We came up with the name SMOAK by combining the words “smoke” and “oak.” During our travels to the south, we stopped in Texas, and the best BBQ spots there were using a wood called post oak to smoke their meats. We thought the flavor post oak provided to the meats was delicious and wanted to replicate the practices they used. However, we soon found out that, unfortunately, post oak doesn’t grow in Minnesota. We reached out to the experts in the wood industry, and they told us that white oak is the closest relative to that species. After smoking various meats with white oak, it was a hit – we loved the flavor. Because the oak we use to smoke our meats is such a significant part of our BBQ, we wanted it to be a part of our restaurant’s name. Thus, SMOAK was born.
