On December 20, 2025, the restaurant Björns kök opened in Vemdalen. The restaurant manager is Mikael Bror, a master chef whose vision is for the restaurant to become Vemdalen’s new living room.

It’s Monday afternoon, and a sense of calm hangs over the dining room at Björns Kök. Restaurant manager Mikael Bror offers us coffee before we sit down at the sturdy wooden table, which was made in the neighboring village of Hede.

“I want Björns Kök to be a restaurant that’s open as often as possible. The last thing I want is for this to become just another seasonal restaurant,” says Mikael Bror.

Over the years, the newly appointed restaurant manager has worked at various seasonal restaurants throughout Sweden. Among other places, he has worked in Riksgränsen, in Gunnarsvattnet near Boden, on Öland, and at other destinations in Härjedalen.

Now he wants to help build Vemdalen’s new living room—in the form of Björn’s kitchen.

– This restaurant is for the people of Vemdalen. It’s a place where you can come whether you want to grab a bite to eat, unwind after work, or enjoy a cup of coffee while walking your dog.

Can the dog come inside too?

– As long as the dog behaves, it’s welcome. At most, we’ve had four or five dogs here at the same time.

Mikael Bror describes himself as a classic chef, a style he believes is reflected in the restaurant’s menu. According to the restaurant manager, the food is straightforward and authentic, prepared using high-quality ingredients.

– In classic cooking, there’s nowhere to hide.

His personal favorite dish on the menu is the tomahawk, a large cut of meat that they cook on the bone and serve with French fries or potato gratin and béarnaise sauce.

– Everyone knows what meat tastes like, so with a dish this simple, the key is to make it really good.

Other popular items on the menu include the hamburger and the steak tartare. Mikael Bror says they adjust the menu based on the season and what their guests are asking for.

– We’re here for our guests; if enough people ask for something, we’ll give it a try.

He also mentions that they have a wide selection of beers from smaller breweries.

– Two of us who work here love beer, so we’ve stocked a wide variety of it. But we also have good wine and plenty of great non-alcoholic options.

The goal is for the menu to cater to all tastes and budgets.

– A family of four should be able to eat here for less than 1,000 kronor. At the same time, if you want to, you should be able to spend over 1,000 kronor per person.

One thing Mikael Bror emphasizes is that Björn’s Kitchen isn’t a mountain restaurant, but rather a restaurant located in the mountains.

– There are so many other places like that in the area; we want to offer something different.

Mikael Bror returns to the vision of Björn's kitchen as Vemdalen's living room.

– We’re here for everyone in Vemdalen, no matter what time of year it is. You can come here for lunch, a coffee break, or to celebrate a special occasion. We’re looking to the future and want to help put Vemdalen on the map as more than just a winter destination. Vemdalen is a place that should be vibrant all year round.