Interview: Sandy Safi of Dîner en Blanc-The Exciting 9/14 Event in NYC's Meatpacking District

On Thursday evening, September 14, the world’s largest urban picnic, Dîner en Blanc returned to New York, the city that jumpstarted a global phenomenon. Four thousand people, dressed in elegant head-to-toe white, came together in the heart of the Meatpacking District.  It was the very first time the global culinary pop-up event was on the city’s streets.  The location for the one-night celebration of food, wine, and friendship set a precedent for New York.  It was the first-of-its kind collaboration with the Meatpacking District Management Association and the Street Activity Permits Office.

With co-founder and President of Dîner en Blanc International Sandy Safi at the helm, the French-inspired urban picnic Dîner en Blanc has become the culinary event of the year in the U.S. and cities around the world. Launched in France 35 years ago, the one-of-a-kind global phenomenon has become a beloved tradition across 6 continents, with each location injecting its own culture and culinary voice. There are more than one million people are on waiting lists worldwide.

Sandy Safi is the co-founder and owner of Dîner en Blanc International, the hugely popular, experiential pop-up dinner. Since its US debut in 2011, the iconic soiree has flourished in 6 continents, 40 countries and 120 cities cities with each location injecting its own culture and culinary voice.

Dîner en Blanc gathers food, fashion and culture enthusiasts from all over the world, who dress in elegant white, to a secret iconic locale for an evening of fine dining, gaiety and community. The most passionate foodies and fashionistas spend weeks curating gourmet menus, elaborate table settings, and stunning outfits, from fantastical chapeaux and Marie Antoinette wigs, to simple yet luxurious gowns and tuxedos.  

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sandy Safi about the recent Dîner en Blanc in NYC and the future of the event.

Wow, 4,000 people in The Meatpacking District.  How did you like the open streets approach in NYC? 

Sometimes amid difficult times, great opportunities emerge... and the NYC Open Streets Program, which emerged during Covid, is a step forward at seeing city streets in a different light and redefining urban space, rather than seeing the streets as simply a conduit for cars to commute from Point A to Point B.  This new initiative provided suffering businesses and restaurants with a new breath of life during difficult times, and also fostered a sense of community by allowing people to gather in ways that hadn’t been imagined before. In the case of Dîner en Blanc New York, it created a space for community to gather, an opportunity to see the cities streets in a different light. I believe we also caught attendees off guard as they were not expecting to experience the transformation of the Meat Packing District streets into an event location for a few hours! Doing this allows the local community to take back a piece of the city for a few hours and enjoy it as a communal space. It also helps local businesses by giving them increased visibility—we collaborated with restaurants and hotels onsite and were able to support them.

(Dîner en Blanc 2023 - Photo by Eric Vitale)

What are some of the impressions that you have received from attendees?

Attendees were surprised, so pleasantly surprised. A few were thanking me and I even got hugs and kisses. They were shocked, surprised, excited, and overwhelmed at the opportunity to gather in the heart of their city! And in all honesty, the attendees’ style, energy, excitement, and camaraderie created such beauty in the streets of the Meatpacking District. 

As an entrepreneur, what are some of the challenges of organizing a renowned multi-national event?

Understanding the limitations across different cities and countries is a challenge. We currently organize events in over 45 cities in the US and a total of 70 worldwide. We deal with people, organizers, governments, and city managers who all have different visions, rules, and red tape.  Learning to navigate various cities around the world and build partnerships with local organizers and local authority is key to the event’s success

(Sandy Safi and Jeffrey LeFrancois, Executive Director of Meatpacking District - Photo Credit: Elizabeth Kalan)

The future of Dîner en Blanc is brighter than ever! What do you see as the growth potential?

The beauty of Dîner en Blanc is that its core image and values can’t help but take on local flair wherever it’s hosted—so we’re growing and adapting all the time in locations such as the Caribbean, South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. New markets remain unique yet unified by common interests and passions. Our team at the Montreal headquarters is currently working on launching a new website to accommodate this growth and put people around the world in touch in more central and creative ways. And we’re always looking to partner with amazing brands that run the gamut from food, wine and champagne, fashion, to travel and hospitality. As our event grows, so do these opportunities and connections.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Music, art, fashion, and food are at the heart of the event. Broadway is at the heart of NYC… I am personally a huge fan and feel so privileged to be able to welcome some of the top talent in the world to our event. Thank you NYC! And thank you Broadway! 

For more information on Dîner en Blanc International, please visit www.dinerenblanc.com.

Photo Credit: Lead Photo of Sandy Safi Photo, Courtesy of Dîner en Blanc