Dîner en Blanc for 2014 was held last night at Centennial Park with over 4000 guests dressed in white in attendance.
There’s always a sense of excitement in the lead up to the revelation of Diner en Blanc’s secret location. Unlike last year where guests on buses looped around Sydney past iconic locations, a text message at 4.30pm gave directions to meet at the pick-up point of Centennial Park at 5.30pm sharp. Arriving just a few minutes late, and seeing the white buses passing along the way, the surprise came to light when guests were alighting the bus instead of getting on, and the secret location became apparent.
Photography © by Kevin Burke for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.
The secret venue of McKay Field, a beautiful enclave surrounded by tall trees had previously hosted the Polo in the City. For the occasion, it was turned into a white vision surrounded by five, giant, illuminated white rabbits, Intrude, an art installation by Amanda Parer. Beautifully framed by the surrounding trees, one could easily believe that event was being held in the middle of a forest, anywhere in the world.
Harpist Jake Meadows provided enchanting tunes complemented by a DJ set from Dan Rowntree while guests all dressed in white sipped on pink champagne from Piper-Heidsieck and a selection of wines from Seppelt.
In the tradition of Diner en Blanc, the waving of white cloth serviettes heralded the commencement of dinner with guests waving their napkins in the air like birds in flight.
The Diner en Blanc Premium Hamper offered delicious food starting with assorted mezze of pickled vegetables, pureed beetroot, aubergine caviar and spiced hommus and an antipasti collection. Potted shrimps followed, along with focaccia and Pepe Saya butter, farfalle gremolata and chargrilled lamb with burghul and kale. A selection of cheese and dessert included a fig and honey pannacotta and chocolate mousse with salted caramel fudge.
The customary lighting of the sparklers took place at 9pm, with pin points of light ablaze in the night sky. Surrounding the DJ, guests turned the space into a dance floor with everyone dancing and drinking until the event closed at 11 pm.
Diner en Blanc’s location paid tribute to Sir Henry Parkes, the driving force behind the creation of Centennial Park, who wanted to make “The People’s Park” the “most coveted, the most fashionable and the most healthy suburb of Sydney” changing the first Centennial Park Regulations in 1889 which forbade any gathering of more than 25 people at one time.
Dîner en Blanc Sydney 2014 was held on Saturday 30 November 20143 at Centennial Parklands.
See previous coverage: Diner en Blanc at Bondi Beach (2013) and Diner en Blanc at MCA (2012).
