Rainbow Dinner is more about community than dating

Rainbow Dinner is about enlarging the social community under the rainbow. Hence, it is not designed as a dating service as such, but more of a social concept. Although, we try to find you a travel buddy that suits your preferences, there is of course no guarantee that we will find your "one-and-only" just like that. Sometimes there is really good chemistry right from the start - other times maybe not so much. Luckily, during the evening you will meet lots of other rainbow people - and who knows - maybe you will meet your sweetheart over a banana split for dessert during the evening. That's why we refer to your match as a travel buddy (and not as a date), because you will "travel" together to the three meals of the evening.

You'll be responsible for one of the three meals of the evening

Together with your travel buddy, you will be responsible for one of the three meals of the evening - including shopping for and preparing it. You will also be showing up as a travel couple for the three meals of the evening, where you will meet 18 other (new) rainbow people.

We'll try to find you the best possible match

When we match travel buddies, we typically emphasize age, gender identity, sexuality, and gender preference. We encourage you to welcome your travel buddy with open arms - even if your travel buddy is not your perfect match. Remember that you are travel buddies - not necessarily a perfect "love match" - although it would be great if you also fall for each other.

When two rainbow people are matched with each other for an evening - and have to meet a lot of other new rainbow people during the evening, then you will also encounter those who are very different from yourself. Remember, Rainbow Dinner is all about cultivating the rainbow community and having fun. Therefore, go into it with open arms, open mind and be tolerant and accommodating towards those you meet on your way.

Not everyone earns a living as a consultant or perform magic tricks in a kitchen. Still, there must be space enough for all of us. Hence, make sure to align expectations with your travel buddy, so that both of you can have a great experience that fits your capabilities. For example, it is a good idea to talk about how much you're willing to spend on the meal that you are going to prepare together (maybe it is not necessary with Beluga caviar and truffles). Likewise, it's a good idea to talk about what you will be able to prepare. There's no need to undertake a wild performance show if it doesn't really fit your talents in a kitchen. Also, remember that it can be a good idea to make sure that a meal can take care of itself if you are going to prepare the main course or the dessert - before you serve your meal, you're going to have an appetizer somewhere else in the city and only just arrive in time for your meal to be served.

It is also a good idea to agree on your approach to the transportation between the meals - do you take a taxi, bicycle or public transport?

In a nutshell: Align your expectations for...

• The meal you're preparing (what to cook and how much to spend on it?)
• Your fellow itinerary - how do you handle shopping? Where and when do you meet? How long time will it take to prepare the meal?
• Transportation between the meals (bicycle, taxi or public transportation?)

Of course, you don't have to know your "dining-with-the-Queen-etiquette" from A to Z - just remember that you are a guest in someone else's private home. Take off your shoes if this is the norm (in any case, it doesn't hurt anyone) and bring a small host gift (it's great style and easy points, but definitely not a requirement). Help clear the table. Leave the place timely enough so that both you - as well as the host couple - can reach the next point on the itinerary on time (approx. 20-30 minutes prior to the next meal is usually enough time).

Rainbow Dinners' core promise is that you meet a lot of rainbow people that you (maybe) don't know - and won't know about in advance. Some people feel like a fish in the water in situations like that - whereas others feel less safe and a bit uneasy. This is perfectly normal. Allow yourself to be present in the moment and ask others who they are, where they are from, how their evening went or what they spend their time doing when they are not attending Rainbow Dinner. Showing a little bit of interest in someone else usually pays off well. Remember, everybody is there to have a great evening - and everybody is welcome.

We all have different preferences - and beverages can be expensive if you have to pay for it for everyone. Hence, you bring your own beverages during the evening - both for the appetizer, the main course and for the dessert. That way, everyone gets what they prefer. If you're lucky, there may be a host couple who'll offer an aperitif or perhaps a glass of something special if they want to and if they think it best suits the meal they serve.

Remember that both you and the host couple are moving on to the next meal or to the afterparty. Make sure to leave the place in good condition and in good enough time for both you - and the host couple - to reach the next point on the program (20-30 minutes before the next meal is usually enough time). Also, remember that even if you have reached the dessert, the evening is not over yet - everyone is going to the afterparty - including the host couple who served the dessert.

It can be challenging to prepare a meal for 8 people that you don't know in advance. If you have special dietary needs, such as veganism*, allergies or if you are particularly critical about what you eat, then bring something along with you that you can eat. The host couple may have no experience with preparing meals that can meet these needs.

* We are constantly experimenting with creating different types of groups. Hence, it's possible that we've opened, for example, a “vegans-only” group, where participants can expect three 100% plant-based meals during the evening. Check the event in question to see if such a group is open.