Picnicking the French Way: Dîner en Blanc

I recently stumbled upon a delectable social phenomenon that intrigues me. Twenty-four years ago, "Dîner en Blanc" was launched in Paris.  Of course, the pleasure-loving French developed this most lovely of dining concepts.  

At the very last minute before the event, a secret location is revealed for a picnic en masse.  Then, thousands of food-lovers and wine-lovers and just regular old lovers descend on the picnic spot dressed entirely en blanc, in white. But, my cheries, this is no mere salad of pommes de terre kind of picnic.  Dîner en Blanc has very specific rules to create an ambiance conducive to the most chic and civilized of outdoor dining experiences, one in which even Marie Antoinette would delight.

Tea Time, Pinkies Up!

When I was a little girl, my mom hosted a tea party for my birthday. The invitations, typed on paper doilies, went out to a choice group of 2nd graders. A few weeks later, my little friends arrived decked out in their finest and frilliest frocks, borrowing mom's pearls and lipstick. I remember my hot pink velvet hat with netting (sourced from the local flea market). I remember awkwardly trying to maneuver my tea cup while wearing opera gloves. And, most of all, I remember the thrill of doing something so fancy, so ladylike and so special for my birthday.

Teatime is an afternoon ritual that I think I will add back into my life. The Brits definitely are on to something here. What's not to love about sipping warm tea out of fancy porcelain cups and nibbling tiny sandwiches and sweets? What's not to love about pausing in the middle of a frantic afternoon to revel in some epicurean delights?

Now if only I can find that pink velvet hat....

Images borrowed from Glam, BestWeekEver, WoodFordHoney, YoYoor & CreativeReview.

Weekend Wishes

Images borrowed from FFFFound & ChrisWake.

Dream Dinner Party

Granted, this is a very clichéd question, but it's very fun to answer: if you could have a dinner party, and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you invite?

It would be so so difficult to whittle a list down to a few, but among my favorites would certainly be:

• Pablo Picasso
• Meryl Streep
• C.S. Lewis
• Abigail Adams
• F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Georgia O'Keeffe

with dinner prepared by Tony Bourdain and music by Yo-Yo Ma