Dîner en Blanc comes to Cape Town

The story behind the all-white party is interesting. Some 27 years ago, François Pasquier had been out of town for some time and, on returning to Paris, decided to invite friends for a picnic. Pasquier, in the mood for company and revelry, also requested that each of his guests bring a friend along. The problem they faced was how everyone would identify each other as fellow picnic attendees. This was quite simply solved: all the guests were to be clothed in white.

Le Dîner en Blanc, the 'pop-up-picnic', is now being hosted in over 50 cities in more than 20 countries around the world. Its original host city, Paris, attracts 15,000 people, and New York, which has recently hosted its fifth event, had over 30,000 registered subscribers clamouring to get their hands on only 5000 tickets.

Six key elements

The six key elements prescribed by the originators of the event are: friendship, secrecy, elegance, effort, heritage and magic. Friendship, secrecy and elegance need no explanation, but effort is encouraged in the dress-up of the diners and their table décor, and heritage refers to the chosen 'mystery venue', which provides a backdrop of architectural history. The magic is generated, in part, by local organisers who have been planning this event for over a year and intend to put Cape Town on the 'white map'.

Ross, Melissa and Janine, the team putting together this event, say that the main purpose is to create an event through which Capetonians and visitors can join together to experience the city in a brand new way. "We are spoilt in Cape Town, with many a choice for restaurant, entertainment or places to go. Dîner en Blanc will add an international, stylish and elegant option to the Cape Town calendar. We cannot wait to showcase our city and its people."

Guests can expect to be swept up from various meeting points in organised coaches, whisked to the mysterious venue where they will be asked to 'occupy the site' with a twirling of the napkins. Dinner is then savoured, either directly from a guest's own picnic basket, or pre-ordered picnics, in the magical ambience created by the backdrop and live local musicians and DJs. The evening crescendos at 9pm when the customary lighting of sparklers signifies the end of dinner and the opening of the dance floor.

Tickets to the event are sold in pairs and available in three phases, the first of which is on an invite-only basis. Phase two stays true to the original event all those years ago in Paris, where invited guests from phase one are to invite a friend. Phase three opens up to the public who have registered online.

Once you have your ticket, it's all about dressing up and sorting out your table décor. "It's all about participation," explains the DEB Team. "You can bring cheese and crackers and a single candle or fois gras, crayfish and a crystal candelabra, it's entirely up to you."

To register on the waiting list go to: capetown.dinerenblanc.info/register