QUICK BITES: Celebrate Negroni, Poke Buri awarded PNC Best, Street Taco opens this summer, and more

Food news roundup

The Optimist Negroni Cocktail Preview
Photo credit: Courtesy of Optimist's negroni
HOLY NEGRONI: From June 4-10 restaurants and bars around town will donate a portion of sales from their negronis.

It’s Negroni Week! From June 4-10 restaurants and bars around town will donate a portion of sales from their negronis (official participating spots here) to the charity of their choosing. There are all sorts of versions of the classic three ingredient cocktail awaiting. Sip an 80 day aged mescal version at The Optimist, a frozen sno-groni at Brezza Cucina, a Count Lei-groni at Wrecking Bar, a white negroni at Achie’s, a draft negroni at Donetto, a barrel-aged negroni at Char Korean, or a roasted blueberry version at Empire State South to support Giving Kitchen. 

Beloved Decatur restaurant Cakes & Ale is closing. Last night of service is June 9. We are very sad. 

This past weekend our city hosted Atlanta Food & Wine Festival with a team of chefs, sommeliers, bartenders, artisans, and entrepreneurs. Guests voted on the best bite at the tasting tents and the winner of PNC Best of the Festival went to East Atlanta’s Poke Burri. Congrats Seven Chen and Ken Yu! 


The Giving Kitchen, which provides emergency grants for restaurant workers facing unexpected crisis, is celebrating 5 years. In this time, they have given 1116 grants to industry folks in need. They celebrated last week by opening their new digs at 513 Edgewood Ave., just 85 steps from Staplehouse. High five, Giving Kitchen! 


Get excited about Mexican street fare in Westside. Street Taco is expected to open this summer at 1523 Howell Mill Rd. with a covered patio, quick in-and-out service, and prices that “will reflect a meal at less than $10.” Breakfast and brunch are planned for the future. 


There’s a new BBQ joint in Alpharetta. Shaun Doty and Lance Gummere, the team behind Bantam + Biddy and ATL Taco, along with pitmaster partner Carey Wise opened the doors of King Barbecue in Avalon this Tuesday. Serving Southern BBQ and seasonal sides, it is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 


Decatur’s Iberian Pig has a new Executive Chef with quite a pedigree. Jaw Swift (4th and Swift, Noble Fin) has joined the Spanish tapas restaurant. He said in a release, “I couldn’t be more thrilled about joining such a talented and value-driven group and I love being in Decatur. We will continue to adjust the menu seasonally and as wonderful ingredients become available in the next few weeks.”

Dealio in Midtown. Babalu Tapas & Tacos (33 Peachtree Place NE) kicks off the week with Margarita Mondays now. Sip on Lunazul tequila margaritas for just $5 every Monday.


James Beard Award Semifinalist chef Todd Richards (Richards’ Southern Fried) is cooking from and talking about his new cookbook “Soul” tonight June 7 at the Midtown location of Cook’s Warehouse (1544 Piedmont Ave.). There will be conversation on the Southern American cuisine known as soul food, Q&A, a copy of the book, and tasting of a few recipes in the beautiful book. 


Here’s an opportunity to trace the journey of Italian food through eating. Chef Jason Stern will take diners through a 4-course prix fixe meal of classic and modern interpretations in his June 14 Old World vs. New World dinner at Colletta (933 Third St.)


Bombass biscuits from Erika Council (Southern Souffle) are back this Saturday at B’s Cracklin Barbecue in Riverside (2061 Main St. NW). New this week: pimento cheese biscuits. Doors open at 9 a.m. 


Urban Tree Cidery is having a party to celebrate their new release of a rosé cider. Mark your calendar for Sun., July 8th for the Rosé All Day party. In the tasting room (1465 Howell Mill Rd.) guests will enjoy clever cocktails made with the cider and bites from Southern peach Pastries and Proposito Taco Truck






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