Throughout the world, many have experienced a unique dining experience of eating in the dark and for the first time, Namibians will have the chance to experience a blindfolded food adventure. Selma Neshiko previews this experience.
Imagine being guided to your seat blindfolded, in the dark, by visually impaired waiters? Or eating without being able to see what’s on your plate. At the Blind Dinner experience, an initiative by Melanie and Yannick Schweighardt, you will have the chance to experience as your other senses dictate what you are enjoying without seeing. Melanie was first introduced to the blind dining concept when she was in Switzerland. Being a food connoisseur, she wanted to create an experience that would change the way we look and appreciate food. Her ultimate goal was to make a difference and change perceptions towards the blind, which gave birth to the Blind Dinner Experience.
The focus of the concept is to create a feast of the senses in total darkness. These experiences employ blind or partially sighted staff, and aim to give the diner the experience of life without sight.
Ten visually impaired people will be trained to be waiters with the aim of empowering those that are visually impaired as well as change the stereotype of disabled people being unemployable. Patrons will be treated to a three-course meal and the entertainment for the evening that focuses on your sense of smell, touch, sound and taste will be performed by the visually impaired and directed by David Ndjavera and Keamogetsi Joseph Molapong, award winning Namibian theatre and film actors and directors.
“It is a unique experience, which will change the guests’ view of the world by reversing their perspectives. The intension is to create a feast of the senses, your smell, touch, sound and taste in total darkness, whilst being guided and served by waiters who are visually impaired,” says Melanie.
Daniel Trump, of the Namibian Federation of the Visually Impaired says those who wish to attend will feel how visually impaired feel in their daily lives. “I hope this event will change the mindset of people and show trust in visually impaired people. We never dreamt that we will be visually impaired but it’s the creation of God. Prepare yourself in case you lose your sight. Using visual impaired waitress is a demonstration that they are capable of doing any work just like those who can see, come in numbers and support,” says Trump.
All proceeds for the blind dinner will go to the Federation of the Visually Impaired with the aim of aiding it in its mandate of educating and raising awareness about the challenges visually impaired people face. The Event will take place as from July 6 to July 11 at La Bonne Table, Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC). Tickets for the event can be purchased from La Bonne Table at a cost of N$500 per night per person, with 36 spaces available comprising of six tables.