Name: Erin Wilson
Family: Married to Hunt Revell. Born into a family of New Englanders. Proud first generation Southerner and first Dawg in my family!
Hometown: Roswell, Georgia
Current Town: Athens, Georgia
What Years at UGA: 2007 – 2011
School/Degree: ABJ – Public Relations, BS – Psychology
Profession: The restaurant industry is a perfect fit for Erin because it means she can spend most of her days thinking about food, beverage and community. Her restaurant The National is a casual-fine dining spot serving lunch and dinner in downtown Athens since 2007. With menus equally inspired by the seasons and Mediterranean cuisine, there’s always something creative brewing. Over in Normaltown, Erin owns The Old Pal, a neighborhood cocktail bar where she also curates the wine selection. Erin’s deep passion lies in cultivating hospitality professionals and building relationships with her guests. Beyond the plate, Erin gives time as a board member of Shell to Shore. Based in Athens, Georgia’s oyster shell recycling program connects restaurants to sustainability through the simple act of returning oyster shells from your plate to the coast.
Book: I love reading – lately I’ve been doing a series of a few books by a single author at a time. Donna Tart and Margaret Atwood are two favorites. In the food genre, I’d recommend Eat like a Fish by Bren Smith, and Blood, Bones & Butter (1) by Gabrielle Hamilton.
Magazine: The New Yorker. RIP Lucky Peach.
Podcast: On Being is my go-to. If you haven’t listened to Dolly Parton’s America, this is the mini-series you need right now.
Blog: Does New York Times Cooking count?
Instagram: There’s endless inspiration in food, beverage and design. I love to peek at small restaurants in Europe and beyond to glimpse their food and the vibe. But there’s no substitute for travel!
Brand: Dansk, Gardenheir, Sézane (2)
Fashion designer: Vintage is always my go-to. There’s something special about a piece of clothing or furniture with a story.
Interior designer: I love following our local designers Tami Ramsey (Cloth + Kind) and Monica Stewart (Misfit House). (3)
Chef: Yotam Ottolenghi (4)
Historical figure: Agnès Varda. I don’t know if I fell in love with food or film first as my preferred artistic medium. Ciné is woven into my Athens experience.
Quote:
“I simply do not distinguish between work and play.”
– Mary Oliver
Describe Athens in five words or less: The people make this town.
Restaurants and bars: If I’m not eating at The National or sipping at The Old Pal, I especially love Puma Yu’s, Tlaloc, Bar Bruno and Hidden Gem. Take a day trip to Comer for Comer Coffee and The Comerian (don’t miss Three Porch Farm Stand and Neat Pieces).
Shops: Community can’t be beat. Rec Room books and Tonique Bottle Shop are two recent top tier additions.
Athens/campus landmark: The trails at the Botanical Gardens and the Founder’s Garden.
Memory while in school: Learning how to grow Shiitake mushrooms at the UGArden. The student-run organic farm was just getting started when I was in school. Now it’s grown exponentially, and they even share space with Shell to Shore as a curing station for recycled oyster shells.
Professor/class: Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru taught me Graphics at Grady and then I took her course at Oxford Study Abroad. She also loves a Basque Cake!
Gameday ritual/plan: Watch the game at Seabear with a Negroni Slushie and raw oysters!
Tailgate Recipe: Crispy Okra with cumin-lime mayo
