More than 90 disabled people in 12 years looked for "light" in this dark restaurant
Beijing Trojan Horse Fairy Tale Restaurant was founded 12 years ago, insisting on eating in the dark with equal taste and taste
On December 11 this year, Beijing Trojan Horse Fairytale Dark Restaurant will celebrate its 12th birthday.
In the past few days, in addition to maintaining the normal business of the restaurant, the founder Yu Shuang is also busy with the official operation of the "street coffee shop"-Trojan Fairy Tale·Huanxi Coffee. The four baristas for the hearing impaired are ready.
Yu Shuang said that in 12 years, more than 90 disabled people have entered the Trojan Horse Fairy Tale Dark Restaurant looking for "light", and the restaurant is also seeking better development to provide a solid backing for them.
On the 8th floor of Xixi Friendship Hotel, No. 109, Xidan North Street, Beijing, the Trojan Horse Fairy Tale Dark Restaurant is located in a corner of the floor, where it specializes in private French cuisine.
For 12 years, the restaurant has insisted on a special way of dining in "all darkness". Diners cannot see the delicious flavors and can only taste them with their heart.
Zhiyuan, a low-vision young man who joined the restaurant in May of this year, serves as a "guide for the blind" waiter, starting a wonderful dining journey for diners.
Before eating, customers need to store all possible luminous items such as mobile phones and Bluetooth headsets.
Then everyone put their hands on the shoulders of the previous person one by one, and walked into the "dark restaurant" under the guidance of Zhiyuan.
"Be careful of the steps, the first person to put up my shoulders, okay, follow me forward, don't be afraid, I am here." Zhiyuan's firm and warm voice echoed in the all-black dining environment.
"Oh my God, it's so dark, you can't see it at all, don't walk too fast, don't leave me." The sudden darkness of the environment brought a little bit of fear to the diners, and at this time the warm shoulders of the partners around him are the most in the dark. Rely on steadfastly.
The next sitting, serving, and tasting all need to be done by touch and hearing.
Yu Shuang said that when there are many guests or on weekends, there will be music performances in the restaurant. The performers are restaurant waiters, volunteers, and even managers... Let customers feel their optimism, friendship and positive life while dining. manner.
"The whole meal process takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour, but many people are unwilling to leave after eating. The total darkness makes them pause and think about life." Zhiyuan said that he has changed a lot after only six months after he came to the restaurant. People are more cheerful, no longer trapped in depression after sudden blindness, especially when serving in the restaurant, he has a sense of accomplishment that is needed and trusted.
Beijing Trojan Fairytale Dark Restaurant was founded in 2009, and its unique dining style has made it famous in Beijing.
Yu Shuang said that the creation of this restaurant was actually due to an unexpected experience.
In 1999, Yu Shuang, a surgeon, suffered a sudden retinal detachment and went blind overnight.
Although her vision was restored after half a year of treatment, this experience allowed her to re-examine the meaning of health. After the shock, she set up a wish: to promote the protection of vision health and help the visually impaired to participate in social life.
Only by knowing the horror of darkness can we cherish today's light.
So, after ten years of planning, Beijing Xidan Trojan Horse Fairy Tales Dark Restaurant was born. She wants people to think about the hardships of the visually impaired in the transposition action, in order to arouse the social responsibility of cherishing health, treating others well, and enlightening inspiration.
At present, there are a total of 5 full-time employees in the restaurant, and 3 of them are disabled.
Du Chuanwang, who joined in January 2019, is now a chef in the kitchen, and the kitchen is his little world.
Du Chuanwang was an "inflatable boy" who survived by chance. When he was 13 years old, a pump was inserted into his anus, causing serious rupture of his organs.
Later, due to circulatory failure and other reasons, his nose was necrotic and he underwent a nose reconstruction.
By chance, the charity that rescued him came to the Trojan Horse Fairy Tale Dark Restaurant and tried to recommend him to join the restaurant to start a new life.
Chuan Wang, who has only a primary school degree, was thin, withdrawn, and his appearance was damaged when his mother lost his mother when he first came to the restaurant. His pronunciation was abnormal and he had no professional experience.
He tried to live with all the members of the restaurant. Starting from his apprenticeship, Chuanwang's body gradually became stronger over the years, and his gradually proficient cooking skills also made his mind gradually brighter and brighter, integrating into the big family of the restaurant, and gradually found Of his own social role.
Yu Shuang said that over the past 12 years, the restaurant has arranged for more than 90 visually impaired, intellectual, and physically disabled people to find employment. The restaurant also voluntarily trains blind people to use mobile phones and computers without barriers, so that they can transform from a recipient to a helper.
The restaurant is not only a place to eat and experience the dark environment, but also a platform for communication and mutual assistance among the disabled.
Text/Reporter Wang Wei
Photographer/Reporter Hao Yi