At first glance, the flabbergasting sight of masses of guests dressed all in white may seem like a grand wedding, but this time the all-white dress code is mandatory for an especially elegant flash-mob dinner, organized at a super-secret location.
This sophisticated event series was launched nearly 30 years ago by Francois Pasquier, originally for just a handful of close friends. Since the beginning there have been a few technical changes, and today Diner au Blanc spans 60 countries and 25 cities all over the world, assembling about 100,000 guests to prestigious and picturesque locations (the jubilee’s 20th gathering was held at the Champs-Élysées).
The rules have been the same over the years – guests are welcomed by invitation only, or are selected from a waiting list. They have to get and deliver their own all-white table and tableware to the special location, that is kept top secret until the very last moment. Each invitee can bring a guest, and everyone provides their own food. It is important to note that after confirming the invitation, participation is compulsory, and the dinner is held even in unpleasant weather conditions.
This year Budapest is the host city of the secret dinner gathering, expected to accommodate hundreds of people at a location that is obviously only known to the organizers – but one thing is certain, guests will definitely have the chance to enjoy a picturesque panorama of this stunning city. “After visiting this fantastic flash mob at different locations around the world, and with many years of experience in hospitality, we decided to bring this dinner event home to Hungarian friends,” says Hubert Hlatky-Schlichter, the owner of KIOSK Budapest, and the main organizer of Diner en Blanc Budapest. “Diner en Blanc is mysterious, surprising, and tradition-forming at the same time, and we thought that Hungary’s capital is so ready for this,” added Gábor Rókusfalvy (Roxer event) and Gábor Kurják (New Edge), two other members of the organizing team.
More information is found on the official page of Diner en Blanc, which includes the option to purchase food to be provided on-site with three menu options, including vegan, available from KIOSK.