Le Dîner en Blanc tableleaders and sponsorsenjoy a photo op.
March 11, 2015
VIDEO: Setting Tables at Emancipation Park
Kingston rose early last Saturday. There was much to do ahead of assembling at one of the many Dîner en Blanc-designated pick-up spots by 4:30 pm: last-minute purchases of picnic basket fillers and final adjustments of dresses and suits to be made.
Who knew it would have been so difficult to source white belts, ties, bow ties and shoes, all with the clock ticking away. Hairdresser appointments were a l’heure — this was not the Saturday to be late or for power outages, albeit scheduled ones. Thanks, JPS for the 30 additional minutes under the dryer afforded to customers at a particular salon!
Back at home hampers and igloos were fully stocked and the final decisions made as to which Champagne flute one could risk losing!
Dressing became the next imperative — tablescapes aside, a veritable fashion statement had to be made. Soon, buses were being boarded. The location would remain a secret until the driver pulled up to the statue at Emancipation Park.
Those table leaders who had taken their roles seriously were rewarded with tables set up in record time — kudos to table leader Tamara Harding, who we’re positive set a new world record. Meanwhile, Allison Porter-Smalling whose gatronomical spread made us green with envy, and Rochelle Cameron have taken the art of entertaining to a whole new level.
Thursday Life raises a champagne toast to Leisha and Brett Wong and Imani and Stephen Price for introducing Le Dîner en Blanc to our shores.
Sponsors of this event were Best Dressed Chicken, Moët & Chandon, Scotia Investments Jamaica Ltd, Audi, Acqua Panna, San Pellegrino, Pure Country, FYAH 105 FM and the Jamaica Observer.
Scotia Investments tablescape created with a mélange oftextures to evoke a warm appeal.
Sherene Todd, Scotia Investments assistant vice-president (left), is all smilesahead of the pop-up picnic with Courtney Sylvester, senior vice-president,Sales Service and Client Experience, and Annette Philpotts, Kingston branch’sassistant vice-president
Scotia Investments execs and guests participate in the napkin wave, a longstandingtradition to signal readiness to indulge.
The dessert — lemon blackberry cheesecake, chocolate raspberrycake and triple berry bread pudding served with a creamy rum sauce.(PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON & NAPHTALI JUNIOR)
The Jacqueline KnightCampbell UnforgettablyYours Party Rentalstable arrangement.
Communications consultant Beverley Anderson Duncangives specific instructions on table setting to Wayne andPatricia Sutherland.
Whistling Frog ad exec Kesi Gardner (left) with (from right)fashion stylist/blogger Natalie Outar, Rachael Marley andLithographic Printers’ outdoor advertising agent EshéMoncrieffe. (PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON &NAPHTALI JUNIOR)
Retiree Marcia Emmanuel (left) in convo with Atlas Protectiondirector Patricia Pessoa.
Main Event’s five-courseDîner en Blanc menu.
The Main Event tablescape awash with white and silver décor
Waitresses from Top Shelf ready to serve.
The Vaswanibuffet table.
Chef Collin Brown’ssalmon ceviche dish.
Butterfly shrimp insweet jerk withpickled cho-cho.
The Best Dressed Chicken roulade with infused susumber andannatto coconut rundown. Topped with Moët & ChandonChampagne and white yam purée.
A trio of corn brûlée, fruit tartlette and petit cheesecake
The Best Dressed Chicken roulade infused with susumber andannatto coconut rundown, topped with Moët & Chandonchampagne and white yam purée
(L)Best Dressed Chicken hostess Amanda Foote presents ChefCollin Brown’s butterfly shrimp dish.(PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON & NAPHTALI JUNIOR)&(R)Best Dressed Chicken hostess Danielle Lue presents ChefCollin Brown’s salmon ceviche dish.
The Jamaica Broilers picnictable topped with birdcagecandle holders, white rosesand white orchids
The Jamaica Broilers tablearrangement by Melanie MillerWeddings & Events.
Chef Collin Brown shares withThursday Life the flavours andinspirations behind his Dîner enBlanc menu.
Jamaica Broilers chairman Robert Levy and his lovely wife Judy.
menu by Chef Collin Brown
Best Dresssed Chicken hostess Amanda Foote Jamaicapresents the sweet potato vichyssoise — from atasting menu by Chef Collin Brown — presented byThe Best Dressed Chicken.
