PARIS, France (Reuters) — Hundreds gathered around a 200-meter long table on the banks of the Seine in Paris on Thursday (September 7) for a giant “back-to-school” picnic.
Five-hundred people signed up online for the street food-inspired feast, tucking into aubergine and cabbage paninis and Mexican-inspired barbecued beef and pork, accompanied by a cocktail or two, as the daylight faded and boats passed.
The event was billed as an opportunity to catch up at the “Rentree”, a national event in the French calendar when families head back to the city after the long summer break.
The food was prepared in teepees at either end of the table, with chef Arnaud Moreau saying the beauty of the spot made up for the scale of the task.