If a glass of wine falls over in the dark, does it leave a stain? It’s an existential question only the laundry knows the answer to for sure — and we suspect they get a lot of practice after a night at Opaque, a dining-in-the-dark culinary experience having its first go-round in North Texas.
The concept seems like the antithesis of the classic foodie meal: Where’s the opportunity to savor the presentation, to drink in with the eyes as much as the palate? And how romantic is it to sit across from your sweetheart making goo-goo eyes and suggestive leers when the chocolate comes if he can’t even see you do it?
Still, there’s legitimate intrigue and curiosity attendant to this concept, which has made inroads into culinary culture for a few years now, with defenders saying the loss of sight actually stimulates the other senses.
You can sample the experience Friday through Monday, with seatings every half-hour each of the four nights. It could take the term “blind date” in an entirely new direction.
— Arnold Wayne Jones
Aloft Hotel, 1033 Young St. Feb. 11–14. Seatings starting at 5:30 p.m. $99 per person (tax, tip and drinks extra). DarkDining.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition Feb. 11, 2011.
