The most famous rock star in the universe had a meal recently at Miller Union in Atlanta, serving up big thrills for the front and back of the house. There was much to celebrate, especially since it happened on the eve of the restaurant’s 12th anniversary.
Superstar Mick Jagger had dinner at Miller Union in Atlanta on the eve of the restaurant's 12th ... [+]
When a legend walks in the dining room...
“It definitely was a thrilling moment when he arrived,” Steven Satterfield, chef/owner who was in the kitchen on that busy weeknight, said in a recent phone interview.
Someone of the ultimate rock star’s team had called the restaurant, but it was a last minute kind of deal. There were no special arrangements made, no elaborate five-course meal planned weeks in advance. “They ordered off the menu,” Satterfield said.
The party arrived shortly after 9 and were escorted through the kitchen to a couple of tables on the patio. “They were tucked in a corner. You couldn’t really see him,” the chef said.
A lone off-menu request came in from the icon: Could the kitchen make him some French fries?
Well… kinda. Miller Union is deservedly beloved for its mission to showcase local, seasonal produce and potato season was past its prime. However, there was a new dish that featured sweet potato fries.
Yes, please, he’d give them a go. And these weren’t just the typical shoestring sweet potato fries, but freshly unearthed fingerlings that were dredged in a rice flour slurry before being tossed in the hot oil.
As the evening’s service began to wind down, Satterfield headed out to the patio to check on the very, very VIPs and a couple security guys stopped the chef before he approached the table where Jagger was seated. “They wanted to tell me me they were having a great time and they loved the food,” he said.
Satterfield asked if he could say hello to Jagger’s party and the answer was an emphatic YES.
“Everyone was complimentary. They said everything had been so creative and delicious. Mick said he was happy to meet me,” the chef recalled.
Satterfield returned to the kitchen, instantly regretting that he had not asked for a photo, but “it would have been awkward. He was sitting down. I didn’t want to ask.”
Yet, when the group got up to leave, a savvy server gave Satterfield a heads up and he made the ask. Mick Jagger was happy to oblige. Judging by the wide grin on his face when the photo of the two was taken, he was clearly satisfied.
Earlier, Jagger spent the day exploring ATL ahead of the Rolling Stones concert on Nov. 11, documenting his delicious discoveries on his Twitter and Insta feeds, a colorful accounting that included a stop at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Right on! You’ve seen the man dance tirelessly around the stage. He needs the calories!
One final note on why this meeting was so meaningful: Satterfield has a little-known background in music and performing. He was in a band called Seely, which put out several albums and toured in the 1990s before going their own ways in 2000. Those trips and the terrible food the road weary travelers endured inspired the chef to cook. Somehow fitting that many in the food media and the adoring public call Satterfield a rock star chef.
Chef Steven Satterfield and the crew at Miller Union in Atlanta celebrated the restaurant's 12th ... [+]
A dozen years down, many more to go
While the glow from that memorable evening was still fresh, Miller Union marked its 12th anniversary doing what it does best: serving appreciative guests.
But it wasn’t always such a festive atmosphere. During those pre-opening days, there was plenty of apprehension about the restaurant’s ability to keep the doors open.
Satterfield recalled: “Our timing was terrible. The economic downturn had just started. People told us we were crazy for going ahead with the project.”
And, yet, here they are... a dozen years and tens of thousands of stellar meals coming out of the kitchen from the seasoned crew.
Even during the early days of the pandemic, Miller Union was able to keep most of its crew by winning a contract to feed health care workers. Like many others in the culinary world, they team deftly pivoted and the restaurant began offering takeout, a practice that continues.
Obviously, his long-time support is much appreciated.
“His lasting commitment to farms and farmers is truly best in class,” said Judith Winfrey, who owns and operates Love is Love Farm with her partner, Joe Reynolds. “It’s not about following a trend or trying to boost sales. He does it because he’s committed to quality and because it’s the right thing to do.”
Chef Steven Satterfield has established strong relationships with farmers in the dozen years since ... [+]
And just in case you need another reason to love Mick Jagger, watch this:
