Carpetbagger Filet: A Taste of Athens and Southern Luxury

Some dishes are not just about food. They are about memory. About a place you loved and the taste you remember walking out with. For me, that place is Harry Bissets in Athens, Georgia. And this Carpetbagger Filet with Fried Oysters is my homage to my hometown... my way of bringing that flavor back, elevated and refined, for the table.

Why Harry Bissets Mattered (RIP)

Harry Bissets was the place to celebrate birthdays. It was where you sat by the window, watching Athens go by on a Bulldog game day. It was a restaurant that carried the energy of the Big Easy in every plate — oysters, jambalaya, shrimp and grits. And for me, nothing stood taller than their Carpetbagger Steak. Filet topped with fried oysters, rich sauce, and hearty sides. Luxurious but grounded. That memory stuck.

My Version

When I build my version, I hold on to what made the original so good:

• The contrast of tender steak and briny oysters

• A creamy, bold sauce to cut through the richness

• Sides that balance and complete the plate

  
  

Here is how I bring it together today:

• Filet seared and basted in butter, garlic, and thyme, rested to a perfect medium rare

• Fried oysters with buttermilk tang and a seasoned cornmeal crunch

• Potatoes done right: diced small, boiled, steamed off, riced, then folded with warm cream and emulsified with cold butter until silky

• Collards sautéed and braised in stock, finished with apple cider vinegar, a touch of sugar, and just enough curry or turmeric for warmth and depth

• Remoulade sauce with Creole mustard and hot sauce that ties it all together

Why I Love This Plate

This dish is more than surf and turf. It is a memory brought forward. The steak is rich and buttery. The oysters add crunch and brine. The potatoes are smooth and comforting. The collards balance with tang and spice. And the remoulade pulls every bite together.

It is Southern comfort at its best. A nod to Harry Bissets. A nod to Athens. A dish that still feels celebratory, the way it did when I was younger and sitting in that window seat on game day.