Sensory Feasts Served to Blindfolded Guests
Artist and Chef Collaborations

 Planning something unique? Or just plain Crazy, here is something worthy of note to spice-up your dining experience? Camaje a French bistro in the West Village is hosting Dark Dining a four-course dinner that is designed to accommodate a small gathering of guests. A great way to spend celebrating the New Year with all eyes closed.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Arriving to a warm welcome and a few words of orientation, you don a featherweight meditation mask and are immersed in velvety darkness. Then, gently guided to your table, you are served an extraordinary four-course meal paired with fine wines. 

Other senses take over; you discover in yourself an expanded awareness and surprising competence.  Savor the supper’s sensuous tastes, smells and textures. Playfully challenge your palate to tease out the mysteries of the menu.

Pausing between courses, you are swept up in unexpectedly vivid performances. One evening’s artists might include a tap dancer and a virtuosic vocalist. Another, a flamenco dancer and a jazz guitarist. Or an actor, Irish step dancers and a clavichord player. You might hear a baroque violin, South Indian percussion, Japanese flute, trombone . . .

At the evening’s close, you are handed a sealed card in which the menu and performing artists are revealed.
 

WHY IN THE DARK?
Because it awakens the senses and presents new pleasures.

In the words of Artistic Director Dana Salisbury,
 “I was choreographing a dance based on non-visual perception. One morning in the studio, I peeled an orange with my eyes closed.  Pulling back the skin, I was dusted with hundreds of droplets of pungent oil; never had an orange had such an intoxicating aroma. I brought it to my lips; the structure of the orange slice became clear and the cells burst open and  juice exploded in my mouth. It was so sweet.

I was swept with pleasure. The world seemed open and more intimate at the same time. I wanted to share this intensely pleasurable expanded ‘vision’ with others and decided to create Dark Dining. The art would be the experience itself.

The art would start with gourmet food and drink. Performances by extraordinary artists would be woven throughout the evening. The environment would be safe and playful, one in which diners could relax, expand into their senses and drink it all in. It would be a true celebration of the senses.

I knew we could have a lot of fun.  We all love to eat; it is our first conscious sensory delight. People worry they will not know how to eat without seeing, but they shouldn't; we all know where our mouths are and have held utensils in our hands without thinking for years.” -Dark Dining Projects