Maybe the concept of “dining in the dark” doesn’t appeal to you. Maybe the thought conjures up images of yourself sneaking Oreo cookies and milk in the middle of the night – no judging. And there are a few horror stories out there from similar events. (I attended one years ago that was put on by some well-meaning people. The dinner was held during a rainy, winter night and the venue had no heat. Let me tell you, darkness does not make a good blanket. And the food was so overcooked, the mystery meal really was a mystery.) BUT that is not the case with the Dining in the Dark events put on by Fever.
Fever describes Dining in the Dark as a “gastronomical experience that invites you to explore the full potential of your taste buds in a uniquely entertaining atmosphere.” And that’s true. But why the blindfold? Well, there have been studies done that show how our tastebuds and our sense of smell operate differently when we can’t see what we’re eating. If you’ve ever watched Hell’s Kitchen when Gordan Ramsay blindfolds his recruits and has them identify morsels of different food items, you kinda get the idea, but again, in a much more comfortable setting.
Not everything is a mystery at Dining in the Dark. You will know the venue where you are going to, you won’t have to find your table in the dark, and you get to choose from three different menus:
Green
Starter: Soft and crispy come together in fresh, delightful bites.
Main: Its strong flavors will catch your senses by surprise. A dip and a bite of something tangy, fresh, and flavorful on the side.
Dessert: An eclectic mix of pure goodness that will surely shock you with its contrast in textures.
Blue
Starter: Fresh, crisp textures and flavors appear on your plate, straight from the sea. A slight dab of sweetness on the side; perfect.
Main: Smooth textures and stronger oceanside flavors take over for this unique main course.
Dessert: A delicate, crispy, and flavorful tropical delight.
Red
Starter: A tasty spoon dish with unique and fresh Asian flavors
Main: Stronger, earthy tastes enter the room with a fresh and flavorful meat and veggie surprise
Dessert: Silky and sweet flavors you know, and love presented in surprising textures to soothe your tastebuds.
Dining in the Dark makes for a great date night or a night out with friends. You can even experience the event by yourself if you want to. You won’t be seated with strangers. If you have any food allergies, you can let the crew know a few days ahead of time so you can relax and not worry about what’s on your plate.
In addition to the blindfold, you will be given silverware and a napkin. The server will let you know when they are at your table and might even help guide you to the plate. Each course is served at the same time too. Oh, and while they will try to challenge you, the chefs will not be preparing anything weird, so sit back and enjoy your meal while trying to decipher what it is that you’re eating.
So, what happens if you spill? Chances are good that you will at first but since you’ve trained your hands to reach your mouth for years now, you’ll do just fine. And even if you do spill, just know, you won’t be the only one. Just be sure to wear something that you can wash later at home just in case.
And what happens if you feel really claustrophobic while wearing the blindfold? You can take off. As long as you don’t give anything away to the other diners, it’s fine. You won’t ruin anything.
Each dinner takes about 90 to 120 minutes. You’ll want to arrive early too. They really can’t accommodate you if you arrive late. Dining in the Dark is currently being offered in the following cities:
United States
Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Jose, Seattle, Tampa, Washington D.C.
Around the World
Bordeaux, France; Brisbane, Australia; Geneva, Switzerland; Hobart, Australia; Lille, France; Lyon France, Mexico City, Mexico; Monterrey, Mexico; Nice, France; Perth, Australia; Porto Alegre, Brazil; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; São Paulo, Brazil; Sydney, Australia
Main Image: Fever
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