On a recent morning, Luke Mangan was surveying the activity on Bondi Beach. Not the swells, mind you, but a swell table arrayed with platters of food, chilled wines and spring flowers. Curious passers-by thought they had stumbled on a complimentary banquet, but the entire scene was a dress rehearsal.

Next March, Mangan will return to the beach to host a pop-up soiree in league with A Moveable Feast. The event organisers, touting it as the world’s biggest beach dinner party, are estimating more than 3,000 revellers will throng the shore to wine, dine and post an Instagram storyline.

“There’s no way I could say no when the opportunity came up,” says Mangan, who’s curating the menu – an eight-course gourmet hamper with dishes inspired by his constellation of restaurants. The picnic baskets include Asian-inflected offerings, such as wasabi-marinated smoked trout with soba noodles, tataki of beef with nam jim, and drunken chicken. DJs and an as-yet unnamed entertainer will provide the soundtrack.

Mangan is no stranger to catering for large events, having collaborated on a sit-down menu for 2,000 guests at a hotel in Los Angeles several years ago. The Bondi event will focus on Australian produce, with at least 7000 prawns, 500 punnets of berries and 150kg of local cheddar on order.

“The menu is similar to what I would take to a picnic with friends,” he says. “The focus is on summery dishes and seasonal ingredients. We want people to sit, relax and let us take care of them.”

On arrival, Lanson rosé champagne will be flowing, followed by Luke Mangan chardonnay and pinot noir from the Yarra Valley. While swimming may not be advised, especially after a few glasses of vino, a few laps around the makeshift dance floor are compulsory. “What better place to throw a party than on the sands of Bondi,” Mangan says. “This is one dinner party not to be missed.”

A Moveable Feast, March 11, 2017, tickets $145, amoveablefeastevents.com.au