the globe rover

A sensual dining experience sans sight
Dinner at Dans le Noir in London, England

[this is a long read but worth it in my opinion as this is an amazing experience]

At some point in our lives most of us have wondered what it would be like to be blind. Thanks to a very creative group of people, Londoners now have the opportunity to dine at a restaurant completely in the dark.

The experience begins off Clerkenwell Road in a pub filled area where restaurants and after work pub-goers line the sidewalk. We entered the restaurant into a small bar area that was very well lit. The new experience that was to come lay behind the black curtain in the back left corner of the room.

After giving our name to the host (four seatings are available at 7, 7:30, 9, and 9:30 p.m.), a server went through the evening with us and showed us to the lockers where we were to leave all our belongings (they encourage you to take nothing with you into the restaurant). “We ask that you not take any mobile devices, lighters, or any other devices that emit light so as to not to disturb the pitch black.”

With that sinking in, I suddenly got an excited/anxious feeling in my stomach and wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Our server came back with menus and explained the process for dinner. “You will select your drinks and dinner from the menu here and then will be led to your table by your (blind) waiter.” The suggestion was to select the “surprise” menu which is a selection of food chosen by the chef. The three of us selected the two course surprise menu meaning we would get one of five starters and one of four main dishes (dessert can be added as well) for £27. Note: they are happy to accommodate guests if there is anything that they prefer not to be included in the surprise menu.

So the ordering was complete and it was time for Roberto to lead us to our table (our backup server was Leam whom we never saw but did meet inside). Roberto gave us instructions, “put your right hand on my right shoulder and each person behind do the same then follow me to your table through two sets of curtains.” As a train with hand on shoulder, the three of us were led into our evening of darkness.

It is an anxious feeling to step into complete darkness at the mercy of others not knowing where you are going. But the waiters are great and very thorough. Roberto led each of us individually to our chairs where we felt around to get our bearings of the table. Quickly we realized how astute our hearing had become as we heard every noise in the room and were able to locate each other through the sound of our voices.

“In front of you, you will find a napkin with your fork and knife and two glasses; a smaller one for wine and a larger one for water,” Roberto informed us. Then seamlessly he and Leam had brought our drinks and poured our water and showed us with our hands where each of our glasses were. “There is also bread in the centre of the table by the water bottle.” I knew I smelled some fresh baked bread!

The second sense to pop out at us was our sense of smell. As I started to sip my cocktail, I was hit with a nose full of raspberries and champagne – truly wonderful. And the bread tasted every bit as good as the just baked smell. There must be a reason that butter was not served with the bread – can you imagine the mess?!

“Your starters are now being placed in front of you on plates,” Roberto let us know. So we had the cups and drinking down in the dark, but how were we supposed to eat? My first instinct was to poke around with my fork. But one of my dinner guests suggested using the knife which was the key to success (there is a reason after all that the Brits eat with two utensils). We were quickly able to figure out that our mystery dinner was prawns with rocket salad and cucumbers dressed in vinegar. It was a very nice flavour combination. After a few attempts at trying to put a reasonable amount of food on your fork and overdoing it, we learned bite sizes in the dark.

After the starters were cleared we were onto the main course which was lamb with a berry/currant sauce, asparagus, and warm potato salad. The main was much more challenging as it was tough to figure out how much meat you were cutting off. At one point I ended up with an asparagus spear across my face! I have always preferred to eat with my fingers and at one point decided that no one could see me so I might as well. Pure joy of enjoying asparagus with my hands! It was after all, a sensual dining experience.

It was interesting to observe the other people in the small dining area while we were eating (observation through sound only). There was a couple that was very much enjoying the romantic experience as well as several groups of friends that were enjoying the newfound experience. There was no music in the background to distract the senses and thus, it was very easy to hear everything in the dining area.

The real question was how much food would we have spilled on ourselves when we went to the light! We finished our dinner and Roberto thanked us for dining with him and the group and then led us back through the curtains. We paid our bill (pricey but well worth the experience) and gathered our goods out of the locker. Each of us had a unique and exciting adventure and could not stop talking about what we experienced. We all decided it would be a great place for a real blind date where the couple does not meet face to face until after they have enjoyed a meal together. It would be a great way to truly get to know someone without being influenced by physical appearance from the beginning. Interestingly enough, Dans le Noir is hosting a blind date evening with lastminute.com soon (this written September 8th, 2006).

Overall, it was truly an experience of a lifetime and one that brings so many thoughts to mind. First, I have a new appreciation (albeit from a very small experience) of what some things such as eating must be like without sight. Secondly, I can appreciate even more the use of the different senses and how lack of one can make you enjoy your others. Thirdly, kudos to the restaurant and the original creators of the concept for giving people without sight the chance to live a regular life and hold a regular job that otherwise would be given to someone else. We truly limit ourselves only by ourselves. Cheers to pushing the limits and doing something new!