Dinner in the Dark: A Multi-Sensory Dining Experience

Dinner in the dark has become the latest rage in culinary dining experiences. From Los Angeles to New York, diners now have the option of eating their meal while seated in an intimate and completely darkened dining area or wearing blindfolds. Many of the restaurants offering dark dining encourage guests to eat without utensils to expand the senses of smell, touch and taste.

While dinner in the dark is relatively new to the U.S., this practice is commonplace in Europe. The origins of exploring culinary delights in darkness began in Zurich during the early 1990s. According to the Florida Institute of Rehabilitation Education, a non-profit organization serving the blind, "Dining in the dark was pioneered by a Swiss socialite who was blind. He threw dinner parties for his sighted friends in the dark to add flair and zest to the occasion."

The unique culinary experience concept quickly spread throughout fine dining establishments and social clubs in Berlin, London, Paris, Tel Aviv and Prague. Most dark dining restaurants employ blind or partially-sighted wait staff to provide employment opportunities and raise awareness about blindness.

Bizarre Foods host, Andrew Zimmerman, recounted his visit to Blindekuh; the world's first dark dining restaurant opened in Zurich in 1999, via his personal blog. He discusses the challenges of being led to his table through the darkness; figuring out the best way to pour water without overfilling glasses; how it felt to guess what foods they were eating; and the best way to transport foods to their mouths.

U.S. Dinner in the Dark Restaurants

California

Opaque is the premier dinner in the dark restaurant in California. With locations in L.A., San Francisco and San Diego, Opaque serves diners a three course meal consisting of salad, entrée and dessert. Entrées include roasted lemon herb chicken breast with garlic parmesan broccoli spears or seared Ahi tuna steak with vegetable salad and sticky rice.

Opaque also offers a vegetarian entrée of sundried tomato pesto rigatoni, zucchini, roasted eggplant, and onions with Feta cheese. The average cost per person is $99 plus tip and tax. The experience is priceless.

Opaque offers private dining in each restaurant, as well as mobile setups which can accommodate up to 450 guests and shipped anywhere in the U.S. To make reservations, book a private party, or learn more about mobile dinner in the dark parties visit www.DarkDining.com.

New York

In conjunction with Dark Dining Projects, CAMAJE Bistro and Lounge presents "sensory feasts served to blindfolded guests" a few times each year; including a special Halloween feast. CAMAJE serves diners four courses paired with wines. Artist performances are conducted for heightened sensory perception.

CAMAJE events range in price from $100 to $120 per person and include tax and gratuity. This French-American bistro welcomes private parties and can accommodate up to 25 people. Owner, Abigail Hitchcock was a contestant on the popular Food Network reality show, Chopped. She presents a variety of online cooking classes via the restaurant's website. To book dark dining reservations and learn more about what the restaurant has to offer, visit www.Camaje.com.

Florida

Chef Adrianne Calvo occasionally offers dinner in the dark events at her Miami based restaurant, Chef Adrianne's Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar. Calvo introduced dark dining to South Florida in 2009 with a focus on providing succulent dishes that tantalize the senses.

Although events are limited, those interested in dining in the dark can contact Calvo to book private dinner parties via her website at www.ChefAdriannes.com.

Private Parties and Fundraising Events

You don't have to travel the world to indulge in a dark dining experience. Treat your friends and family to a unique dinner in the dark party by hosting one of your own. Consider hiring a private chef or great cook so you can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Keep the menu simple and offer foods that are easy to eat when hosting dark dining parties. It's not a good idea to serve spaghetti unless you plan on giving guests a bib alongside their blindfold.

Dinner in the dark makes for great fundraising events. The unique concept will intrigue guests to participate and provide them with something to talk about for a long time to come. If possible, hire blind or partially sighted servers or use dark dining events to raise funds for the American Foundation for the Blind.

Sources:

Florida Institute of Rehabilitation Education (FIRE)
Andrew Zimmerman on Dining Dark
Blindekuh Restaurant
Dark Dining Projects
American Foundation for the Blind