What would it be like if your sense of sight were blocked by "pitch darkness" on the dining table?
Embark on a culinary journey into the world of darkness with "Chopsticks," a 4-course dinner guided by visually impaired individuals. This immersive experience delves into the depths of their lived experiences, fostering a profound understanding of their resilience and perspective amidst perpetual darkness.
In the heart of Zurich, Switzerland, a unique dining experience unfolded in the darkness. Blind individuals invited their sighted friends to join them for a meal in complete darkness. This immersive encounter challenged perceptions and fostered a deeper understanding of the world through the lens of sightlessness.
Dine in the Dark: Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, Ground Floor
Transportation:
Conveniently accessible by BTS Asok and MRT Sukhumvit.
Opening Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM (last round)
For further inquiries, please call 026498358.
Interested parties can reserve their seats by following this link.
http://www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com/en/forms/rs...
This evening's dining experience was a unique, exciting, and thoroughly enjoyable adventure for the senses.
"I must say, everyone should try this at least once in their lifetime!"
The experience includes the unique perspective of a visually impaired guide, who assists diners throughout their meal in a completely dark room. By participating in this dinner, guests not only enjoy a memorable experience but also contribute to a worthy cause. A portion of the restaurant's proceeds are donated to the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand, supporting individuals with visual impairments.
Barsu: A Prelude to Dine in the Dark
Price: 1,450 Baht++ per person (food only)
Wine Pairing Menu: 2,600 Baht++
Location: DID (Dine In the Dark) restaurant, located on the G floor of the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel.
Description: DID is situated within the same space as the hotel's bar, Barsu. However, it is located in a hidden area behind the bar, creating a sense of secrecy. The restaurant is staffed by servers who are specially trained to work in the dark.
All of them are visually impaired. I like this part. It also creates jobs for them. (Clapping hands)
The atmosphere before entering the dining room at "Barsu".
Before entering the pitch-black dinner, you'll be asked to store all light-emitting devices, including phones, cameras, flashlights, and watches, in a box provided by the restaurant and locked. This is to ensure you experience true darkness.
The appearance of the dishes, or the individual menu items, is a surprise. There is no way to know what you will get beforehand. You can only choose from a set menu with four options: Asian, Western, vegetarian, or surprise.
The original text is in Thai and describes a dining experience. Here's the translated version:
We chose "surprise" for the main course to add some excitement. The restaurant was very attentive to our needs and asked about any allergies or dietary restrictions. We mentioned that we don't eat beef or anything too spicy, and they made a note of it.
Another interesting detail: they recommended washing our hands before entering the dining area. We'll find out why later… stay tuned!
" Badger "
It's time to enter the dining room. Before entering, the restaurant will provide us with aprons to wear, and a guide will lead us into the darkness. The guide is visually impaired. The restaurant will call each person's name to line up, and each person must hold the shoulder of the person in front and walk in. (It's really dark, so hold on tight!)
I must confess that I was really nervous when I was queuing up to enter the darkness.
Because all I could see was "black"... "It was pitch black!"
The image I saw while in the dining room was completely black. Even when I placed my hand in front of my eyes, I could not see anything.
You'll be completely in the dark about where you're going, what's around you, and even what's on the menu. You won't know what to expect, what it will look like, or what it will taste like. You might even wonder if there will be anything wriggling on your plate or if you'll be served some bizarre, exotic dish you've never seen before.
Oh, the excitement!
I sat at the table for a long time, thinking that my eyes might adjust to the darkness and I would be able to see something. I was wrong. I could still only see black.
As we walked to the table, the excited voices of our friends filled the air, eagerly anticipating any potential stumbles or falls. Our guide, with exceptional skill, led us safely to the dining table, ensuring we were comfortably seated. They meticulously described the location of each item on the table, deepening our understanding of their attentiveness and care.
T^T
Let's move on to the culinary delights, shall we? To avoid excessive drama,
Beverages include water, soft drinks, and wine. Feel free to request any drink from our guide, who will gladly refill your glass.
