The globally renowned Le Dîner en Blanc finally hit the shores of Trinidad & Tobago — and made quite a splash. Word of the inaugural soirée had quickly spread throughout local social circles, creating a widespread buzz among aficionados of all things lifestyle… SO contributor Tenille Clarke shares an exclusive peek.

Founder of Dîner en Blanc, François Pasquier, wanted to organise a picnic to reconnect with old friends some 30 years ago. The concept was simple: “Bring a meal and bring a new friend.” Knowing that his garden was too small to host everyone, he asked guests to convene at the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and to observe an all-white dress code — ostensibly for easy recognition. Fast-forward to 2016, and Dîner en Blanc has surely made its mark worldwide.

There was indubitably an added element of difficulty for the Trinidad and Tobago leg of the worldwide-renowned picnic-style event. In addition to the DIY test of creating unique, stunning tablescapes and curating a culinary menu that would please the fussiest of food enthusiasts, Dîner en Blanc Port of Spain also had the unspoken responsibility of balancing extreme “fête-ing” with fine dining. For the average Trinbagonian who was born with the Carnival gene coursing through the veins, it was a feat that many would consider near impossible in the twin-island republic.

Surely, the local franchise holders, Ultimate Events Limited, would know a thing or two about injecting culture, excitement and finesse to a largely exclusive event such as this. After all, they are the tour de force of the most popular Carnival bands in the world: TRIBE, BLISS, and Lost Tribe. Indeed, planning, designing and executing are their forte, and head honcho Dean Ackin and his team appeared undaunted by the challenge of it all.

Sunday, May 22, was an epicurean and fashionable sight to behold, as women and men, garbed in variants of white, descended on the Queen’s Park Savannah. The men were nattily attired: from structured jackets and tailored pants to cotton shirts and complementing trousers. The ladies upped the style quotient in medleys of lace, chiffon, fascinators and special odes to supporting local designers, such as Charu Lochan Dass, Adrian Foster, Meiling, and Zadd and Eastman. Shuttles were on standby to whisk us away to the undisclosed location for the event — a tradition that is upheld in 40-odd cities around the globe. Curious onlookers nearby interrupted their Sunday evening routine of cricket and kite-flying to witness the snow-white spectacle, which was clearly one of the unwitting charms of the soirée.

We did not have to wait too long to discover that the outdoor location of the inaugural Dîner en Blanc Port of Spain would be the historic site of Queen’s Hall — a space that has always held a burgeoning awareness of the pleasures of leisure and entertainment. We disembarked and stood in awe at the transformation. Ivory curvatures, reminiscent of L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, formed a sophisticated gateway to our dining space. Holding pride of place to our right was a Mercedez Benz – homage to the sponsors and clearly epitomising opulence and luxury. We followed the trail of the wonderful steel pan sounds by Johann Chuckaree to our designated spot for the evening, as photographers pointed their lens towards the socialites and dignitaries, including Legal Affairs Minister Stuart Young. Guests quickly set up tables and chairs and enhanced the spread with custom-made centrepieces, table-sets and baskets filled with culinary gems.

And just before the glorious, fiery beams of the sunset gleamed through the trees, white napkins were raised as 800 guests observed the Dîner En Blanc (DEB) custom to signal the beginning of dinner. Aromas soon filled the air, teasing each of the senses and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Gourmet meats, Mediterranean salads and baked goods were the order of the day, punctuated with quite a few local delights, such as kutchela, variations of spiced chow and even tomato choka. Friends, old and new, laughed heartily as they sipped on bubbly and full-bodied red, white and rosé wines. The sound of the steel pan had been seamlessly replaced by the hypnotising guitar strings of veteran musician Nigel Rojas.

Undoubtedly, there was an element of connectivity that is currently missing in our social circles that managed to resurface during the DEB experience. Men helped women, arm in arm, as they navigated pitched pathways in heels. Culinary staff greeted patrons with a smile as they collected their catering from Table Talk Food Awards T&T 2015 Restaurant of the Year – CHAUD, for the evening, offering assistance to tables with larger packages. People broke bread with strangers with whom they would probably not interact at that level again – and in that very moment, it was okay. Dîner En Blanc seemingly helped to fill a void – the sense of community that had somehow been erased on a national scale for quite some time. It was an absolutely delightful evening, for food, family, friends, fashion, and fun.

With almost a childlike fanaticism, guests glowed in white and danced with sparklers in hand, lit en masse to signal the conclusion of dinner and the commencement of revelry. Internationally acclaimed Trini-born DJ, Private Ryan displayed his musical prowess with a variety of genres – from ’90s classics from the late Prince, to 2016 soca hits from rising stars such as Aaron “Voice” St Louis. Cheers to Life, indeed!

At that moment, it was crystal clear that Dîner En Blanc Port of Spain would be the talk of the town in the coming weeks, with year two already being whispered on the lips of hopeful attendees. Above all, it was the event that brought panache and elegance personified, marrying an international culinary tradition with our unique cultural flair.

True to form, the occasion allowed for patrons to make an indelible mark on an internationally renowned soirée – most certainly, in fine Trinbagonian style.