YMCA Westerly Black & White Ball
Around the World
In 2025, we celebrate the YMCA for their commitment to community excellence. Many do not know that the YMCA does not turn away anyone. The unique programme supports families in need. Financial aid is also available to off-set the costs to join. For this reason, the YMCA was a perfect partner for the Ocean House this year. The Black and White Ball, Around the World was the theme for the evening’s affair.
Dessert in Paris
The Social Diary mostly starts with dessert. So, for this Black and White Ball Around the World theme, we start in Paris. The “City of lights” known for their culinary excellence, with their world famous pâtisserie and boulangerie, was the perfect destination for sweet treats.
This evening, a walk through “Paris” aka, Ocean House inspired did not disappoint. We opted for the macarons, of course. Perfecting the macaronage technique takes skill and patience. This results in the perfect “feet” on the delicate biscuits, sandwiched with delicious flavourings.
The centrepiece was the most impressive. The Eiffel Tower display literally reached the top of the grand staircase. Lit up for the evening, it had an ethereal glow. One note here about dress code. Apparently, some guests forgot to read the requirement. Here is a refresher on all things “black tie”. In addition, here is our story on the London’s Air Ambulance Black & White Gala in 2024.
Black & White Ball: Around the World
Main floor & Bar
Whilst the dessert was climactic, The Social Diary cannot say the same about the food offerings. Furthermore, it is never a good idea to compare, but there was something missing from this year’s affair. Moreover, A Novel Celebration in 2024 had better food selections. And to be honest, we weren’t that impressed by the chefs’ choices. Although a worthy charity, this evening was a crushing blow for foodies.
Kudos to Washington Trust! Their shrimp and oyster boats were the best in class. The decor was simple, yet whimsy, and clean. The accoutrements perfectly paired with the food.
Indeed, you didn’t have to travel far for delicious oysters and shrimp.
If you expected sushi in Tokyo1, think again. It was Poke in a Chinese carton! The Social Diary did not take any photos since it would confuse our loyal foodies! Firstly, Poke originated in Hawaii. Secondly, the traditional ingredients include ‘raw fish’. However, there was no Sashimi grade fish. Did we miss the salmon and tuna? However, chopped up fish, along with shrimp was on display. So who knows.
The Yakitori chicken skewer was tough. The broccoli in the ‘hibachi’ vegetable fried rice was soggy and flat, similar to the texture in waterlogged frozen broccoli. The pork Gyoza was hard as a rock. Yikes!
Moroccan foodie alert. This is not Marrakech. The Social Diary would have opted for the chicken Pastilla. Instead, we received a hockey puck sized lamb that was too tough to eat. Charred eggplant is fine, but blackened to the point of not edible, is bad. The swordfish was bland and we have no idea what happened to the fried chicken. Did the chefs forget to taste what they were preparing? No flavour, tough and not edible. Moroccan food infused with a multi layered flavour profile, missing.
Black & White Ball: Around the World
Downstairs & Ballroom
You had light (upstairs) and darkness (downstairs). How fitting!
Mexican cuisine is so ubiquitous, it was a strange choice for this evening. Besides, food prep is nominal, to say the least. The ingredients are abundant and you don’t need a lot of technical skills. Additionally, the cost to make the cuisine is fairly inexpensive.
If you wanted to display Mexican heritage, how about Mole Poblano? The Social Diary would have recommended Spain, Portugal or Brazil, instead.
London did not have an English food theme, but it should have. A simple fare of fish and chips, meat pies including our all time favourites, Cornish pasty, Scotch Egg and Black Pudding. Yum! But alas, all we got was this phone booth. Should we ring up for takeaway food?
- Blackships Festival Newport 2024 ↩︎