Napkin-raising at Nasma Chin’s table signalling the startof dinner. (PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON &NAPHTALI JUNIOR)
Nasma Chin’s picnic tablecomplete with deli cuts, acheese platter, Acqua Panna andPerrier water and Torres SanValentín wine.
Butterfly shrimp platter at theNasma Chin-helmed table
Smoked salmon and sushi rolls.
Ahead of dinner, Salon Phoenix owner LisaFrancis (left) shares the spotlight with AviationSecurity manager Althea Bartley (right) andLyssette Lillaney.
Island Grill CEO Thalia Lyn and retired airlinepilot Dave McRae
Activity at Thalia Lyn’s candle-lit tablescape.
The Novelty Party Rentals’decorated picnic table draped inwhite and silver décor elementsfor Ian Wong’s family.
Dîner en Blanc patrons readying their table (from left) DanielleCunningham, Lakishma Thomas, Georgia Morrison, Gail Whylieand Leah Brown
Patrons at the Novelty Party Rentals table participate in thenapkin wave signalling the start of dinner
Camembert with sliced and vine-ripetomatoes drizzled with olive oil and garnishedwith chopped parsley at Jean-Paul Menou’stable.
Assorted sushi platter created by J JakesCatering at Jean-Paul Menou’s table.
David Lawrence (left)no doubt spreadingthe news about Dîneren Blanc as tableleaderJean-PaulMenou helps himselfto cheese andcrackers.
Raspberry puff pastries servedwith strawberry and grapes
The six-tiered Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial tower comprised109 bottles.
The J Wray & Nephew tablescape adorned with gorgeous blooms of hydrangeas, miniture sprayroses, bear grass and dendrobiums was created by Tai Flora Luxe.
Event planner and decorator Aisha Panton(left) and Chorvelle Johnson, CEO/President,PROVEN Wealth head into Emancipation Park.
Hampers in hand, guests arrive atEmancipation Park.
Peter Ashbourne & The Pimento Players.
Educator Danielle Croskill with a fruit platter laden withgrapes, strawberries and slices of cantaloupe.(PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON & NAPHTALI JUNIOR)
The Jamaica Observer andAutohaus tablescapes createdby Ann Marie Wyss andMaurine Capleton.
Jamaica Observer Limited Managing Director Danville Walker with his graphic designer wifeSharon flash smiles for our photogs.
McCain Foods regional manager Kerry Davis(left) and Winchester MRI’s generalmanager Katherine McDonnough lead theway into the Emancipation Park.
The Lemaire familyin set-up mode
Guests arriving at Emancipation Park led by marketers Shelly Ann Curran (left) and Tara Playfair-Scott. (PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON & NAPHTALI JUNIOR)
Le Dîner en Blanc picnickers onarrival at Emancipation Park.
The very impressive Tai Flora tablescape comprised of a white Japanese cut linen tablecloth,white crystal candelabra with white tapered candles, mirrored squares of white hydrangeas,white roses and white Phalaenopsis orchids, small white milk vases of white roses, clear glasscandle stemware with pillar candles, votive candles in silver mercury holders and white ceramiccharger plates with white napkins.
Coffee available from the Café Blue detox bar.(PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON & NAPHTALI JUNIOR)
Moët & Chandon and Dîneren Blanc white balloonsahead of their release.
Jamaica Observer’s sponsorship co-ordinator AndreaBeckford (left) presented the sixth winner, UWI nursingstudent Tamara Campbell, with her WATA/CranWATA giftbasket at the Jamaica Observer’s Beechwood Avenue headoffice on Tuesday. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)
Dîner en Blanc Kingston
Upping the style quotient (from left) Dr Melanie Henry,Janice Allen, Nevada Powe, Rochelle Cameron, and AngelieMartin-Spencer.
From left: Judy Azar (the table decorator), Lisa Harrison, Janelle Pantry and Gail Moss-Solomon. From right: David Douglas, Marc Harrison, Dylan Coke and Jeffrey Moss-Solomon(PHOTOGRAPHERS: MICHAEL GORDON & NAPHTALI JUNIOR)
The appetiser — gardencitrus salad with reducedbalsamic vinaigrette.
Scotia Investments picnic bag.
Floating candlesilluminating the ScotiaInvestments table.
