And a free no-prize to anyone who gets the Hank Williams reference. Want a reminder that the hoity-toity high end Chicago food scene is not the be-all and end-all of the food world? A Michigan blog called Paragon Life turned up in our feed with an article on a spot called Achatz Burgers. Oh no, has Grant succumbed to the diner trend, too? Nope, the Achatz here is a fellow named Russell, turning out pretty great looking old-style hamburgers in St. Clair Shores:
The ultimate in burger goodness fresh beef patties - 85% beef/15% fat — that are scooped in the kitchen and flattened right on the grill as soon as they’re ordered. The meat is sourced and ground daily locally and does not contain growth hormones. The employees at Achatz burgers hand-scoop about 600-700 three-ounce patties a day during the week and about 800-900 patties on a typical Friday or Saturday… Overall, Achatz Burgers is one of those places that prove that good food needn’t be fancy or expensive. When a restaurant starts with fresh ingredients and makes things fresh to order, it’s easy to be an affordable gourmet
And Russell, like Grant, knows what it’s like to be a celebrity— he’s been on Channel 56’s “Dining in the D” with Chef Tom. Of course, the inevitable question about a famous relation does come up:
If the Achatz name sounds familiar, there’s a definitely a close relation. Russell Achatz is a cousin of the folks who run the Achatz Homemade Pie Co., and the pies are served at Achatz Burgers, too.
That’s who the famous Achatzes are, in this part of Michigan. No other Achatzes turn up in the article— though since we know the pie Achatzes are Grant’s cousins, Russell apparently is too. [Paragon Life]
