Public Nudery
The Bunyadi, yes there’s a page on Facebook, opened over the weekend and every sitting has been sold out. Bunyadi is a Hindu word meaning ‘fundamental, base, natural’ (it’s pronounced ‘bon-ya-de’) and keeping with that diners were stripped of their cell phones, cameras, their everything; they were then given a robe and shown to enter through a black curtain.
They found themselves in a bar and from there it was on to the dining area, candle-lit only, no electricity. For anyone too shy to follow through, keeping the robe is an option. On opening night it was reported no one did so. The wait staff wore leaves in front of the genitals, though why they would not be totally naked is not explained in any Bunyadi literature.
The small dining tables are hewn from stumps with axes – not likely by naked lumberjacks – and bamboo is very much a part of the decor. It’s all intended to take the diner back to a time when human life was more rustic, more uncultivated.
Patrons aren’t offered the fare given at traditional eateries (read: where you wear clothes). Turns out the food is also tailored to be more natural and items cooked are cooked not on a stove but over a fire. The menu is largely vegan, mostly uncooked and meals ring in at about £60, or $85 U.S.
One (naked) planet
Sebastian Lyall is the founder of the ‘creative collective’ called Lollipop that owns the Bunyadi and it seems he prefers to live as if in an earlier time; in fact he does not believe in countries and won’t divulge where he is from. That is what he tells Hannah Betts of The Telegraph, bravely there on a date for opening night, an evening that featured more naked journalists than has ever been assembled anywhere, ever.
Media has been asked not to reveal its exact location in the south of London and should you get the chance to dine in the buff you will only be told where to go upon receipt your ticket. You’ll also be sworn to secrecy, presumably there’s a worry gawkers in sunglasses might show up.
Should you live in or near to London, or are visiting there soon, will you be able to dine there? Not likely because it’s only a three-month ‘pop-up’ restaurant open for the summer and already the 42 seat location has a waiting list of some 46,800 who want the pleasure of viewing their dinner companions nasty bits while they pick at their food.
So if you’re not already on that list, and near the top, relatively speaking, you shall not get to eat in public while in your birthday suit. Of course, in this case not being able to get a seat for your seat is due to not signing up in time. Not so at a naked restaurant in Japan where old people and the overweight – they actually weigh those on the cusp – are forbidden entry.
Seems they are indeed worried about spoiling appetites.
