Dîner en Blanc outdoor picnic celebrates Chicago neighborhoods
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An example of the Paris-inspired picnic basket at a tasting this year. Photo: Courtesy of Chris Dilts
This year's Dîner en Blanc celebrates the city's vast, diverse culinary culture.
Why it matters: Each Chicago neighborhood offers a different set of ethnic traditions and scrumptious foods. For Dîner en Blanc's 10th anniversary, the fancy "outdoor picnic" features baskets with food from Maxwell Street, Greektown, Devon, Pilsen and Little Italy.
How it works: The annual outdoor picnic is held at a secret location that guests don't learn about until they arrive at a separate meeting place. They must dress in white and bring their own picnic table and place settings; they can opt to provide their own baskets of food.
- Guests can also purchase tickets that include a prepared picnic basket and buy booze during dinner.
- Picnic baskets range from $52 for a French cheese and charcuterie platter served with a baguette to $82 for Little Italy-inspired surf and turf.
- Past locales have included the Art Institute, Lincoln Park Zoo and Federal Plaza.
What to expect: This year the food is prepared by Charles Haracz of Blue Plate catering, with wine and champagne (the only beverage options) from local winery Glunz.
If you go: Tickets for Wednesday's soiree range from $55 to $68.