Crave in the Dark Just Proved That the Eyes, in Fact, Don’t Eat First

You’re having dinner in a restaurant blindfolded. It’s pitch black. You can’t see your hand, your plate, or the person next to you — and yet you’re expected to make it through a four-course meal.

On November 5th, World Sight Day, we were invited to an event that promised something “different.”

‘Crave in the Dark’ is a collaboration between Egyptian restaurant Crave and global initiative ‘Dialogue in the Dark’. On the surface, it sounded like a quirky food experiment. In reality, it became a lesson in how we understand love, empathy, and connection.

When we arrived, the team greeted us warmly but kept the mystery intact. After handing over our phones and bags, we were blindfolded. From that moment, the sense we rely on most simply disappeared. Guided only by a calm voice, we made our way to the table, clumsily collecting utensils along the path.We were soon introduced to Eslam Saber — a computer trainer for the blind and visually impaired, and our guide for the meal. He talked us through every bite, explaining what was on the plate and how to approach it without causing a mess (not that we ever succeeded). He taught us to imagine the plate as a clock: sauce at 12, mashed potatoes at 3, schnitzel at 6. Slowly, it started to make sense.

Slowly, we adjusted. And the world grew louder. We heard every clink of cutlery, every whispered comment, every laugh from the next table. Without screens or distractions, we found ourselves talking more, sharing more, and truly tasting everything. Losing one sense felt like turning the volume up on all the others.Then came the reveal.

After the final bites of dessert, the organisers asked us to remove our blindfolds. Only then did we learn that every person who had guided us through those disorienting two hours was visually impaired. The room fell silent. For a brief moment, no one knew what to say. Then the guides spoke — addressing us by name, recalling pieces of our conversations, even teasing us about our awkward attempts at navigating the meal.

‘Dialogue in the Dark’, founded over 36 years ago and now active in more than 41 countries, arrived in Egypt in 2019. Rather than relying on seminars or fundraising events, the initiative shifts awareness from sympathy to genuine empathy by engaging people in activities that encourage real communication with those who navigate the world differently.Throughout the event, you are placed directly in the shoes of a visually impaired person. The message becomes clear: they do not want pity. They want systems and spaces designed to meet their needs, just like anyone else. They don't want to be treated as “disabled.” They want to be treated as people who move through the world with different tools — hearing, touch, imagination — building the same picture we do with our eyes.

“I need you to spread our message. We don’t want sympathy or to be treated as less capable,” Saber said before we left. “You know what? My brother is a computer scientist. Sometimes he forgets where letters are on the keyboard, and I’m the one who helps him find them.”