A SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS WEBSITE
Singapore, August 28, 2012 More people are boycotting a posh "pop-up" picnic event happening this Thursday night in protest against the organiser's response to bringing local food to the picnic. The Straits Times reported that at least 10 people who have signed up for the inaugural Diner en Blanc are boycotting it. Various groups of Singaporeans are also planning at least four alternative dining events. Diner en Blanc is a fancy, impromptu picnic that originated in Paris 24 years ago. Singapore is the first Asian country to host the event that now takes place annually in 20 cities, including Montreal and New York. Guests come dressed in white and must bring their own 75 cm by 75 cm table, chairs, food and drink. Tablecloths must be in white and disposable cutlery, beer and hard liquor are banned. However, the exact type of cuisine is not stipulated. The Straits Times reported last week that food blogger Daniel Ang, 34, who was invited by the organisers, was told that no local food could be taken to the picnic. He had earlier suggested in his blog a list of local food items guests could take. Such items include: tau huay (soya beancurd), chwee kueh (steamed rice cake), fishballs and chee cheong fun (rice noodle rolls). Mr Ang said that the public relations company, which said it was acting on behalf of local and French organiers, also told him to remove the post, which he did last Thursday, two days after it was published. He republished it last Friday. Mr Ang, along with other bloggers, was later "uninvited" to the picnic by the organisers. Event organiser Clemen Chiang, 38, had told The Straits Times that the bloggers were dropped due to space constraints. Uproar ensued and netizens, as well as local food bloggers, questioned the organisers if they deemed local fare not good enough for the event. According to The Straits Times, the organiser sent an email to Mr Ang to apologise and reinvited him to the event. But he told the paper on Monday night that he will not be attending. Two attendees who have paid participation fees of $25 each, publisher Goh Eck Kheng, 57, and wife Anita Fam, 49, said they decided not to attend and had withdrawn "on a matter of principle". Ms Fam said: "We withdrew from the dinner on a matter of principle as many decisions that Diner en Blanc made smacked of poor behaviour and pretentiousness, which we do not subscribe to." Mr Goh had spent about $475 on three tables and two chairs, as well as a pair of white trousers and white sneakers. They were planning to attend with four friends, who will also not be turning up for the picnic. However, there are some who will be turning up, and are wondering if Singaporeans are making too big a deal about the rules or are being too defensive about local cuisine. Bank executive Wayne Ang, 25, said: "In essence, the whole idea behind Diner en Blanc is a nice one, and it is just an event. If you are not happy about it, don't go." Gallery manager Stella Chang, 30, who had wanted to attend but was not shortlisted, told The Straits Times that the purpose of having Diner en Blanc here "is not so that we can share our culture with them, but for them to share their French culture with us". She also said: "If we wanted to have a white picnic at the Padang with our local food, surely we can do that ourselves. Why do we need them?" Groups have popped up, poking fun at the issue and organising tongue-in-cheek events on the same night, such as wearing black and eating dark-coloured hawker fare at home in the dark, and a national Makan Day, featuring any kind of food. Mr Chiang, 38, who is a private investor, told The Straits Times that he had received only one withdrawal due to the online ruckus and the event is experiencing a usual rate of attrition. He told The Straits Times on Monday: "The spirit of the event is not to be too prescriptive about the food people bring with them. This is something we have addressed in response to the debate." In a report on May 13, he had said that the event "would not be a night for char kway teow or chicken rice" and that the food ought to complement the occasion. He also quoted a statement that was put up at the weekend on the event's website: Any food that is "tasty, original or traditional" is welcome. A total of 888 seats are planned for Diner en Blanc and more than 8,000 people had registered. The venue of Diner en Blanc will only be revealed on Thursday, but according to The Straits Times, it will take place near the Singapore River.
>> Parallel events to Diner en Blanc 
>> Local food too low-class for this posh picnic? >> Photos: Diner en Blanc 
>> Diner en Blanc comes to Singapore
