It’s Negroni Week! The annual celebration of the Italian aperitif is week long and benefits local and international charities. This year more than 12,000 venues around the world are serving up the bitter, herbal cocktail in its traditional form and various riffs. The 100-year-old recipe is traditionally a mixture of one part gin, one part Campari, and one part vermouth. We found places around Atlanta stirring up their take on a Negroni and a snack from their menu to complement the moment.
Buckhead’s Seven Lamps mixes up both a classic and a fancy riff. The Black Truffle Shuffle stirs together Hendricks gin, Campari, Italian Barolo Chinato, and shaved black truffle. $2 from each one ordered benefits No Kid Hungry. Try chef Drew Van Leuvan’s wood grilled Spanish octopus with braised chickpeas, cardamom, garlic, and pepper cress.
Seven Lamps. 3400 Around Lenox Rd. Atlanta. 404-467-8950, sevenlampsatl.com.
Seven Lamp’s Black Truffle Shuffle
Photo Courtesy of Jared Allman
Lloyd’s in Inman Park whips up the classic recipe using gin from Old Fourth Distillery located less than a mile away. For each one ordered, they donate to Giving Kitchen. Wednesday is fried chicken night at Lloyd’s. Served family style, each plate comes with two sides and a fluffy biscuit.
Lloyd’s. 900 DeKalb Ave. Atlanta. 404-228-7227, lloydsatl.com.
Located along the Eastside belt line, Nina and Rafi dishes out crave-able Detroit style pizzas and has one of the best amaro selections in town. Their Negroni RX is made with sour cherry gin, Campari, vermouth, Varnelli dell ‘erborista amaro, and orange flower water. A perfect companion for this one is an order of two jumbo meatballs with hearty marinara sauce. A donation to Giving Kitchen is your bonus for each sip.
Nina and Rafi. 661 Auburn Ave. NE. Atlanta. 404-549-8997, ninaandrafi.com.
At Ponce City Market’s Brezza Cucina, charitable donations for each cocktail extend through July 31. Order a Parts Unknown with gin, Campari, vermouth and strawberry, and a donation is shared with HIV/AIDS outreach organization Someone Cares Inc. You can’t go wrong with an order of baked oysters from Brezza’s wood fired ovens. They simmer in balsamic butter, lemon, and crunchy breadcrumbs.
Brezza cucina. 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE. Atlanta. 404-724-9700, brezzacucina.com.
Decatur’s Leon’s Full Service has many iterations of the classic cocktail planned this week with a portion of proceeds benefiting Giving Kitchen. One summery version uses Leopold’s Summer gin, Suze, Saler, Lustau blanco vermouth, and hopped grapefruit bitters. Every stop at Leon’s should include a bucket of pomme frites with dipping sauces. You can dip the hand cut fries in garlic aioli, massaman curry sauce, goat cheese fondue, chipotle mayonnaise, smoked tomato mayonnaise, and peppercorn gravy, among others.
Leon’s Full Service. 131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur. 404-687-0500, leonsfullservice.com.
Buckhead pasta emporium Storico Fresco keeps things Italian with equal parts gin, gran classic, and sweet vermouth. Sitting inside or on the patio feels like an instant vacation to an Italian ristorante. You can’t miss enjoying an order of squash blossoms stuffed with fresh ricotta and mozzarella and fried crisp. (We also suggest taking home freshly made pasta to take home to cook).
Storico Fresco Alimentari e Ristorante. 3167 Peachtree Rd. NE. Atlanta. 404-500-2181, storicofresco.com.
The Iberian Pig is offering an entire menu of Negronis for Negroni Week with six selections. We think Pragmatic Enrichment sounds most intriguing, with High West American Prairie bourbon, Campari, and Amaro CioCiaro. Cruise over to The Iberian Pig between 5-7 PM for Jamon Happy Hour and pair it with selections of Iberico ham and cheeses that arrive on rustic wooden boards. Both the Decatur and new Buckhead locations offer the weekday special pricing.
The Iberian Pig. 121 Sycamore St. Decatur. 404-371-8800. theiberianpigatl.com.
