Not Fusion, But St. Paul Restaurant To Serve Nordic and Japanese

SAINT PAUL, MN —Chef/owner Adam Prince said his new Saint Paul restaurant will be called ROK (pronounced Roke), which is the Swedish word for smoke. But Nordic dishes only will make up part of the menu, according to TwinCities.com.

Set to open this spring in the Rathskeller building on the Schmidt Brewery site, 882 7th St W, ROK also is expected to serve Japanese fare. Prince said the Nordic and Japanese cuisines will be distinct.

"None of it is going to be fused," Prince told TwinCities.com. "If there's a Japanese dish, it will be Japanese style. If it's a Nordic dish, it's going to have a Nordic style."

Prince has run kitchens up north, and he recently served as the executive chef at W.A. Frost. Prince said he had been looking for a ghost kitchen in which to prepare takeout meals. But his plans changed when the space in the Rathskeller opened up.

"We found such a great location that we decided to go all out," Prince said.

According to TwinCities.com, ROK will take on the concept of Japanese indoor cooking, utilizing charcoal and smoke, but is unlikely to serve sushi.

From a Nordic standpoint, Prince said he plans on smoking and preserving food, pickling and fermenting.

Prince said he hopes to open at the beginning of April, initially making Japanese and Nordic bowls for takeout. In the summer, if dine-in services have resumed, there will be some table seats, a full bar and a patio.

Read more at TwinCities.com.