Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is proud to announce Dean Wenzel as its new executive chef. Wenzel, who most recently served under Hugh Acheson at Empire State South, will oversee restaurant operations and menu development.
“I couldn’t possibly be more excited to join the Milton’s family,” says Wenzel. “Milton’s has established quite a culinary legacy over the past 16 years, and I’m humbled and honored by the opportunity to be a part of that and help guide the restaurant into a new and exciting chapter.”
Before Empire State South, Wenzel served as executive chef at Mount Royal, Acheson’s restaurant at the Hyatt Centric in Buckhead, as well as Spaceman, its rooftop lounge. His resume also includes stints with Hanna Brothers Catering in Fayetteville, where he prepared meals for five shows for Tyler Perry Studios, and Bruce’s Catering in Los Angeles, where he prepared meals for hundreds of Netflix employees as well as the GRAMMY Awards, the Academy Awards and TV shows including “This Is Us.”
In his new role, Wenzel is eager to hit the ground running. “My goal for the next few months is to introduce some new proteins, new sauces, new starches,” he says. “I want to add some grilled vegetables and add variety with ingredients from our garden.”
Wenzel says he is excited about exploring the possibilities presented by Milton’s Acre, the one-acre garden behind the restaurant. “I really want to utilize the garden in some creative ways.
During our Garden Dinners series, I’ll be trying out some of my new ideas. I want to introduce a bunch of different pickling items and apply them to our salads, our bloody marys and cocktails. And I want to make sure that our sister Southern Proper Hospitality Group restaurants—like Gypsy Kitchen, The Big Ketch and The Southern Gentleman—all get a taste of what’s coming out of the garden, as well.”
For Wenzel, who came to Georgia from the West Coast during the early days of the pandemic, the change of scenery has reenergized his passion for cooking. “Working at Mount Royal and Spaceman and now at Milton’s, I’ve gotten involved with and come to appreciate Georgia cuisine,” he says. “Going out to the farms to see what’s being grown and cultivated, getting to know the farmers and see their operations, I’ve fallen in love with the area. It’s been a wonderful experience becoming a part of the local community, and I want that to come through in our food.”
ABOUT MILTON’S CUISINE & COCKTAILS
Located at 800 Mayfield Road, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is nestled in a restored 155-year-old farmhouse located in the historic district of Crabapple. The charming North Fulton restaurant serves contemporary Southern cuisine that utilizes fresh, local ingredients, many of which come from the restaurant’s on-site garden called Milton’s Acre. For more information about Milton’s, visit miltonscuisine.com.
