Dîner en Blanc! Sounds fancy, well it kinda is and it’s coming to Hampton Roads! According to Dîner en Blanc the legend, it was first started by François Pasquier 25 years ago as a way of catching up with friends after he spent some time away from France. They decided to meet at the Bois de Boulogne and dress in white so they could easily find each other. It's now grown into a international business after Pasquier's son, Aymeric, held the first one in North America in his new hometown of Montreal. The rest is history.
First things first.
I am a Team Leader for the event which means I captain a bus and a table. I’ve been asking friends to join me and Shelby so we could all sit together and I thought I had the bus filled but it didn’t work out that way. So if you want to go, contact me and we’ll dine together – I want my bus filled!
Here are the facts, and I make it a point to tell people this up front:
- It costs $94.40 per couple (that includes a Dîner en Blanc membership fee of $8 and $4.40 tax)
- The location is secret
- You must wear all white, shoes don’t have to be but they prefer it
- It is formal. No shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, etc…
- You bring your own food you prepare beforehand
- You must bring your own table and chairs, they need to be white or covered with white
- The table must be between 27” to 34” square, no exceptions. It must have a table cloth
- No plastic utensils, plates, or cups. It’s gotta be the real thing
- Everyone will be take a motor coach to the event and will leave by motor coach when the event is over
- There is no after-party at our event.
Those are the rules! I want to be up front with people and let them know that parameters have been set and need to be met if you want to participate. No one is required to attend and no one is forcing anyone to spend their money to attend and buy all the stuff needed to meet the requirements. If you don’t like it, you just don’t go. Simple.
Will it be fun. Absolutely! This is going to be a very interesting experience, the fact that some work is put into attending makes it that much more satisfying once all is said and done. For those who signed up, the race is on to find a while outfit, tables, chairs, place settings and a 3-course meal to bring. Dîner en Blanc does offer packages that includes everything you need, including food, but that’s part of the fun too. Shelby was saying I better not get too complicated with the meal because I’ll get these big ideas in my head about what I’m going to cook and then it takes me a day to get a meal done.
Check out the links below, if you're interested message me! I can help you sign up. If you want to ride my coach, look for group leader Stevie Jordan during registration. You'll see me, George Culver, in her group. Select my bus and done!
Dîner en Blanc – Hampton Roads
The Virginian-Pilot's Lorraine Eaton and Jamesetta M. Walker has a nice write-up on the event.
Image courtesy of Diner en Blanc