Dim Lighting Can Make Food Taste Less Intense, Study Finds

Dim lighting may be considered more romantic, but you could be sacrificing the taste of your food.New research suggests that the better you can see your food, the better it can taste.A study from the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics evaluated the "influence of brightness on overall taste intensity perception.".In the study, subjects were served identical dishes at a restaurant, and only the lighting was changed.Guests in the bright ambient light condition rated the overall taste as more intense as opposed to guests in the dim ambient light condition, Research study.However, one shrewd British restauranteur pointed out that lighting isn't just about taste.[Dim lighting] definitely makes people inclined to linger longer, to relax, and is better for a romantic dinner too, Ben Tish, Culinary director at Norma and The Stafford.Let's be honest: when you eat out, you're often more concerned with company than whether the chicken tastes intense or not