening is of course the dressing in white and planning your outfit. There really is no other dress code other than it must be white, not off white or ivory or cream. And people do dress up, kind of like white tie - the guys might wear white suits and even white bow ties, or just white chinos and shirts. For the women, the only limit is your imagination, as long as it is white."
Ladies, of course, will be thrilled about the dress up, but what of the men? Creamy marked chinos will not do.
"Yes, women of course are dedicated to dressing up and fashion but wearing white for a man might not be his normal go-to, but once they get into it, it will be so cool. At a pre-event photo shoot the men got into the spirit."
Once tickets are purchased, the anticipation will build about the venue, which the trio will keep under wraps until the last minute, said Comeskey.
"Tickets are sold as a pair and people choose a departure point. We take care of your transport from there to the venue."
Guests bring their table, chairs, and picnic materials. They take all belongings with them at the end of the night, including leftovers and rubbish, and they leave the site as clean as it was upon arrival.
Comeskey says guests will have to pre-purchase alcohol via the Diner en Blanc Tauranga e-Store - "bubbles and white wine of course ... People can bring their own picnic hampers or purchase hampers."
A huge part of the evening is getting to know others in one big outdoor dinner. Although there is a festive atmosphere, the dinner is one of etiquette and decorum rather than debauchery.
"We expect that some guests will know each other, some will be local and some from out of town - so it is a great way of bringing people from diverse backgrounds together. It will appeal to anyone who loves good food, wine and good company, and who wants to celebrate and appreciate the natural beauty of the Bay."
People can also register to be team leaders and volunteers, the benefits of which will be held at an information night that the team is planning to hold in the Bay before the end of the year.
Q & A
How do I buy a ticket? You must be registered at the website tauranga.dinerenblanc to be eligible to purchase a ticket when they become available.
How much are the tickets? Still to be revealed.
How can I find out more? You can follow the event on Facebook (DinerEnBlanc.Tauranga) where the organisers will share information about the event, as well as inspiration from other Diner en Blanc events. The website also contains frequently asked questions about the event. The organisers can be contacted by email at tauranga.dinerenblanc.info.
People that are wanting to volunteer as team or table leaders also need to register. The organisers will be holding an information night soon to explain what's involved with volunteering and the concept of Diner en Blanc. Registering as an attendee or volunteer doesn't mean you are committing to anything, it just means you will be kept in the loop and get announcements first.
What do I wear? White! Guests must dress elegantly in head-to-toe white. This means no ivory, no off-white, and no beige. Originality is always encouraged, as long as it stays stylish and tasteful.
Why are men generally seated on one side and women on the other? Dîner en Blanc concept borrows from French court society, and many traditions continue today. It was customary for men to sit on one side of the dinner table, and women on the other.
What do I bring? A square folding table and two white chairs; a white picnic basket and/or bag including a gourmet meal for two; a white tablecloth and cloth-napkins, cutlery, dishware and a garbage bag.
Can I purchase food rather than bringing my own? Yes, hampers will be available to purchase. "We are encouraging anyone that would like to be involved to get in touch with us now and to register their interest."