One of my partners-in-crime from my Form Six days, Ming Hui, had made reservations at Dining in the Dark on Monday, 12 February 2018 and asked if I was interested to meet up. I could not resist for three reasons:
a) We have been postponing our meeting for years.
b) I had once read about Dining in the Dark and have been curious about it since.
c) I was told that the bill would be taken care off. =P
It was a rather impromptu invitation, but I was itching to go. After ensuring that I would not be a third wheel to Ming Hui and her other friend who would also be there, I decided to accept the invitation. The fact that I would have to rush to church for practice immediately after dinner that same night caused me to hesitate for a moment, but I figured that God would probably understand how much I longed for this exciting experience and henceforth pardon my tardiness.
What I hadn't known, though, was that Ming Hui had been quite instrumental in the setting up of the place. She had worked closely with the owner to plan the layout, helped to shop for cutleries, and contributed to many ideas behind the scene.
I also did not know that among the three of us, I would be the only sighted person around, which meant that both Ming Hui and Matt (her friend who was visiting from the States) would have the upper hand in the room. And because Ming Hui designed the layout, she was not far from the truth when she warned, "I will be the king over there!"
If you are ever curious and have enough guts to experience this for yourself, here are a few useful tips:
#1 Dress appropriately
My immediate reaction was, "Since it's gonna be in the dark, no one will actually mind if I go stark naked, will they?" Why should I bother putting on my best dress, makeup, or expensive jewelry if no one will be admiring it?
"You can. But they've got cameras in there," came Ming Hui's quick reply.
Dining in the Dark is not exactly your typical fastfood outlet. And if you ever doubt that, go check out the price. It is definitely a fine dining place. Should you get all dressy for it, though? Hmm ... I have always preferred practicality and comfort over appearance, so here is my take:
Dress somewhat formally, but make sure it is comfortable, and most of all, make sure you only choose DARK colours.
No, the dark colour is not only to flatter an otherwise chubby figure or to complement the theme of Dining in the Dark, but it sure helps when we begin to get food stains on ourselves. (Think of the same logic that applies to water games and ice-skating.) You may also want to avoid butterfly sleeves / sleeves with elaborate designs. There is no point getting more food stains on your dress than necessary.
Regardless your wardrobe, do listen closely to the instructions from the host/hostess who will be assigned to your table. Because he/she tends to be a non-sighted person as well, you will be given very thorough instructions and thus feel safe at all times. Each course is served in many little cups/bowls/plates and you will be instructed where to start (from right to left / clockwise or anti-clockwise).
#2 Do not be in a hurry to get anywhere
Ah, this, I would say, was my downfall that day. I should not have chosen a day when I had to rush somewhere else.
Before entering the dining room, we were directed to some lockers and advised to leave our bags/watches/mobile phones behind. I was a bit hesitant because I had to leave at a certain hour that night. Since Ming Hui's watch was a Braille watch, she said, "I will keep track of the time for you."
Not having my watch or phone with me was a surprisingly liberating experience. Somehow, I felt as if I had left the entire world (and all its worries/stress) behind. All that mattered were the company at the table and of course, the food right in front of me.
#3 Mention your allergies/preferences
Sorry to disappoint all ye freak food enthusiasts out there, but the diner does not serve rats or spiders. Having said that, you still do not get to see your menu in advance. The excitement of the entire experience is to switch off your sense of sight and try to guess the dish and the ingredients one by one, using your other senses: smell, taste, touch, and hearing (if at all relevant).
A note of advice, though: Do inform the host much earlier if you are allergic to any particular ingredient. I am sure the Restaurant Manager does not wish to see you suffer as a result of their food. You can also mention your food preferences. For instance, I can eat chicken, fish, pork, and some beef but do not fancy the taste of lamb/mutton. Ming Hui was not keen on anything raw. Matt, on the other hand, had specifically requested for no alcohol. Oh yes, we were a handful ... but surprisingly, none of us were disappointed with our food.
#4 Try to get a seat next to the wall
This may come across as rather strange and trivial but I cannot tell you how often I had found solace as I leaned against the wall throughout the meal. For someone who usually gets claustrophobic quite easily, I had thought that I would be overcome by the complete darkness in the dining area. Nonetheless, the cold air conditioner (you may want to bring a scarf if you are sensitive to low temperatures) and the sturdy wall on my right prevented me from feeling stifled or insecure.
Though our host had already taught us to reach for our glassware from the bottom so as not to spill, knock over, or break anything, I was able to rest in the fact that even if I had been clumsy, the wall would have prevented any embarrassing scenes.
#5 Get accustomed to the darkness, sit back, and enjoy yourself
With no sense of time, no exposure to light, and no connection to the outside world, we were forced to get used to the darkness. And once we achieved that level, we were able to sit back and truly enjoy ourselves.
The food was good. The portions were huge. Extremely huge, mind you. I recall having 4 different bowls for appetizers, 2 long and narrow cups of soup, 3 main course dishes, and 5 different desserts. At the end of the meal, I was stuffed.
