Shake Shack's Mark Rosati Talks Atlanta Expansion

Last week, Shake Shack opened its first location in Atlanta, Ga. at 3035 Peachtree Road NE in Buckhead. Of course, the opening comes complete with its own Buckhead specific concretes, and a dedicated Peachtree shake.

Recently, Access Atlanta spoke with Shake Shack's Culinary Director Mark Rosati about adding Shake Shack to Atlanta's culinary scene.

"Atlanta is the type of city that a chef can have a vision, and they can actually try to execute it," Rosati told Access Atlanta. "Because there are styles and ideas in cooking, an aspiring chef can open a restaurant and take a risk. It's harder to be unique in other cities. You need to have a vision that is a proven factor because there is a lot of money on the line. I find Atlanta really encouraging for chefs that are looking for an audience that is going to be receptive to new culinary ideas."

As for Buckhead's specialty menu items, inspiration came easily.

"The two main foods I associate with Atlanta are peaches and pecans," said Rosati. "So we blended together H & F Bakery's pecan pie and custard for the "Pecan Pie O' My" custard. And I also wanted to pay homage to The Varsity's peach pie, and there is something so comforting about a milkshake and burger. The "Peachtree" milkshake blends our caramel sauce with peaches. It's the only shake exclusive to Atlanta. We also sweetened Shake Shack's exclusive tea, because sweet tea is such a part of the South's lifestyle."

Read the full interview on Access Atlanta.

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Karen Lo is an associate editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @appleplexy.