An interesting new type of dining experience has been appearing in cities around the world. Patrons are served in a completely darkened restaurant by waiters who move carefully around memorized routes using only their sense of touch and sound. The allure of these establishments is the belief that depriving oneself of visual sensory input will enhance the sense of taste and smell, and foods will be experienced in new ways. Each bite provides a sense of wonder while discovering the flavors the chef has prepared.

Can you imagine how a diner experiences the unseen food? Upon first bite, the senses are overwhelmed. What are the dominant flavors? Does the food taste savory or sweet? Does it taste similar to something eaten previously? Personally, I imagine this process of discovery in terms of a slightly modified adage: if it smells like a duck and tastes like a duck, then you are probably eating duck.

This illustrates an idea that...