A SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS WEBSITE
Singapore, August 31, 2012
Asia's first Diner en Blanc was held on Thursday night in front of the iconic Art Science Museum at Marina Bay Sands.
Despite a recent fiasco surrounding the posh white picnic, more than 800 people turned up, dressed in white from head to toe, with some wearing white hats or fascinators.
The open-air dining event, or White Dinner, was first held in Paris 24 years ago. It now takes place annually in more than 20 cities around the world, including New York and Montreal.
The venue was kept secret from the guests, who gathered at Stadium MRT station and Liang Court. They were then ferried to the venue by bus or boat, said The Straits Times.
For four hours, guests dined among one another with jazz tunes and popular hits played by a local band. They brought home-cooked gourmet food and takeaway hawker food.
Only 10 out of the 888 guests did not turn up for the event although they had signed up for it. The Straits Times reported that they had boycotted the picnic over the recent fiasco.
International organisers of Diner en Blanc, the founder's son, Frenchmen Aymeric Pasquier and French-Canadian Sandy Safi, said it was a misunderstanding.
"We embrace local culture and food is a big part of it," said Ms Safi, 32.
