(CNN) - The cost of a three-course meal at Bord For En (Table For One), a pop-up restaurant in Sweden opening May 10, is left to dinner discretion.
And it's the dinner, singular, as the name of the restaurant suggests.
Rasmus Persson and Linda Karlsson are the couple responsible for the unique concept. Located in Värmland, about 350 kilometers (217 miles) from Stockholm, the restaurant, or the restaurant's simple table and chair, more precisely, is located in a lush meadow.
The promise - and the premise - is not an interaction with others. It is an individual experience intended to be enjoyed in isolation.
There is no server and no other guest on the site. Throughout its limited time (it will be open until August 1), one person per day will be served so that Persson and Karlsson can fully focus on the guest.
The couple do not try to turn the tables and, indeed, do not do so to earn money.
They say they will not allow spectators either: "We want to avoid the feeling of being watched while you eat your food. We are all going through difficult times and there are people who have lost their jobs, a being dear or even their spirit. "
Eat now, pay for everything
Persson and Karlsson conceived the Table for One concept on a whim one evening several weeks ago when Karlsson's parents showed up at the couple's home while Covid-19 was going around the world.
Karlsson notes that Sweden has issued recommendations, not absolute restrictions, regarding social distancing practices.
Despite this, Persson and Karlsson decided rather than leaving Karlsson's parents at risk inside the house where the four could enjoy a shared meal under normal circumstances, it would be prudent to set up a table for them. outside in the garden, at a safe distance.
This unusual dining experience served as inspiration for something more official. Thus, Table for One was born.
"We welcome everyone, no matter what financial situation you're in. The price of the menu depends on the guest," said Karlsson, who, along with Persson, has experience in the hospitality industry - she , in front of the house; him at the back of the house.
Karlsson and Persson work on the radio, and although Karlsson repeats the question "what do you plan to do with your unique and precious life?" haunts everyone, she hasn't understood it yet. Still, the couple say they could extend Table For One "when it's all over."
Socially acceptable dinner
In many international cities, dining alone, whether at the bar or in a corner corner, is not only acceptable but also standardized and cherished.
However, not all restaurants have adopted the practice of solo dining. Karlsson is optimistic that Table For One will further reduce the lingering social embarrassment surrounding solo dining: "I dreamed that it was socially acceptable to have dinner by yourself, and maybe we are getting there now?"
"The simple image of the lonely chair and table is a call to solo experiences."
Joel Söderbäck creates May Fruit, a soft drink that will be served at Bord For En, the new pop-up restaurant in Sweden.
Three courses, one guest
The menu, inspired by Persson's travels and memories, takes place over several months. Swedish-style hash browns, smetana (a type of sour cream), seaweed caviar and sorrel picked from wood are the starters.
After the first dish, there is carrot and yellow ginger puree, golden hazelnut butter, sweet corn croquettes and snake root ash. The dessert, called "Last Days of Summer," is shelled blueberries, iced buttermilk and alto sugar from beets from the couple's farm.
Drinks will also be served, but all will be of the non-alcoholic variety.
Think elderflower, porridge and strawberries served in a small bottle, thanks to curator Joel Söderbäck, who runs two high-end bars in Stockholm. Söderbäck plans to take advantage of local and seasonal ingredients to create his concoctions.
Food and beverages will be brought to each guest in a picnic basket tied to a rope leading to the restaurant kitchen window.
When asked if exceptions would be made for more than one guest, said a couple who self-isolated together, Karlsson replied "unfortunately no".
"It's sad to say no," she adds, while praising the authenticity of the self-isolation experience.
"We may be isolated, but do we spend time with ourselves? This is an opportunity to do so. You are worth spending time with."
