The Dine in the Dark event was organized by the Hall VII Leadership Team in late March. This event was inspired by ‘dining-in-the-dark’ concepts that originated in 1999 in Switzerland. The idea was to allow people to experience life without sight, and to meet new people based on their personality rather than appearance.

The Hall VII Leadership Team decided to create this experience for its residents. Participants were blindfolded and guided to their tables in the Multi-Purpose Hall which was completely dark. Each table of four was briefed about safety precautions and guided throughout the meal to help them feel their utensils and food.

The four-course dinner consisted of baked potato and broccoli medallions, cream of potato soup, baked meatballs and pepper potatoes with gravy, and blueberry or almond cake with chamomile tea. However, none of the participants knew what food they were eating or who they were sharing the table with. But as the dinner progressed, the hall was filled with chatter when the participants began talking to one another.

After dessert, the lights were switched on. When it was revealed to the participants that the food was in fact from IKEA, one of the participants expressed, ‘I was impressed, because otherwise it would have been a dining experience that cost HK$500.’ With regards the food that they were served, one participant joked, ‘Since I could not see what I was served, and the first three courses were made with potato, I thought the dessert was going to be potato too!’