Le Dîner en Blanc comes to Orlando soon, offering the delish charms of the bourgeoisie

Le Dîner en Blanc, the flash-mob/pop-up/outdoor dinner party/picnic comes to an undisclosed locale in Orlando for the very first time this fall, and it promises to be an all-white affair.

The “all-white” referring to the dress code, of course – “head to toe in ALL and ONLY WHITE and ELEGANT,” as stated in Dîner en Blanc’s press kit.

The exclusive, invite-only event (tentatively set for September or October) got its start in Paris, but has since expanded to more than 60 cities around the world.

Guests are notified of the venue just hours before the event and, after donning their finest tenue blanche, are required to bring their own folding tables, white chairs, white table linens, tableware, and a complete gourmet meal consisting of an appetizer, main, cheese course and dessert.

Wine and Champagne are encouraged at the al fresco soirée, but beer and liquor are absolute no-nos. Those who don’t want to bring their own meals will be able to purchase meals online, along with wine (don’t bring your own) at the event’s website.

I’m sure you’re wondering how to get an invite. First step is to register at orlando.dinerenblanc.info and get on the waiting list. Then, umm, wait.

“Only 1,200 guests will be invited to attend,” says Tash Johnson, managing partner of J.A.G.A. Productions, the event management and consulting company staging the event, but the process, she says, is carried out in three phases:

• Phase 1: Guests are invited by the hosts and those actively involved in the execution and production of the event.
• Phase 2: Guests who accept invites in Phase 1 can then send one invitation (valid for two people, as every invited guest must bring a date).
• Phase 3: If the 1,200 limit hasn’t been reached after Phase 2, invitations will be sent out to those on the waiting list (which currently stands at more than 500 people).

Ticket prices haven’t been released, but expect it to be in $30-$40 range. 

Now this might all sound like an elitist and snobby get-together of epicureans, bon vivants and fashionistas, but the event’s roots are actually quite grounded.

In 1988, Francois Pasquier thought to host a dinner party as a way to reconnect with old friends. He couldn’t accommodate them at home and so he asked the invitees to gather at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and to wear white for easy recognition.

The rest, as they say, is histoire.

Website: orlando.dinerenblanc.info
Facebook: facebook.com/DinerEnBlanc.Orlando
Twitter: @DinerEnBlancORL

This article appears in May 18-24, 2016.