COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Here’s an idea: If you want to see the world in a different light, try going blind for a couple of hours, voluntarily.
How? Go to Noche, where diners experience what it’s like to eat a meal in a pitch black room.
Inspired by the “dine in the dark” concept that first started in Switzerland and has become popular around the world, business partners Tasha Reyes and Katrina Lacap, wanted to bring a unique gastronomic experience to the Philippines, a first of its kind in the country.
“We wanted to introduce a new, exciting way to dine. We loved the idea of playing with the senses to create new, unforgettable experiences.” said Reyes to Coconuts Manila.
The basic idea behind it is that “taking away” one’s ability to see sends the other senses into overdrive. This means that the meal has to be enjoyed through taste, smell, touch and sound. Absolutely no food porn shots.
“We take something ordinary and make it extraordinary. Noche means night in Spanish and we really like the concept of night and dreams. We want to bring that atmosphere into our dining experience,” Reyes added.
What makes it even more interesting? The staff in the dark restaurant are blind or visually impaired.
Noche partnered with Resources for the Blind, a non-profit organization for visually impaired people in the Philippines, to train the seven waiters assigned in the dining area. The ones handling the kitchen though, are not visually impaired.
Marlo Lucas of Resources for the Blind was there to guide the new waiters in the training process. He said that they all have a hotel and restaurant management background, some of them went blind before completing their studies. They went through two weeks of training with the help of the regular hotel staff at Granvia Cafe in Antel Suites.
How was my experience? Different, the good kind of different.
It all happened in a pitch black dark room, with three layers of curtains shielding the diners from the light. Prior to entering the room, we were all asked to surrender our cellphones, watches, and other gadgets that emit light. We were also asked about our food preferences and allergies beforehand.
There was a quick orientation about how to manage eating in complete darkness. We were told about a “clock system” used to mark the eating utensils on our table. We were also warned to call the waiters assigned to us if we need anything. Walking in the dark can be dangerous, after all.
Noche offers a two-course meal (opening promo price of PHP699), a three-course meal (opening promo price of PHP999), and a five-course meal (opening promo price of PHP1499). I had the three-course meal, and I chose the “chef’s surprise,” to add more adventure to my already unique experience.
I used my hands to eat. I won’t tell you much about the food because I want you to experience it for yourself, but this much I can tell you: the kitchen staff went out of their way to add textures to make the dining experience much more exciting. Also, the three-course meal was really heavy.
JC, the waiter who was assigned to me that night, was perhaps one of the most attentive waiters I’ve ever encountered in my entire life. I appreciated how he would always politely address me by my name as he guided me through the process of eating.
“‘Andito lang po ako. Tawagin niyo lang po ang pangalan ko ‘pag may kailangan kayo,” he assured me about three times throughout the meal.
(‘I’m just here. Just call my name if you need anything.’)
I heard the other waiters say the same thing to the other diners. It was strange to find a sense of security in waiters who are usually just taken for granted, very refreshing.
As expected, my other senses were enhanced when my sense of sight was taken away. I heard conversations from the other tables beside mine. There was a group arguing if they were on the salad course or the main course. There was a girl who said that it was a good time to ask who people voted for.
My advice: Go alone. While it is fun to go with other people to experience a meal with actual conversations and no gadgets, dining in the dark is also a good opportunity to meditate about the things that you should be thankful for: On top of the list is the sense of sight, which most of us tend to take for granted.
The meal gave me a newfound appreciation of the little things like seeing what’s on my plate and being able to pour my own glass of water. I was thankful that I was able to see the world again after two hours of darkness.
The A.Venue Suites Hotel, 7829 Makati Ave., Makati; +63 2 403 0808, website. Starting Oct 14, Fri, Sat and Sun only, 6pm and 8pm. Prices start at PHP999