Most of us are unaccustomed to the darkness, and therefore, when darkness dawns upon us, we find it threatening and insecure. However, once you get used to it, there is something calming about the dark, too.
In the dark, no one can see or judge another. We are ALL on the same level playing field again.
Who cares if you have mayonnaise all over your face? Or if you have used the wrong fork? Or if you have decided to go all primitive and used your hands (or other parts of your body) instead? As long as the food gets into your mouth, no one is there to comment on your manners.
The highlight of that night, though, was when I was in a hurry to leave, but instead of waiting for our host to lead us out of the dining room, Ming Hui just got up and offered to 'show' the way. With our hands on each other's shoulder, forming a long train, we trudged through the unknown to look for the tunnel that would lead us to our freedom. It somewhat reminded me of the good old days back in primary school where we used to play "eagle and hen/chicks". The exit was at the very end of a complicated maze, and when we finally got out, we felt as if we had just broken a record by unlocking a very important level from a computer game.
My immediate reaction was, "Since it's gonna be in the dark, no one will actually mind if I go stark naked, will they?" Why should I bother putting on my best dress, makeup, or expensive jewelry if no one will be admiring it?
"You can. But they've got cameras in there," came Ming Hui's quick reply.
Dining in the Dark is not exactly your typical fastfood outlet. And if you ever doubt that, go check out the price. It is definitely a fine dining place. Should you get all dressy for it, though? Hmm ... I have always preferred practicality and comfort over appearance, so here is my take:
Dress somewhat formally, but make sure it is comfortable, and most of all, make sure you only choose DARK colours.
 |
| Dark and simple outfits are the best for such occasions |
No, the dark colour is not only to flatter an otherwise chubby figure or to complement the theme of Dining in the Dark, but it sure helps when we begin to get food stains on ourselves. (Think of the same logic that applies to water games and ice-skating.) You may also want to avoid butterfly sleeves / sleeves with elaborate designs. There is no point getting more food stains on your dress than necessary.
Regardless your wardrobe, do listen closely to the instructions from the host/hostess who will be assigned to your table. Because he/she tends to be a non-sighted person as well, you will be given very thorough instructions and thus feel safe at all times. Each course is served in many little cups/bowls/plates and you will be instructed where to start (from right to left / clockwise or anti-clockwise).
#2 Do not be in a hurry to get anywhere
Before entering the dining room, we were directed to some lockers and advised to leave our bags/watches/mobile phones behind. I was a bit hesitant because I had to leave at a certain hour that night. Since Ming Hui's watch was a Braille watch, she said, "I will keep track of the time for you."
#3 Mention your allergies/preferences
Sorry to disappoint all ye freak food enthusiasts out there, but the diner does not serve rats or spiders. Having said that, you still do not get to see your menu in advance. The excitement of the entire experience is to switch off your sense of sight and try to guess the dish and the ingredients one by one, using your other senses: smell, taste, touch, and hearing (if at all relevant).
A note of advice, though: Do inform the host much earlier if you are allergic to any particular ingredient. I am sure the Restaurant Manager does not wish to see you suffer as a result of their food. You can also mention your food preferences. For instance, I can eat chicken, fish, pork, and some beef but do not fancy the taste of lamb/mutton. Ming Hui was not keen on anything raw. Matt, on the other hand, had specifically requested for no alcohol. Oh yes, we were a handful ... but surprisingly, none of us were disappointed with our food.
#4 Try to get a seat next to the wall
This may come across as rather strange and trivial but I cannot tell you how often I had found solace as I leaned against the wall throughout the meal. For someone who usually gets claustrophobic quite easily, I had thought that I would be overcome by the complete darkness in the dining area. Nonetheless, the cold air conditioner (you may want to bring a scarf if you are sensitive to low temperatures) and the sturdy wall on my right prevented me from feeling stifled or insecure.
Though our host had already taught us to reach for our glassware from the bottom so as not to spill, knock over, or break anything, I was able to rest in the fact that even if I had been clumsy, the wall would have prevented any embarrassing scenes.
#5 Get accustomed to the darkness, sit back, and enjoy yourself
With no sense of time, no exposure to light, and no connection to the outside world, we were forced to get used to the darkness. And once we achieved that level, we were able to sit back and truly enjoy ourselves.
The food was good. The portions were huge. Extremely huge, mind you. I recall having 4 different bowls for appetizers, 2 long and narrow cups of soup, 3 main course dishes, and 5 different desserts. At the end of the meal, I was stuffed.
Most of us are unaccustomed to the darkness, and therefore, when darkness dawns upon us, we find it threatening and insecure. However, once you get used to it, there is something calming about the dark, too.
In the dark, no one can see or judge another. We are ALL on the same level playing field again.
Who cares if you have mayonnaise all over your face? Or if you have used the wrong fork? Or if you have decided to go all primitive and used your hands (or other parts of your body) instead? As long as the food gets into your mouth, no one is there to comment on your manners.
 |
| Eagle and Hen Game |
The entire experience was to me, ironically, an eye-opener, despite the fact that I had my eyes literally closed throughout the night. It was a great experience and I would certainly recommend that you try it for yourself.
