A group of Canadian gourmets is hoping to smash misconceptions about HIV transmission one plate at the time by opening a pop-up restaurant run entirely by staff infected with the virus.

Located in Toronto, the restaurant called June's on Tuesday was serving its first meals prepared by HIV-positive cooks to dispel any notion that food preparation can spread the virus.

Wearing aprons printed with such messages as "Kiss the HIV+ cook" and "I got HIV from pasta. Said no one ever," June's 14 HIV-positive cooks will be serving customers who prepaid to reserve their tables.

The idea of June's came in response to a survey last month that found only half of Canadians would eat food prepared by someone with HIV.

The survey was conducted by Casey House, a non-profit that planned the pop-up, or temporary, restaurant, said the group's head Joanne Simons. Casey House provides health care for people with HIV/AIDS.