Lights out! Literally!

Can you guess which of your senses will take over the fastest once your eyes are covered with a silky blindfold? Ummmmm…. Yes your taste buds!

This is my theory after experiencing my first Dining in the Dark event at City Hall The Restaurant on August 24^th, 2011.

About thirty people were selected to participate in the preview night benefiting Ability Explosion, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness and bettering the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Each person was greeted with a gift bag containing the blindfold, and information about the upcoming Lights Out Miami event on October 20^th with more than 15 participating restaurants across the county.

I was introduced to the people at my table in the cocktail reception area where City Hall owner Steve Haas explained the rules, which can summarized like this:

“ No peaking!, No peaking , no peaking!”

I followed that main rule all night, challenging myself to take pictures and film blindfolded! So each picture that you see here is taken with my blindfold on... applause anyone?

Everyone entered the dining room holding on to a designated waiter. The staff was trained to accommodate the unique diners. I was introduced to my seat, my napkin, my water and wine glass.

  Touch became my first security blanket. I caressed everything around me to know what I was surrounded by, included the woman next to me, whic h I later found out was Mary Jo Almeida-Shore from Miami  Socialholic.

Let’s concentrate on the food. I was nervous at first not knowing what we will be eating. A previous email asking us about allergies or any diet restrictions reassured me a bit, but I was still not sure how to manage a knife and a fork in the dark.

Bread was served on the table “to my left” as the waitress with the nice voice stated. I started battling with other hands (I still don’t know whose) to rip a piece of the warm Cuban bread from the wooden board.

I dipped it in pecan butter and brought it my mouth. Obviously I had put too much butter, but still manage to grab another piece of bread before it was all gone.

First course:

My guess:

A soft cold substance that resembled fish, topped with a mushy texture which I recognized as avocado, seaweed salad (the crunchiness cannot be mistaken for something else), and chips.

Reality:

Tuna Tartar with Truffle-Soy Vinaigrette, Papaya, Avocado, Wakame & Sugared Lotus Root 

Sauvignon Blanc Chalk Hill

 

Impression:

It was rather easy to eat this course blindfolded. The chips helped scoop the tartare and following the contour of the plate was a great way for me to know the boundaries of the dish. It was paired with white wine which I looked for on the table by sliding my fingers slowly from my plate to the water glass then to the wine glass.

 

Second course: 

My guess:

Salad with eggs and bacon

Reality:

Chopped iceberg and romaine lettuce with Jumbo Lump crabmeat, carrot, cucumber, Cherry tomatoes, avocado, egg and White cheddar, crispy tortillas and spicey buttermilk dressing

 

Impression:

It was served in a rectangle high bowl, so I knew I would not spill anything. As soon as she put the plate in front of me, I recognized the smell of boiled eggs, and my first bite was bacon and lettuce, so I knew it was Cobb salad. I had a great conversation with Mary-Jo at the same time, so I don’t remember the dish very well as my ears were mostly the sense used the most at that time. It was really interesting to speak out loud to all those different voices around me without knowing what they look like. That actually gave me an idea for Blindfolded blind date! No more judging on appearances!

 

Third course:

My guess:

Asian inspired dish with glazed fish, 90 percent sure it was salmon, with wild rice. Steak and Israeli couscous topped with goat cheese bites. Two pieces of bok choy (Chinese cabbage).

Reality:

Grilled Skirt Steak with Israeli Couscous, Kalamata Olives, Tomato-Coriander Vinaigrette

Sesame seared North Atlantic salmon with a Shiitake Jasmine Rice, Baby Bok Choy, Miso Glaze

Pinot Noir  Erath, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Malbec  Diseno, san Juan Argentina

 

Impression:

This was the hardest dish to eat with no vision. I had no idea how big the piece of meat was, so I almost chocked on a big chunk o steak. But like Mary Jo stated, no one would have known I was chocking as everyone was blindfolded, so we just started laughing hysterically for 5 minutes. It was hard to know what was where on the plate, so I decided to use touch as my primary sense! I basically ate with one hand and my fork. It was easier to know the consistency of the food and where I could cut. The course was served with red wine, which was placed to the left on the white one.

 

Fourth course:

My guess :

Cake with lemon custard

Reality:

Banana creme pie

 

Impression:

 I was already full by the time dessert arrived. Conversation was flowing at the table and everyone was having a great time. Some guest confessed having cheated during the meal to check their blackberry or take pictures. I did not!

As soon as I took out the blindfold (two hours later) I realized that the room was not completely dark. I was astonished by the people around me. I had pictured them totally differently from what they looked like, and I felt disappointed to have gone back to reality, meaning, the end of a great evening among strangers who became friends with no worries of looks and appearances.

 

Conclusion:

You have to go to any of the participating restaurants on October 20^th. This is lifetime chance to experience dining in such a manner. I am a foodie and I truly experience the food on a different level. I am an advocate of starting to eat with my eyes with a beautiful presentation, but in this case, an exception can be made. It was amazing how the body works. The other senses take over in a sense of survival. I enjoyed every touch, smell, taste and sound. I became aware of details such as wine being poured down my glass, people laughing, yawning, the texture of food, the temperature of ingredients and the savor of wine.

There is nothing to be scared of. The staff was well trained and really helpful. The experience was memorable and I recommend it to anyone who wants to do something different while helping a good cause, Ability Explosion.