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CNN Live Today

Blind Date

Aired November 25, 2003 - 11:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we are going to talk to the guy behind this culinary blackout. Jerome Chasques is president of Cosmo Party. He's joining us from New York.
And we have our own nightvision goggles on you, Jerome. Thanks for being here.

So we saw people are really into this. What's the deal? Why's everybody excited about it?

JEROME CHASQUES, PRESIDENT, COSMO PARTY: Basically, the thing is that people can share a common experience altogether. That's really fun. That may be one of the funniest ice breakers right now. It's both a tasting and a social experience altogether. And you what, being in the dark actually binds people together. So that's pretty amazing.

COLLINS: Yes, they kind of don't have a choice.

You got to tell me, though, where on earth did you get this idea?

CHASQUES: Actually, I was having dinner with a friend of mine I remember a few months ago here in New York, and I just realized that people were a bit distracted by their environment. So I just thought, maybe if you remove the sense of sight, so everything will be different. Your senses will more astute, you're pay more attention to everything, the people around you. You'll smell the spices. You know, everything would be different. And we tried it.

COLLINS: But you also lose a sense. I mean, obviously, you lose the sense of sight, then how do you concentrate on somebody when there's all that noise behind you. I can understand how the taste might be enhanced a bit, but how do you actually concentrate on somebody you can't see?

CHASQUES: Well, it's just of matter of being more focused, so basically, you touch the table, you check, you know, who are the people around you, actually the people that you can meet before with the light on. And suddenly, everything is more precise. And you're focused on what other people tell you and everything is intense, and you know, everything is intense, so it's really fun and entertaining.

COLLINS: It sounds like it might be a really good idea for singles.

CHASQUES: Actually, yes. Singles are maybe more eager to find new ways and fun ways to meet other people. So I think our main (UNINTELLIGIBLE) so far is really by -- from singles, even the will to have groups of friends come in, people coming with a date. So you know, no matter what, you always end up with a date or with a group of new friends. So it's always fun to meet people that way.

COLLINS: All right, so what happens when the lights go back on? We heard them challenging people to kiss somebody next to them. And maybe you're sitting next to somebody that you really don't think is all that great once the lights come on. What do people do?

CHASQUES: Well, you know, after an hour and a half or so in the dark, you just realize that all the people around you shared the same experience. So you're kind of a few friends altogether. So just share what you're experienced, what you're feeling.

Oh, you're saying (UNINTELLIGIBLE). No, it was not, it was really salmon, so you have so many things to tell. So it's like endless. And actually the funny thing is that people maybe stay like two hours later, you know, once the lights come back, because they have so much to say again, you know.

COLLINS: I see, all right. Well, Jerome Chasques, thank you very much for coming on today and telling us all about this, president of Cosmo Party. Interesting. All right, Jerome.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 25, 2003 - 11:53   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we are going to talk to the guy behind this culinary blackout. Jerome Chasques is president of Cosmo Party. He's joining us from New York.
And we have our own nightvision goggles on you, Jerome. Thanks for being here.

So we saw people are really into this. What's the deal? Why's everybody excited about it?

JEROME CHASQUES, PRESIDENT, COSMO PARTY: Basically, the thing is that people can share a common experience altogether. That's really fun. That may be one of the funniest ice breakers right now. It's both a tasting and a social experience altogether. And you what, being in the dark actually binds people together. So that's pretty amazing.

COLLINS: Yes, they kind of don't have a choice.

You got to tell me, though, where on earth did you get this idea?

CHASQUES: Actually, I was having dinner with a friend of mine I remember a few months ago here in New York, and I just realized that people were a bit distracted by their environment. So I just thought, maybe if you remove the sense of sight, so everything will be different. Your senses will more astute, you're pay more attention to everything, the people around you. You'll smell the spices. You know, everything would be different. And we tried it.

COLLINS: But you also lose a sense. I mean, obviously, you lose the sense of sight, then how do you concentrate on somebody when there's all that noise behind you. I can understand how the taste might be enhanced a bit, but how do you actually concentrate on somebody you can't see?

CHASQUES: Well, it's just of matter of being more focused, so basically, you touch the table, you check, you know, who are the people around you, actually the people that you can meet before with the light on. And suddenly, everything is more precise. And you're focused on what other people tell you and everything is intense, and you know, everything is intense, so it's really fun and entertaining.

COLLINS: It sounds like it might be a really good idea for singles.

CHASQUES: Actually, yes. Singles are maybe more eager to find new ways and fun ways to meet other people. So I think our main (UNINTELLIGIBLE) so far is really by -- from singles, even the will to have groups of friends come in, people coming with a date. So you know, no matter what, you always end up with a date or with a group of new friends. So it's always fun to meet people that way.

COLLINS: All right, so what happens when the lights go back on? We heard them challenging people to kiss somebody next to them. And maybe you're sitting next to somebody that you really don't think is all that great once the lights come on. What do people do?

CHASQUES: Well, you know, after an hour and a half or so in the dark, you just realize that all the people around you shared the same experience. So you're kind of a few friends altogether. So just share what you're experienced, what you're feeling.

Oh, you're saying (UNINTELLIGIBLE). No, it was not, it was really salmon, so you have so many things to tell. So it's like endless. And actually the funny thing is that people maybe stay like two hours later, you know, once the lights come back, because they have so much to say again, you know.

COLLINS: I see, all right. Well, Jerome Chasques, thank you very much for coming on today and telling us all about this, president of Cosmo Party. Interesting. All right, Jerome.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com