Appetite for Design - Roka Akor - Chicago Architecture Foundation

Lunch at ROKA AKOR

Owned by JNK Concepts, steak and sushi restaurant Roka Akor, with locations in Hong Kong, London, and Scottsdale, opened in Chicago in July of 2011. Voted one of the top ten sushi spots in the United States by Bon Appetit magazine, Roka Akor features cuisine designed by master chef Ce Bian that uses only fresh, simple, and natural ingredients. Using flavors of chili, lime, cucumber, truffle, and more, together with the robata grill, chef Ce Bian creates fantastic grilled beef and amazing seafood dishes that can be paired with Roka Akor’s extensive selection of international wines carefully chosen for Roka Akor’s classic dishes.

Roka Akor boasts an interior space also designed in careful consideration of the aesthetic flavors of the restaurant. Although the concept of Roka Akor already existed at its original Scottsdale, Arizona, location, architect Dwayne MacEwen of Chicago-based DMAC Architecture designed a unique look and feel for the Chicago Roka Akor restaurant space. The interior is wholly inspired by chef Ce Bians’ cuisine concept—using simple foods and turning them into magnificent dishes. Natural and simple materials of wood, rock, and old nails were used by DMAC to finish this space. It features a specially designed 60-seat lounge that includes teak block and rubber cording columns that resemble stacked Jenga towers; an Asian inspired patterned teak ceiling, and a massive robata grill sushi bar with a specially commissioned sculptural grill hood constructed with approximately 20,000 nails obtained from a 19th-century grain elevator.

Join us for this unique lunch experience and hear from chef Ce Bian and architect Dwayne MacEwen as they share their design inspirations. This Appetite for Design special lunch includes a prix fixe menu of assorted sushi and beef items. Space is limited and advance reservations are required. Menu may be subject to change.

COST $55 CAF Members; $65 non-members (includes soda, tea & signature non-alcoholic beverage)
LOCATION 456 N. Clark Street
AIA/CEU 1

EXECUTIVE CHEF
Ce Bian

Ce Bian’s culinary background is worldly and extensive. Born in China and raised in London, he worked with chefs such as Nic Watt and Yoshi Muranaka while opening restaurants for Chef Rainer Becker, the chef behind Zuma and Roka restaurants in London. Although Ce Bian considered London his second home, he left to become a supporting team member for Roka Akor in Scottsdale, Arizona and helped continue to elevate the sushi and robata grill technique. Ce Bian moved to Chicago in 2011, and enjoys experiencing another city in the United States and learning about its culture and history. Ce Bian states “A perfect meal has to be tasty and fresh and most importantly, made with feeling. Flavor is just as important. After you finish a meal, the flavor should stay in your memory – a special food moment will store in your memory forever!”

PROJECT ARCHITECT
Dwayne MacEwen

Dwayne MacEwen is the president and creative director of Chicago-based DMAC Architecture, P.C., a full-service residential and contract design firm, specializing in designer lead fabrication of architectural and interior components, furniture, and lighting. MacEwen founded DMAC Architecture in 1995 and seeks and responds to opportunities for design innovation that is not confined by style. Instead, MacEwen and his core team study user-centered research combined with their own observations of contemporary living and working styles in order to create spaces that fulfill the client’s needs while maintaining the highest architectural standards.

PRESS

	Fine Dining. "Roka Akor: Architect Dwayne MacEven Designs a Zen-Chic Interior for a New Japanese Eatery" October 2011
	Tasting Table. "Burn Baby, Burn: Flame-licked finds at River North's Roka Akor" July 2011
	Red Eye. "More Sushi, Please." July 2011

ROKA AKOR INTERIOR SHOTS

Courtesy Roka Akor

OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR