Lobsterfest 101. Be nice. No clawing. Ray’s Restaurants has a direct line to succulent whole Maine lobsters for Lobsterfest, which is now available at all three locations -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek. Appease crustacean cravings with a 1.25 pound whole Maine lobster, choice of artisan field greens or Caesar salad and a side choice of Yukon Gold whipped potatoes or chef’s vegetable du jour for $29.95 (excludes tax, gratuity, drinks). The “Summertime at Ray’s” two-course dinner menu is available for those who prefer surf & turf ($29.95) or wild salmon ($24.95) to making the Maine thing their main thing.
Seems every week someone in our office mentions being nuts about “that coconut drink.” And everyone knows exactly what coconut elixir they’re referring to: the Re Del Cocco cocktail ($9) at Bellina Alimentari. Turns out the elixir is a little more complicated and contains ingredients more challenging to pronounce than straight up coconut: Encanto pisco, Don Ciccio & Figli Luna Amara, coconut crème, ginger, lime and mint. Maybe we’ll just stick with “that coconut drink.” And we’re definitely sticking with it.
Right before the back-to-school bell rings for most Atlantans,The Big Ketch Canton Street rolls out a backyard bash on the front yard grass on Sunday, July 31. The sociable Roswell seaside restaurant floats a family fun-filled Summer Lawn Party loaded with lawn games, live music and $4 mini lobster rolls to enthrall all ages. We don’t know if $1 grilled oysters offer pearls of wisdom, but they sure are tasty. Adults can gather liquid courage from $5 margaritas and mojitos -- to take on youngsters and drivers sipping lemonade, tea, soda and other alcohol-free (but no less spirited) beverages at the cash bar.
One year ago, Sandy Springs welcomed an old friend back to the fiesta when Ray’s Rio Bravo opened its doors. Tex-Mex fans, elated to see their friend return, wasted no time getting reacquainted over queso, margaritas and fresh-made tortillas from “El Machino” enfolding tacos and burritos. August marks anniversary “numero uno,” and Ray’s Rio Bravo founder Ray Schoenbaum and staff are excited about carrying the celebration throughout the month. During August, guests can dip into $1 cups of chili con queso or queso blanco.
Order a bottle or canned beer, and it will arrive in a commemorative koozie (supplies limited, one per customer per visit). On Wednesday, August 3, all guests will receive a complimentary mini birthday dessert to celebrate Ray’s Rio Bravo’s anniversary.
Croon, swoon or simply sit back and sip a small batch bourbon, fashionable cocktail or cold craft beer while listening to live music Friday and Saturday nights at The Southern Gentleman. Come in and enjoy a bite to eat before the music begins at 9 p.m. in the bar area of this Buckhead gastropub. The inaugural month lineup of music includes Americana, “Roots & Soul,” a modern day troubadour and more:
There’s no need to wait until dinner to dine at 5Church. The swanky new Midtown restaurant now serves lunch from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. While exciting Atlanta palates with a progressive American dinner menu, chef RJ Cooper and 5Church partner/chef Jamie Lynch have been keeping their fingers on the city’s midday meal pulse. Their fresh takes on appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées will appeal to appetites large and small, adventurous and tame. Our crew is already hankering for the 5Church lamb burger sporting red onion marmalade, Gorgonzola fondue and arugula served on a house-made sesame bun along with hand-cut fries; Peach & Lord’s country ham flatbread with peach-heirloom tomato coulis, arugula and ricotta salata; oyster po’ boy with hand-cut fries; and Peruvian roasted chicken salad sandwich with hand-cut fries. For Midtown professionals and residents, High Museum and Woodruff Arts Center visitors, come noon, the coolest spot to lunch is 5Church. And baby, you can drive your car because 5Church validates parking for guests using the Colony Square deck.
Truthfully, you don’t stand a chance of standing up on that BOTE SUP if you fail to buy a raffle ticket at Ormsby’s before the July 30 drawing. Furthermore, all raffle proceeds go to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, which needs your support to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River Basin. How to? Through July 30, buy $5 raffle tickets for chances to win a high-quality BOTE standup paddle board. Additionally, Ormsby’s is donating $1 from every SweetWater brew sold, June through July, to the environmentally conscious organization. Cold brews, hip board, friendly bar. Summer doesn’t get much sweeter.
Did someone say tomatoes? Chef Joey Ward and the Gunshowcrew nailed first place for their tomato “sandwich” at the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival on July 17. The next best thing to tomatoes on sliced bread (or dining at Gunshow) is to marinate in kitchen wisdom and wizardry from Ward at the Ponce City Farmers Market chef demo on Tuesday, July 26. Chef demos are held in The Shed covered space at the 4-8 p.m. weekly market.
Is there a lean-on-me pantry staple that segues from picnic to potluck to tailgate more successfully than pasta? Hallelujah for Pastas to be Praised, a year-round mealtime savior. Show off summer’s fresh veggies in pasta with corn, zucchini and tomatoes or play up shrimp with tomatoes and spinach in a garlic butter sauce. Ever-flexible pasta salads please dill pickle lovers, BLT cravers and Caesar salad hailers alike. And then there’s the lasagna noodle, planking in Tricia Yearwood’s cowboy lasagna with pepperoni and green chili and chicken pasta or folding around family pleasing, easy-to-serve cheese rollups. Yep. We’re praising pasta. Can we get an amen out there in Pinterestland?
Squeal, we must! Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails is unleashing the second Whole Hog Hootenanny in its summer series of smokin’ hot barbecue blowouts. Starting at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, gather on the patio and front lawn of the historic Crabapple restaurant to partake in an all-you-can-eat extravaganza of roast pig, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, beloved barbecue sides, sweet treats and more. Jump into live game fun and move those legs to live music between plates. Cash bar wrangles thirsts. Hog tie August 28 and September 25 on your calendar for the remaining 2016 Whole Hog Hootenanny events. Available online through Eventbrite, tickets for all-you-can-eat barbecue are $35 per person (plus service fee; includes gratuity).
For the best lobster rolls, go deep. Deep into cool Maine waters for lobsters and deep down to the bottom of the dinner menu at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in Marietta. Drift’s much-raved-about lobster roll floats among the sandwiches ($25). Catch one New England-style, served cold with lemon mayo, or bite into a decadently hot buttery roll. Either way, fries and slaw anchor the plate.
James Beard award-winning chef RJ Cooper is stepping out from newly opened 5Church Atlanta at 14th and Peachtree streets to lead the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) Simple Abundance class on Monday, August 8 from 7-9 p.m. at The Cook’s Warehouse Midtown. Hailing from its original Charlotte, North Carolina location and Charleston, South Carolina, 5Church made a wise choice selecting chef Cooper to lead its new Midtown Atlanta location. Over his years working with chefs Eric Ripert, Guenter Seeger and Gilbert LeCoze and growing through his own executive chef experiences, Cooper developed his unique progressive style, grounded in French cooking fundamentals and showcasing local ingredients. Class includes demonstration, wine tastings and a chance to win door prizes. Register online; $55 per person.
