Diner En Blanc Toronto 2016 – Feast Recap

Ah, Diner en Blanc: a time to eat, drink and be merry in a sea of white. An annual tradition for me and certainly one of my favourite events of the year. There’s a sense of community… a radiant energy at DEB that can’t be duplicated. And although it’s a lot of hard work and coordination (from finding all-white attire to arranging tableware), it always results in a truly magical night. One filled with beautiful memories…

That’s because DEB is all about gathering with those you love and enjoying a meal together. And the more heart & soul you pour into it, the more incredible the evening turns out. It’s the kind of event that truly reflects your date/group’s energy…

Just imagine an outdoor dinner party under the stars (and this year: a ginormous full moon) with your closest 2,600 friends. Sounds epic, right?! It is. And the good news is that you don’t need to feed them all — although it wouldn’t be a challenge for some attendees given their food hauls. Luckily, everyone at the picnic en masse is responsible for bringing their own meals or ordering a catered food experience (which was put together by the Food Dudes this year)…

Since I’m obsessed with food, I always make it a point to walk (aka snoop) around the event grounds to see what deliciousness the attendees conjure up. Diner En Blanc Toronto 2016 guests really dialed it up a few notches with their elaborate table settings and gourmet dishes…

I spotted so many stunning meals — check out the plating of this octopus dish:

And the tiered action on display here…

Diner En Blanc is basically foodie heaven — with dishes representing cuisines from all around the globe…

Some groups really pulled out all the stops — I’m talking fresh ceviche, lobster tails and we even saw a table shucking oysters!

And for the first time ever, guests were treated to sweets from Metro Ontario (the official grocery sponsor).

So. Much. Gluttony. But that’s the key to a fab dinner party, right? Well, that and copious amounts of vino –thankfully Charlie’s Burgers Wine Program served up red, white, sparkling and a limited edition “mystery bottle” this year.

Cheers to yet another incredible year! The weather was perfect, the event was well-organized, the guests were in great spirits and the food/bev were spot on. I truly love attending this international culinary celebration (which has been a leading summer event in Paris for nearly 30 years) and can’t wait until next year! If you’ve never experienced DEB, make sure to get on the coveted waitlist as this is a spectacle not to be missed. Hope to see your culinary creations when I’m circling the event in 2017!