Toronto At Its Best: Dîner En Blanc

Once in a while, I attend an event in the city that makes me truly proud to be a Torontonian. This year’s Dîner en Blanc was one such soiree. But it wasn’t the food, music or spectacular backdrop that had me leaving the picnic en masse with a huge grin: it was the incredible energy I felt throughout the night. People, young and old, from all walks of life gathered at a surprise location (Echo Beach this year) for an evening under the stars. Attitudes were checked at the gates and the atmosphere was pulsing with positive vibes from the moment guests walked in…

There was a certain je ne sais quoi this year. Perhaps it’s because we’re starting to embrace what the pop-up culinary event is all about. Unlike previous years – where guests arrived expecting to be entertained – the fundamental principle fuelling the gathering was understood this time around; it’s simply meant to be a night where attendees gather to share a high-quality meal with good friends. C’est Tout.

Uniting foodies and cultural enthusiasts alike, the all-white picnic was launched by François Pasquier and a handful of friends in Paris twenty-six years ago. Held at a different secret location every year (which is revealed only hours prior to the event), the tradition has charmed its way into the hearts of many; it’s now held in over 50 cities worldwide!

Yes, there’s a lot of planning, rules and gruelling pre-event coordination involved – from finding all-white attire to scouring the city for the right table and chairs, but ask any repeat guests and they’ll tell you it’s worth it. After all, it’s not every day that you get to dine in a beautiful public space with 1400+ strangers…

And whether you’re on a romantic date (we saw a few of those this year) or with a big group of friends, it’s the people you dine with who set the tone for the night. We definitely felt a lot of love as we walked around from table to table. There was such a strong sense of community; friends and strangers really came together to create an unbelievable evening. Everyone had a role to play as they set tables, prepared their multi-course meals and created the perfect ambiance for their group…

The result? Pure magic. All the hard work paid off!

Every table had its own unique flair – from the linens and tableware to the beautiful centrepieces that were proudly displayed…

Oh, and the food. The food! Guests really stepped up their game this year. We spotted everything from chicken stuffed with foie gras to croquembouche. The spreads looked and smelled divine. I’m not gonna lie, I was tempted to sit down and introduce myself to a few strangers just to get a little taste…

But most importantly, the energy was out of this world. Everywhere we looked we saw smiling faces and a childlike sparkle in the diners’ eyes. Especially when they busted out the sparklers and lanterns in the evening. Now this is the Toronto I love…

I highly recommend grabbing a group of your closest friends next year and heading out to this spectacular event. It’s a night you don’t want to miss. But make sure you get on their coveted wait list unless you know a member who can invite you as their guest! And remember, the evening is what you make of it: let’s bring back all the sparkly eyes next year please!

A special thanks to Dîner en Blanc for hosting us. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.