Dîner En Blanc returns to the Bahamas

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

The famed Dîner En Blanc event (“Dinner in White” in French) is returning to the Bahamas, thanks to Pupstar Entertainment.

The global phenomenon spanning six continents, in which people have a meal dressed in white in a temporary dining setup in a public space, will take place in New Providence on Saturday, April 29, at an as yet undisclosed location.

The first Bahamian Dîner En Blanc was hosted in 2019 in the historic Pompey Square, welcoming over 300 guests, both local and international, said Alicia “Puppy” Robinson, founder of Pupstar Entertainment.

She told Tribune Weekend that plans for the 2020 edition of the event were well underway when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced them to postpone indefinitely. But now, all systems are go for Dîner En Blanc 2023.

“Only a select number of guests who are invited or previously signed up are made privy to the location the day of the dinner and are transported by bus from different meeting spots,” explained Alicia.

“Guests can follow tradition by bringing their own meals or take advantage of the highlighted chef for the year by purchasing (from the menu) ahead of time. This event also changes location each year to maintain that element of surprise and to keep guests excited for something new each year.”

The chef this year is Dominique Hanna, a private chef and pastry chef who specialises in health-conscious meals.

The Dîner en Blanc concept began in Paris in 1988 when François Pasquier invited a group of friends to an elegant outdoor dinner at the Bois de Boulogne park, asking them to dress in white so they could find each other. Since then, the event has grown to over 85 cities, with almost 17,000 gathering for the 30th-anniversary event in Paris.

For those who have never attended a Dîner en Blanc event,

Alicia said they can expect an exhilarating experience, with emphasis on experience.

“There are a number of different activities throughout the night, along with specialty entertainment, and you are always engaged in some way. As a first-time guest, you are guaranteed to make new acquaintances. Without giving away any of the secrets, this year we are focused on the arts in their entirety: visual, culinary and musical, so there will be something for all the senses,” she said.

It is an invite and pre-registered event only, and Alicia said sales are moving a great deal faster compared to the inaugural event.

Following Dîner En Blanc, Pupstar Entertainment will shift its attention towards its fan-favourite events that guests have grown to love over the years, such as the Sundance beach festival and Floatilla.

“We never thought there would be such a huge gap in the continued execution of our main events due to the pandemic, but it has given us the time to focus, refine and make sure we are bringing you the best events after such a long time. In 2024, we will introduce some new events as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary,” said Alicia.