20 August 2009

"Down in the dungeon I'm having a hard time" --Billy Squier


The question du jour: Would you willingly blindfold yourself in a public place and put your welfare in the hands of strangers?*

From the Travel Channel's list of Extreme Restaurants...

Dark Dining San Francisco, California
At the Dark Dining Dinner party, diners will stimulate their senses -- by eliminating one. Don a blindfold and put your trust in the chef at this intimate rotating dinner party that seats 20 bold diners. Andre Crump brought the concept of dark dining to the San Francisco area in 2007, and since then he's been bringing the party to a different restaurant every four months. The party begins with cocktails before guests slip on their blindfolds -- after which only the wait staff, fitted with military-grade night-vision goggles, can see. The experience can be both scary and sensual and gives a whole new meaning to the term blind date.

The visual aspect of the meal--the colors, the arrangement, not to mention the anticipation--is such a big piece of it that I have trouble imagining I'd enjoy this style of dining.

Plus, having dined with a blind man on multiple occasions, I know it is no simple thing to eat a meal without the benefit of sight. Some of the things we take for granted: we don't have to remember that the potatoes are at 4:00, we don't have to wonder if the water glass is filled to the brim, we know when the peas have slipped off our fork, etc.


* And if you would, what are you doing Saturday night?

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe. However I wouldn't have a cocktail first, if only because that would decrease my chances of the food going in my mouth and not down my front later in the evening.

Anonymous said...

It sounds fun, but I would want someone to feed me because otherwise, I'd starve. Saturday night I'll be in Ocean City with my parents eating dinner then driving home so I can go to riding and hockey early sunday morning.

Liebchen said...

I've heard about this! I'm actually kind of intrigued...I'd probably also need a bib.

Alice said...

i would SO do this. definitely. i like any interesting food experience, pretty much...

f.B said...

It reminds me of eating at Medieval Times (crazy dark, though no blindfolds). I have no idea what I ate that day. And that was awesome when I was 11, so by rule of logic this should be, too. I'd do it.

Anonymous said...

That would be an awesome date. You could really get to know the person and connect on a different level. I would be in for it.

Kate said...

I'm with jp. It would make a fun date.

Mike said...

Women in blindfolds. That would make the first part of the date SO much easier.

Kate said...

I don't think this would work for me. I love looking at the menu, looking at the food and looking at the people with me. They're all such large parts of a great meal that I don't think I would enjoy it as much if I couldn't see anything.

Hannah said...

I don't think I trust people enough to let them feed me God-knows-what blindfolded. Plus-What if you're laughing or something and not ready to eat anything and they just shove it into your mouth?
Possible choking hazard right there!

The Bug said...

I'm having enough trouble eating with my non-dominant hand - I can't even imagine not being able to see either!

Barbara said...

I would seriously like to host a dinner party and try this. My only question is whether the guests must make fools of themselves getting the food to their mouths or whether they are fed their mystery meal.

Dmbosstone said...

Perfect setting for that show Dating in the Dark

Jill Pilgrim said...

I think that looks like it would segue pretty easily into the type of inappropriate activities I'm into.

Anonymous said...

Last time I did that, somebody gave me the brown acid.
YIKES........

repliderium.com said...

Nope. Not for me. I'd miss the visual aspect too much (unless it was micke rourke style on the floor with the bf and the open fridge. Then hells yeah! blindfold away!!!)

Bilbo said...

The part about the blindfold is probably best limited to observation of the prices on the wine list.

spleeness said...

I dunno. I must have some serious trust issues because I can't picture doing this!

Reya Mellicker said...

People are silly, aren't they? You see it's things like this that make me really happy I left San Francisco. For heaven's sake!

The only time I willingly allowed myself to be blindfolded in public was when I was going through a shamanic initiation. I even allowed my initiators to walk me into the ocean - I was blindfolded and naked - and freezing.

They didn't let me drown, and ... the rest is history.

lacochran said...

HKW, Liebchen: But if nobody sees you spill, does it still make a mess?

liferehab: You're very obedient. You get a gold star!

Alice, f.B, Barbara: Do blog about it, if you do!

justjp, Kate: It would be memorable, that's for sure! No awkward small talk.

Mike: ...And earplugs?

Kate, spleeness: Same here!

Hannah: Thanks for the PSA.

The Bug: I'm not great with messy, either, despite my Spaghetti-o's years.

Dmbosstone: It's true!

Jill Pilgrim: Dinner parties must be very interesting at your house.

kansasmediocrity: Is that a warning or a recommendation?

repliderium.com: The 9 1/2 weeks version is much more intimate.

Bilbo: Ha!

Reya Mellicker: You have all these stories and you blog about the weather?