A sensory and culinary experience…. in the dark
Dans le Noir or In the Dark. Welcome to a truly sensory and culinary experience whereby you will eat, drink, and converse in the pitch black. This is a new concept by innovators Andreas Heineke and Michel Reilhac who questioned what would happen if sight, the dominant sense suddenly disappeared for a few hours, and what would the other senses would be awakened to: a completely different and unbelievable world of sense, touch, taste, and smell.
At Dans le Noir restaurants they believe that through the experience you re-evaluate the notion of taste and smelling, as without sight, your other senses become more acute, thus the entire restaurant is in pitch black without any traces of light entering the room. Furthermore, they believe that dining in the dark offers a very unusual social experience and that you change the way you interact with fellow diners, as there is no visual judgement on either side. That’s why Dans le Noir is more than just a restaurant, it is also a social experience and raises questions about the role of sight in relation to the other senses. In addition, the waiting on staff are blind themselves and diners experience a role reversal as they are dependant on the staff, because without them they don’t have a clue where they are going. However, they are very attentive and look after the every need of the diners.
The final twist is the food on offer, which is a surprise! No clue is given whatsoever to customers as to what they are about to eat because the idea is to “re-educate the customers` mouths and minds, and to make them truly understand the flavours.” The diners have to guess what they are eating and explore their other senses. Special dietary requirements are of course taken into account and established before the food is served. Finally, after the meal in the completely pitch black restaurant customers may move to the lit bar and lounge and discuss their experience over a fabulous cocktail prepared by their experienced barman.
As well as in Paris, the Dans le Noir restaurants are located in London, Berlin, New York, and Barcelona, amongst others so if you would like to try out a truly different sensory and culinary experience then this is the restaurant for you!
Anna – Marketing Team