The four-course meal consists of Appetizer, Soup, Main, and Dessert
When our vision is impaired, our other senses naturally compensate and become more acute.
The nose, ears, and mouth play crucial roles in enhancing our dining experience. The nose allows us to savor the enticing aroma of the food before it arrives, piquing our curiosity about its ingredients. Our ears pick up the familiar voices of our companions, creating a sense of connection and ambiance. Finally, our mouths diligently savor the flavors of the meal, allowing us to fully appreciate its culinary artistry.
The first plate was placed down, and I tried to feel the shape of the plate before touching the bottom to see if it was hot.
Then I immediately reached for a knife and fork to start eating.
"But...whoosh," I missed. I poked and found nothing.
I kept poking until I found the food on the plate and tried to bring it to my mouth, but it ended up hitting my nose instead.
Oh my god!!!! Whoosh!!!! It's not right at all. In the end, I threw away the knife and fork and just grabbed it with my hands.
(A thorough understanding of why it is necessary to wash hands thoroughly) Using hands is much more enjoyable. It is more fun to touch directly, so we can guess the shape of the ingredients to some extent. Then we put it in our mouth and guess what we are eating.
Sharing with friends what they ate and whether it was the same as hers. If not, she would have another ability: "**Swapping tastes in the dark**" (**Darkness is no obstacle to eating, GG haha**).
An imaginative illustration of chopsticks that sniff, touch, and taste, with question marks galore, guessing all the way.
Appetizer
The first dish (Appetizer) was seafood, cooked with sweet and sour fruits, with a hint of spiciness. In the center of the plate, there was something round, flat, and crispy. It was a refreshing dish that whetted the appetite. (I'm hungry now and want to eat it again right away!) I guessed correctly what it was because they showed a picture of it outside after we finished eating. I must say that the quality of the ingredients was excellent, the seafood was large and fresh.
An imaginative illustration of chopsticks in the dark. Viewer discretion is advised. 555
Course Two (Soup) is served in a cup with a handle and a saucer. Inside the cup, there is a small bottle containing warm water.
The aroma of butter and garlic wafted from the plate, hinting at a lightly seasoned, crispy bread.
The water from the bottle was poured into a cup, revealing the aroma and taste of cream, truffle, and dough. It was truly delicious.
An imaginative illustration of chopsticks in the dark. Viewer discretion is advised.
Main Course: The main course was served on a large rectangular plate, divided into small square compartments containing a variety of dishes, some unique and others repeated. In the center of the plate was a meat dish. Upon closer inspection, a liquid was discovered beneath the food, which upon tasting, was identified as a type of Thai coconut curry. The curry was rich, spicy, and delicious, and paired well with the deep-fried, seasoned, and crispy round dumplings.
Imaginary Illustration of Chopsticks in the Dark
Please exercise caution when viewing.
Dessert This dish is absolutely delicious, with its rich, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate and the sweet and slightly tart berries. The ice cream, made with real fruit and coated in chocolate, adds another layer of flavor. It's so good, I couldn't help but lick my fingers clean! (It's dark, so no one will see.)
After finishing the meal, we moved to the Barsu area. It was time for the team to reveal the pictures. The atmosphere was very lively. Some guesses were correct, some were close, and some were wrong. The menu changes regularly (otherwise everyone would guess correctly). Normally, if you have just eaten there, they ask you not to say what you ate or what the menu items were. However, we ate there a long time ago.
Received a souvenir, an eye mask.
This sentence praises the restaurant's innovative concept of dining in complete darkness, describing it as an exciting and unconventional experience that completely redefines the traditional dining experience. The writer also commends the restaurant for creating employment opportunities for visually impaired individuals.
The ingredients and flavors of the food are excellent, and the service is impeccable. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend trying it out. The experience will be far more enjoyable and exciting than anything I could describe.
ขาตะเกียบ
Friday, November 8, 2024 4:03 PM