Five and Ten

www.fiveandten.com
1653 S Lumpkin Street
Athens, GA 30606

To celebrate my brother and Katy's birthdays this year we decided to go to a favorite in Athens by local chef Hugh Acheson (previously blogged about his Atlanta restaurant Empire State South).  Known for his use of local ingredients and atypical style of comfort food, it's always exciting to see what will be on the menu.  Not only is the food here amazing, but Five and Ten holds one of the most extensive wine menus in Athens.

We started with a few apps: the pimento cheese with crostinis, half-shelled oysters, and a special of the night, chicken feet.  I had never tried chicken feet and have wanted to for a while, tonight was my shot.  Not really what I was expecting.  I'm sure there are MANY ways to cook your chicken feet and I always imagined they would be crispy, these weren't.  It tasted as if they were Asian styled BBQ.  Nevertheless, they were a bit fatty but appetizing.  I had the trout and I can't exactly remember what sides it came with but I do remember it being great...not being able to remember everything sometimes happens in Athens.  We were also able to try the Lowcountry Frogmore stew which was marvelous with an abundance of shrimp and sausage, and the Columbia River sturgeon with whipped potatoes, collards and favas.

Everything about this restaurant is exceptional from the moment you walk in the front door until you take that last sip of housemade limoncello.  It is a must for those in Athens looking to pleasantly expand their taste buds.  Also in Athens from Acheson, The National and Gosford Wine.

*Meet Hugh Acheson on his book tour for A New Turn In The South.

Miller Union

www.millerunion.com
999 Brady Ave
Atlanta, GA 30318

One year later and still going strong, Katy and I wanted to celebrate by dining somewhere special.  Miller Union is on the West Side of Atlanta, just a block away from West Egg (previously posted), and is all the rage.   If you've read anything about food/restaurants in Atlanta in the past year or so then you've come across this place.  Steven Satterfield has taken Farm-to-Table dining to new heights and hypes and has become a familiar face with simple elegance.

Having heard so much for so long about Miller Union, Katy and I had been anticipating this meal for some time.  The food was great and we had a wonderful time...BUT, I'm not quite sure it is my absolute favorite in Atlanta, and I have my reasons.  For me, it was like finally going to that movie that everyone has told you about and when you do see it, your expectations are so high that no matter how amazing it is (which Miller Union is) you're bound to be let down.  I'm the first to advocate for the Atlanta dining scene and how far it has come, but I think I was expecting Le Bernardin.

We got a couple of starters, the English Pea soup and the Squash Blossoms.  I will say the vegetables may have been some of the most fresh and vibrant I've had, exploding with color and flavor.  The squash blossoms were an inventive and very pleasant treat; stuffed with ricotta cheese and lemon juice, the flowers were battered with lemon zest and cayenne pepper then deep fried.  For entrees, I had the fish special which was very delicious but didn't knock my socks off and Katy enjoyed her first experience with whole quail and an arugula salad.

I know I have critiqued Miller Union a bit harsher than normal, but believe me, the food was great and I definitely want to go back to eat more.  Satterfield has done a great job and will continue to secure Atlanta a destination in the Culinary Atlas.