In September, we hosted our fourth and final Dining in the Dark event of 2025 at Old Sugar Distillery in Madison. We were joined by a diverse crowd for camaraderie, a fantastic meal prepared by Blue Plate Catering, and an opportunity to learn more about the lives of people who are blind or low vision. Our other Dining in the Dark events this year took place at Beastro & Barley in Reedsburg, Crossroads Coffeehouse in Cross Plains, and Brix Cider in Mount Horeb.
Dining in the Dark is a unique culinary experience where participants enjoy their meal while blindfolded. The event invites participants to focus on other senses besides sight to appreciate the dining experience. After the meal, Council staff lead discussions about enjoying food without vision and answer questions about living with blindness or low vision. The conversation ranges beyond food to include topics like employment and pedestrian safety. Dining in the Dark also serves as a fundraiser for the Council, which receives a portion of the proceeds as a donation. Since our first Dining in the Dark event over a decade ago, the Council has raised over $25,000 to help serve people with vision loss across Wisconsin.
”The Dining in the Dark experience is a unique opportunity for people to learn in a light-hearted environment that often leads to profound and meaningful understanding,” says Executive Director Denise Jess. “The discussion at the end of the meal, where we use diner’s questions and comments as a foundation for broadening their understanding, often touches my heart deeply and gives me hope that we are on a positive path toward creating a more welcoming world for those of us who are blind or low vision.”
People came to Dining in the Dark at Old Sugar Distillery for a variety of reasons. Some, like Council board member Jennifer Zutter, came to learn more about the everyday lives of people who are blind or low vision. Being fully sighted herself, Jennifer wanted to expand her knowledge to be a better steward for the blind and low vision community. While it was a challenge, she says it was also a rewarding and fun experience. “With my vision removed, I wasn’t able to see my meal, and therefore could not make a snap judgement about whether or not it looked good,” Jennifer says. “Thankfully, I found it very tasty! The experience was challenging – navigating a restaurant, trying to hear my tablemates without the ability to make eye contact. But we were able to break bread while breaking barriers; it’s a great way to learn!”
Others, like Jim Tormey, came for the fun experience. As a person with vision loss himself, Jim came in with a goal: to meet new people and try not to make a big mess. Jim says he succeeded in both areas. “I used my left hand as a backboard and my right hand as a poker and did very well,” he says. “I thought feeding myself blindfolded would be way more difficult, but being hungry helped my aim!” Jim’s biggest takeaway from Dining in the Dark, was that any task can be completed with the right attitude. “Just speaking from my own experience, life can be a little more enjoyable when you have an open mind and a positive attitude,” he says. “We didn’t ask to have vision loss, but we can do the best we can with it anyways.”
Whatever reason they had, everyone who joined the Council at Dining in the Dark events this year gained a better understanding of life with vision loss while enjoying good food and good company. To learn more, visit the Dining in the Dark page of our website at WCBlind.org/Events/Dining-In-The-Dark/.