Enter the darkness, test youR senses and your nerve, to dine in darkness!
Imagine stepping into a world of complete darkness, where your taste buds take centre stage and even the simplest forkful becomes an adventure. I recently embarked on a unique dining experience at Dans le Noir ?, a restaurant where darkness reigns supreme.
Grab your metaphorical blindfold, and lets delve into the delicious unknown.
BEYOND SIGHT, BEYOND FEAR: WHY DANS LE NOIR WAS THE PERFECT PLACE TO START MY FOOD JOURNEY
My relationship with food has always been ‘look, sniff and decide’ and therefore being adventurous in this department has often been non-existent. As I approach forty years of age, I thought it might be about time I made a change and tried foods I have avoided. I often say to others similar to myself, ‘you might try it and it might be the most amazing taste you have ever known’, except I don’t apply this to myself….
Where else should my journey start but by eating in darkness at Dans Le Noir?, an experience I would recommend to anyone!
We arrived at Dans Le Noir a little apprehensive and others in the group quite nervous – three of the four of us are extremely fussy eaters!
THE DINING IN THE DARK EXPERIENCE
SURRENDERING TO DARKNESS: CLOAKING AWAY OUR LIGHT
Our bags, coats and all items that could produce light were popped into the cloakroom, and we were led to the bar area until our waitress was ready to greet us. We chose the three course ‘surprise meat and fish’ menu, so of course this was an opportunity to guess what delights await us.
CONFRONTING THE DARKNESS: ENTERING THE DINING AREA
Once our waitress was ready, we met her at the curtain that prevented light entering the dining area. After asking our names, we formed a conga line and entered the darkness.
‘There is a curtain to your right, turning to the right with a wall to the right…..’ says the waitress.
One by one we were led to our chairs, and once seated, we were given a description of the items we had in front of us.
‘You have a napkin with cutlery to your left, a glass to your right and a bottle of water in the middle of the table opposite each couple, and no, we will not be pouring your water for you as this is all part of the experience…’ says the waitress.
The waitress left, with the promise of returning with our drinks and first course.
Discussing what we could see, which was nothing but the small red light of the infrared camera, we waved our hands in front of our eyes several times to see if we could make out a shadow. Unanimous verdict: complete darkness!
CAN YOU POUR WATER IN COMPLETE DARKNESS?
Now it was time for some water! Locating my glass and the glass water bottle, I unscrewed the lid and felt how it would pour out. I popped a finger inside my glass and carefully drew the two together to begin to pour. You can safely say I was over the moon to have not spilt a drop (or at least my other senses told me so) on my first attempt. My third attempt was not as successful!
THE STARTER
Our waitress arrived with our starter and we proceeded to explore our plates. Some feeling with their fingers, but for me, I didn’t want a chance to think about what it could be.
I located the food with my cutlery, stabbed with a fork and in it went! DELICIOUS!
As expected, we guessed what it could be, and for me ‘pork with a fishy after taste’.
IF YOU LEAVE YOUR TABLE, HOW WILL YOU KNOW YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE CORRECT ONE?
By this point, three of us needed the toilet, but it isn’t as simple as getting up to locate them. We waited for the waitress to return, and it brought back memories of asking Miss at school mid-class, ‘please may I go to the toilet.’ We were each collected and put into our conga line to exit into the light temporarily.
Upon return, the same process was followed to return us to our tables, by which point our mains had been delivered. We started to chat amongst ourselves when my friend says ‘I think I’m on the wrong table’. The friend’s voice that was originally coming from opposite me was now coming from my left. He had in fact been accidently seated at an empty table next to us. I reached my hand out and prodded ‘is this you’ – ‘YES!’
HOW TO NAVIGATE A LOST FRIEND IN THE DARKNESS!?
Between us, like playing ‘pass-the-parcel’, we passed his hand to the next person to navigate him around the tables, returning him to his original seat. By this point, I’m ugly laughing (thankful we were in darkness), unable to eat or drink! The waitress was ever so apologetic, but it all added to the experience and will be spoken about for years to come!
THE MAIN
So back to our mains, served on what seemed to be a very long rectangle plate (likely not as long as I was imagining). I locate the food on the plate and decide to methodically work from left to right. Potato? Carrot? Some sort of dauphinoise potato? Seaweed? No I don’t think it is seaweed. Meat, definitely not fish!
I wasn’t keen on the meat, I couldn’t place the taste, but it was familiar. How can you not know what you are eating once you have tasted it!! Is this a skill refined when you have no vision!?
THE DESSERT
Finally, our desserts! Something in the centre of the plate in a little sticky basket. Brandy snap? Some cream-like stuff on top and some berry compote? The basket was beautiful, but I wasn’t a fan of the cream, I thought it tasted like it had alcohol in it, maybe Baileys?
So I proceed to deconstruct to eat the bits I did like, which is quite difficult when you don’t know if there is anything else you may like and don’t want to disregard. The process of trying a lump and moving it aside begun…..I got in a right sticky-fingered mess!
TAKING IN THE DANS LE NOIR ATMOSPHERE
Throughout the experience, there were short periods of quiet on table and I imagined everyone soaking in the atmosphere, tapping in to their other now heightened senses to make sense of what was going on around them.
‘Coming through, passing table 21….’…the waiters / waitresses constantly communicating their whereabouts so as to deliver a seamless service!
How big is this room? How many other people are dining with us? Chatter, laughter, the clinking of cutlery can be heard all around….how can I possibly calculate the amount of diners without my vision!?
THE DEBRIEF: UNVEILING THE MYSTERY MENU
Remember, through this entire process, the only indication we have of the food we are eating is by touch, smell and taste.
We sit in the Dans le Noir bar area in brightness, feeling grateful for the luxury of having our sight returned. Astonished, we review the photos and descriptions of the menu selected for us. The textures, scents, and flavours we experienced take on a whole new dimension, sparking surprise and laughter as we piece together the puzzle of our dining experience.
A WORLD SEEN DIFFERENTLY: REFLECTIONS OF MY DANS LE NOIR EXPERIENCE
Leaving Dans le Noir wasn’t just stepping back into the light, I was carrying a newfound aware within me. Finding a forkful of unknown food in the darkness made me acutely aware of the challenges faced by blind individuals.
As a result, although the challenges I faced at Dans le Noir were temporary, they served as a powerful reminder of the unseen struggles faced by others. Furthermore, it was an extremely humbling experience, one that continues to resonate.
Now, as I navigate my daily life, the familiar feels different. I find myself questioning the accessibility of spaces, how simple tasks like grabbing a glass of water are so easy for me, yet could be obstacles for someone visually impaired. Sparked in darkness, this awareness has made me look at the world with new eyes.
Dans le Noir: A Must-Try Restaurant for a Unique Sensory Experience
If you’re looking for a truly transformative experience (with A LOT of giggles thrown in for good measure), I especially recommend Dans le Noir to those who want to challenge their senses and gain a new perspective, all the while having an absolute hoot, possibly even some explosions of laughter like we did.
Head over the the Dan le Noir website, and grab yourself a table!
Local recommendation:
If you’re visiting Dans le Noir, why not include Novelty Automation in your itinerary, visit my blog Novelty Automation to learn more.
