Scandinavian restaurant names chef

Scandinavian restaurant names chef

Patrick Conrade. Courtesy The Sovengard

A biergarten and Scandinavian-inspired restaurant has announced the chef that will lead its opening menu.

The Sovengard in Grand Rapids named Patrick Conrade its chef de cuisine as its opening date approaches.

Owner Rick Muschiana said he’d like to open within the next eight weeks but that could stretch into the early part of 2016.

Muschiana said there were several “great” in-person meetings with Conrade, and they meshed well “from a personality and ideology perspective from the beginning.”

“He’s very interested in the local food movement, sustainable agriculture and was familiar with what’s been happening with New Nordic cuisine,” Muschiana said.

Conrade

Conrade was most recently the executive chef at The Old Goat and Electric Cheetah.

From 2007 to 2013 he was the executive chef at Steelcase.

He also worked at The University Club.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled,” Muschiana said. “He’s got restaurants in his blood just like us.”

The Sovengard

The Sovengard is set for 443 Bridge St. NW, in a lot owned by Grand Rapids First Ward Commissioner Walt Gutowski.

The site is near other new restaurants and bars, including Harmony Hall and The Black Heron, and where New Holland Brewing Co. and 616 Lofts on Alabama are being constructed.

The beverage menu will be an eclectic array of drinks from across the globe.