Traditionally on birthdays many people choose to celebrate by going out for a nice meal at an elegant restaurant, and surround themselves with the people who they love and appreciate the most. I am no different. The only difference is that I wanted to do so in a socially responsible way this year. Therefore I chose to go to one of my favourite restaurants in the city, O.Noir. I had visited there months back with the thinkGood. team and it was definitely an experience like no other. I wanted to share this experience with some of the people who matter the most to me, as they are what inspire me to keep plugging away at this journey we call thinkGood.
If you have never been to O.Noir let me be the first to introduce you to the experience. The whole concept is extracted from the idea of experiencing what it is like to dine as the blind would. So yes this mean your entire culinary experience is in complete darkness. Not even a seam of light can be seen through a door crack . All phones, watches, cameras must be hidden and out of sight.
The experience starts off in the lounge. After selecting your meal, you are then escorted into the dining room where you are served by a blind waiter/waitress in pitch black darkness. The wait staff then kindly instruct you on the where abouts of your flatware, and then the rest is up to your remaining senses to guide you through your meal.
They say that when you lose one of your senses it heightens the others. They were not lying. I mean I’ve had filet mignon before but for some reason that evening it tasted extra GOOD. The coversation was that much better, and the laughs were that much louder. As I sat there listening to my friends reminisce, poke fun, debate and laugh, I couldn’t help but reflect on how lucky I am to be blessed with such great people, great experiences, and how previleged I am to live a life with love, laughter and a lifetime of GOOD memories!
Thank you to all of my friends who were able to attend, and support the cause. A portion of our bill went to local charities that support the blind. Check out some pictures from our dinner below!
To make your own reservations please call (416) 922-6647 or go to http://www.onoir.com/TO/frames.htm
Do Good, Feel Good, Live Good
- Team thinkGood.
Tags: Charities for the Blind, It's better in the dark, O'noir, O.Noir Toronto
Once your orders are placed you line up with your table mates and follow the leader into the pitch black seating area. Now this is when the mixed feelings start to kick in. I was all excited, but slightly anxious. When we walked into the darkness I kind of got afraid not knowing what to expect next. Diane (the server) did give us the heads up of what to expect and was also very helpful but when you can’t see some different feelings take over. I started to feel nervous thinking shit I can’t do this..but then we sat down and my uneasiness faded. Knowing I was around people that hold it down for me made it better. I felt comfortable with my surroundings even though I didn’t know where the I was! Then the party started..I can’t really explain what was going on in my head the whole time..cause my feelings kept changing…most of the time I was listening to things around me, conversations that involved me and some at didn’t. I kept trying to figure out how close people were to me and any time someone touched me I was on guard..lol my sense of smell opened up greatly..I was sitting between 2 of my home boys. I could smell their soap, cologne all down to their fabric softner stood out to me. My friends’ laughs seemed more defined, tones in people’s voices became bolder. The whole time people were making jokes and even when people weren’t we were still dying of laughter because of the things people blurted out during their own blind experience. Water spilled on him because Junior tried teef food off the Tannis’ plate when she went to react in the dark she ended up knocking over the water…lmao…One of my boys tried to steal my food too but his fork bucked mine and I stab him with my fork haha..couldn’t see anything that was going on but hearing it was damn funny..
♥
I dunno how to explain much more but I came out there with tears in my eyes from so much laughing and an better appreciation for my eye sight.
Oh yea the food was pretty good too!
Thanks Tannis for letting me join in the Birthday fun! Thanks to all my friends that made the night something special to remember