It has been ten years since this intriguing restaurant established its neighborhoods in Quebec City, in the Sainte-Foy borough. If it got everyone talking right away, I have to admit that I was waiting for a special occasion to try it out. And she introduced herself recently ...
I was curious and intrigued at the same time, but also a little fearful by this unusual experience. Enjoying a dish without knowing what is in it? Hmm .. A tall order for me, who is used to eating with my eyes. But here is an opportunity to open my horizons.
From the preamble, we are baffled by the decor that promises a destabilizing experience. Walls with fluorescent writing, small lounge with a crackling fire ... on a screen, bay window with dogs resting quietly, we literally have the impression of landing on another planet.
Then, we are invited to leave our coat in the cloakroom and store our personal effects (phone, wallet, keys, etc.) in a locker. None of this will help us for the next hour and a half anyway. Before entering the dining room, we are explained the theme of the month: nine countries will be represented in our dishes. The menu changes monthly in order to maintain the surprise effect and to satisfy regulars who like to come back frequently. To give us clues, we are presented with images to recognize the countries in question.
Our waitress calls us. She introduces herself. For us, it's Brigitte. Like all restaurant service staff, she is blind. She invites us to take the train, placing a hand on the shoulder of the person following us. She lifts the curtain and then there it is. Total black. Absolute darkness. For a moment, I let myself be overcome by a slight feeling of panic. My heart rate is quickening. I take a deep breath and listen to Brigitte's reassuring instructions. She leads us to our table and we sit there, awkwardly, but a little relieved. Then, our benchmarks are jostled.
Suddenly our hearing is refined. Neighboring conversations come to our straining ears. Besides, how many are we in this room? What does the table look like? Who is around us? You have to quickly learn to let go and simply live in the moment.
The adventure is the same for all the guests. A plate in three compartments is placed in front of us for each service, to explore different textures and flavors. Beforehand, when booking, we indicate our food allergies or intolerances. No gluten? Vegan? No problem, we know how to adapt in the kitchen. From our side, no food concerns. We go there for the totality, with the added bonus of the food and wine pairing.
As soon as the appetizer is served, our dinner takes on the air of a television trivia game. With each bite, we try to identify the ingredients, the spices and the country that is represented. Throughout, we also try to guess the wines: a red? White? which grape variety?
The first bites go well, everything is delicious, but at some point, when I get to the third item, my brain does. He cannot recognize the texture. It's crispy, it's fried, it's small, the shape is irregular. I have never tasted anything like this. A crazy idea quickly occurs to me. What if I was served grilled insects? Unable to separate my mental image from reality, I can't seem to finish this portion of my dish even though I like the taste.
The main courses follow and I feel more on familiar ground. I can easily tell apart a shrimp, side risers and meat. The dessert can also be easily savored. If it wasn't for the fact that I spent the evening trying to find my cut on the table, I feel like I did pretty well.
When the meal is over, we take our way back to the light. This is when we realize how lucky we are. We who can see again. A thought crosses our minds for Brigitte and the other members of the team. We are then invited to walk past the kitchen where the dishes are presented to us. I can't believe how deep I was in left field. If I had indeed recognized certain items and ingredients, their presentation and appearance are totally different from what I had imagined. And what were my so-called grilled insects? Simply fried capers! I admire the originality.
Beyond providing us with a unique culinary experience, the concept of this restaurant makes us aware of the reality of blind people. We realize that until we have experienced something tangibly, it is impossible to fully understand it.
To live at least once in your life!
Note:
7.5 / 10
What struck me the most about my visit:
The concept of darkness
The specialty of corn
we :
International cuisine
The most expensive main meal on the menu:
Discovery menu with wine pairing, $ 65.95
The cheapest main meal on the menu:
Discovery menu, $ 42.95
Do I recommend this restaurant:
Yes
What time of day did I visit:
Supper
Most :
- The playful spirit
- Staff care
The lessers :
- The price
