Dîner En Blanc:From Previews to The Main Event
On June 7th, 2016 Morgan and I attended the Preview event to Philadelphia's CLASSIEST, SUAVEST, most ELEGANT event of the year!
DRUM ROLL PLEASE......
The Diner En Blanc Preview Party 2016
This year will mark the 5th year that Philadelphia will participate in the growing international phenomenon that is The Diner En Blanc. If you don't already know what Diner En Blanc is let me break it down for you.
If you don't already know what Diner En Blanc is let me break it down for you.
WHAT IS IT? Diner En Blanc (DEB) is, in short, an outdoor dinner party that exemplifies the suaveness (to coin the phrase) of a High Society evening. Attendees dress head to toe in all white, meet at a secret location and share a fancy meal in one of the city's most stunning locations. The experience is an evening like no other under the stars, with classy entertainment, good company, an "unconventional picnic" meal, while occupying a chic city space. DEB allows you to experience the finer things in life.
HISTORY
DEB founder, François Pasquier, a native Parisian came up with the idea when he decided to host a dinner party to catch up with some friends after traveling for some time. He quickly realized that he would not be able to host his large party of guests at his home so he decided it would be easier to instruct his guests to meet at the Bois de Boulogne, and wear all white so it would be easy to find each other. After hosting the event at the Bois de Boulogne for a few years the guest list grew and grew and it became more of a challenge to host such a grand diner party without having the authorities shut it down. It was decided that all guests would meet at a location where they would be told the hidden diner spot! Later on one of François Pasquier's son moved to Canada, and decided to take the tradition with him! In 2011, the US hosted it's first Diner En Blanc in New York City, and in 2012 Philadelphia joined the fun with its first DEB. Thus was the birth of the Diner En Blanc in Philadelphia.
Check out Philadelphia's past DEB spots and participants!
YEAR- LOCATION- # of ATTENDEES
2012- Logan Circle Swann Fountain- 1, 300 people
2013- 30th Street Station JFK Bridge- 2,500 people
2014- Avenue of the Arts, Broad St- 3,500 people
2015- Navy Yard Marine Parade Grounds- 4,500 people
2016???? SHH it's a secret!
The Preview Event
This year Morgan and I were lucky enough to have discovered the Philadelphia Diner En Blanc Preview Party. The event was free to the public all you had to do was sign up to reserve a spot, it was as easy as pie!
The Preview Party was hosted at on of our favorite places and the center of Philly Food Tourism The Reading Terminal Market!
(also HOME of Smucker's Pot Roast sandwich and Beiler's Donuts)
The Food
The event was catered by some of Philly's BEST chefs!
Popular Philly chef, Luke Palladino , of Luke Palladino Hospitality Group, was featured at the preview event, with his Luke Palladino Catering.
Palladino is the owner of numerous hot spots on the east coast.
-Palladino Seasonal Italian Cooking , in Linwood NJ
- LP STEAKS in Valley Forge Casino Resort
-Palladino's on Passyunk Ave in South Philly
Palladino's Farro Panzanella was out of this world!
You could taste every single ingredient in his dish! A dish like this is sure to be a crowd favorite at the 2016 DEB!
Michael Sultan, Chef and Owner of Philly's 33rd Street Hospitality Catering joined the a party as well. Sultan along with Philly chefs Carolyn Nguyen, and Alan Krawitz are the creative minds behind 33rd Street Hospitality Catering and newest fun spot Revolution Taco !
Sulatn and Nguyen own food Trucks Taco Mondo and Street Food Philly. Krawitz is the owner of the Say Cheese Philadelphia food truck.
These three chefs are paving their way with great food here in Philly!
Morgan and I were able to sample 3 out for the 4 items on the 33rd Street Hospitality Caterings menu and they were SCRUMPTIOUS!
Everything we tasted was so good. I could have eaten at least 12 of those Salted Fudge brownies. They were so chocolaty and just the right amount of fudgy.
The Asparagus & Beef Filet Tip Salad and the Horseradish Pimento Spread on the other hand are my kind of idea of the perfect summer gourmet meal. They were light and refreshing leaving you wanting more.
The Reading Terminal Market also offered a wide variety of goodies from some of its vendors.
We enjoyed Cold pressed Melon Juice from Iovine Brothers Produce. I was told it was an apple and melon lemonade, and it would go perfect if you add a little wine spritzer to it!
Another entrée selection Morgan and I loved was the Petite Home Style Chicken Salad Wrap from Hatville Deli. Maybe we went back for seconds, maybe we didn't.
The Baguette & Raspberry Jam from Market Bakery & Condiment, was just the right amount of sweet and delightful!
We saved the sweetest for last! That being said we helped ourselves to the Chocolate Chip cookies from Famous 4th Street Cookie Company and Mini Whoopie Pies from, award winning, Flying Monkey Bakery! If you know me it was very hard to not go back for seconds with these two sweet treats. I had to tell myself to share them so everyone else could try them and fall in LOVE with them like I did!
I don't know how The Reading Terminal Market does it but they have surprised me again with outstanding treats!
To top it all off we had our own little wine tasting! My favorite was the Rosa. This wine in particular is from a Vineyard in New Jersey. Now I am from NJ born and raised and I had no idea that Vineyards were located in our small state. But what do you know the Vineyards are beautiful and the wine is fantastic. Alba Vineyards makes this particular bottle of Rosa. This Rosa is made from sweet berries, grapefruit, and peach, and it is simply the BEST Rosa I have ever tasted!
The Contest
While the table sampling and mingling was going on, we were also instructed to look around at the table settings and cast our VOTE for our favorite one. For DEB it is encouraged that you bring your own extravagant center piece, as to add to the decorum! The featured local Philadelphia vendors participated in a contest by setting up their own DEB inspired table setting with the theme of "Philadelphia Firsts".
The winners of the " judges choice" went to Philadelphia
Chef Jacqueline Peccina-Kelly from Taste4Travel and Laura Eaton of Soiree Philadelphia. The two were inpired by The Academy of Natural Science's Titan R. Peale Butterfly and Moth Collection . It was elegant and looked effortless. The dream like essence of the table fit right into the mission of DEB.
The Main Event
This year DEB will take place on Monday August 18, 2016. The location of the event will be a secret until attendees are notified by their group organizer. The rest of Philadelphia will find out once the event has begun, with the waving of white napkins, symbolizing the occupying of space.
Attendees must dress in head to toe white. NO EGGSHELL, NO OFF WHITE. NO CREAM. Just WHITE! White accessories and shoes too!
Need help putting an outfit together for CHEAP?
Remember this is a CLASSY event, dress you fanciest, try adding a hat or gloves to complete your DEB look!
Check out these stores!
Don't know what to PACK check out the DEB official website, but make sure to bring a table, white table cloth, white cloth napkins, dishware, silverware, wine glasses, wine and your gourmet food packed in a white cooler or basket. Don't forget a white trash bag for easy clean up!
Diner En Blanc is such a fun event that allows you to truly enjoy yourself, your company, and your city!
For more Information and details click HERE!
To register click HERE!
Email- philadelphia@dinerenblanc.info
LIKE the DEB Facebook Page
Instagram- @dinerenblancphl
Twitter-@DEBphl
