Back to school has commenced and vacations are but a memory, but we are still in the thick of the Dog Days of Summer. The phrase has nothing to do with our four-legged friends, but rather a dog in the sky. Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major, “greater dog.” During the summer, the dog star rises with our sun. Because the star is the brightest in the sky, early Romans believed it reinforced the sun’s heat. The star has nothing to do with the hottest days of the year, but everything to do with the coined phrase.
We are in the thick of those sultry days, daydreaming of trips to the seaside and perhaps reminiscing days spent listening to waves crashing on shore. Those coastal shacks serving fresh from the water seafood and boat drinks are out of sight but not out of mind. Local spots are here to help evoke an escape within the city.
Lobster Week
From now through August 11 (precisely the end of the Dog Days), Midtown’s Lure celebrates the tasty crustacean. Chef Eric Roberts conjured a menu absolutely chock full of ways to prepare lobster. He’s added lobster to the guacamole and chips. He takes a TGM toasted and buttered roll and stuffed it with tender morsels for a Maine lobster roll. He serves the pretty presentation of a thermidor with a half lobster. He lightly batters and fries a tail. For a pleasing date night, he serves lobster for two with a whole white wine poached Maine lobster mingling with steamer clams, mussels, roasted potatoes and buttery corn. Snap up those reservations here.
Lure. 1106 Crescent Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-817-3650. lure-atlanta.com.
Shark Week
Coinciding with the famed week on Discovery Channel, Chamblee’s Southbound created an over-the-top menu of libations in homage to the sea’s most feared creatures. Beverage Director Jeff Banks kicked off the celebratory week with a pig roast and introduction to his cocktail creations. They not only have hilarious pop-culture monikers, but they are balanced cocktails based on classics. Blood in the Water shakes together Rye, lemon, house made orgeat, black pepper, cherry wine, and egg white. A Whale’s Tale stirs together Cognac, Meletti amaro, Melettie 1870 and lime juice. His Sharknado #2 is a tropical mix of rum, passionfruit, orange, cherry, and lime.
Pro tip: order the Chamblee Hot Chicken with pickles, cilantro and Szechuan heat on top of Texas Toast.
Southbound. 5394 Peachtree Rd. Chamblee. 678-580-5579. southboundatl.com.
Raise a Glass to Oceans with IPA
National IPA Day is celebrated August 1. What better way to lift a hoppy glass than with a beer that helps clean and preserve our waters? At Sweetwater this summer, a percentage of profits from Kick Plastic Pilsner, 420 Strain G13 IPA, 420 Extra Pale Ale and others will be donated to clean water partners and their conservation programs. A seamless match for wistful summertime beach vibes is Sweetwater’s Tripletail. Made with Brovo, Denali, and Mosaic hops, Tripletail is a tropical approach to an IPA has citrus flavors and exotic notes of papaya, pineapple and passion fruit. Learn more about conservation efforts here.
Pro tip: When visiting the Taproom, order Springer Mountain Farms smoked wings with 420 EPA buffalo sauce or beer brat corn pups with house pepper mustard.
Sweetwater Brewery and Taproom. 195 Ottley Dr. Atlanta. 404-691-2537. Sweetwaterbrew.com.
