Art and cocoa on the menu as diners are kept in the dark for two hours of sensory overload

The expression 'being kept in the dark' took on interesting dimensions on Saturday at the K11 Art Mall.

As part of the mall's Food Art Festival, independent curator Loic Serot (right) orchestrated a multi-sensory art and dining experience called A Secret Story of Chocolate, where cocoa-based food was just one of many elements used to tickle participants' senses.

Over two hours, an audience of 30 was treated to a dance performance by local troupe Keep Dream, then to a six-course meal and audio 'soundscape' served seated on the floor in a blacked-out space, lit only by tiny overhead projectors and flashlights held by the waiting staff.

Serot, who brought us experimental food and art with The Table Festival in 2008, met pastry chef Janice Wong (centre) while visiting her 2am: dessertbar in Singapore a few years ago. When Saturday's opportunity came up, Serot brought together Wong and Hong Kong-based sound artist Cedric Maridet (left) to realise his multimedia vision.

'You could say that my menu was the score,' Maridet said. 'This is arranged from documentary sounds I've recorded around the world - from rainforests to cities.'

Wong said: 'As a chef, my first concern is taste and texture. I usually think of aesthetics last ... With this collaboration, Loic gave me the chance to flip the order around. It was the most challenging catering project I have done to date.'