ATL Summer Food Trends

**The following article is written by Nichole Wolf, a guest blogger for Atlanta Eats**

Summer is officially upon us & it’s already a scorcher in ATL! One of the best ways to stay cool in the June heat is to head inside. Our list of summer foodie trends will have you running inside to a restaurant and cooped up indoors in the best way possible.

Ice Cream Treats

Obviously you can’t get through a Southern summer without ice cream. But a simple scoop isn’t your only option – one of our favorite summer food trends is unique ice cream sandwiches!

*Ice Cream Sandwiches from Miller Union. Photo credit: Nichole Wolf*

One of Atlanta’s best-kept secrets is the handmade ice cream sandwiches (only available at lunch) at Miller Union. With a rotating menu of flavors, like house-made strawberry and vanilla bean, you’ll find something new on every visit. The sandwiches are simple but so tasty!

Run, don’t walk – Miller Union’s head chef Steven Satterfield recently won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast. It’s about to get crowded with foodie admirers!

Another ice cream sandwich of note – Venkman’s fruity pebbles take with cereal milk gelato from Honeysuckle Gelato. Pro tip – they also feature trivia every Wednesday!

Everything Avocado

Avocados are nothing new, but Atlanta restaurants are introducing fresh takes on one of our favorite superfoods this summer.

*Avocado Toast from Petit Chou. Photo credit: Nichole Wolf*

New Cabbagetown spot Petit Chou (meaning “little darling” in French) serves up a truly tasty avocado toast. It’s made on sprouted grain whole wheat toast, topped with house boursin cheese, avocado, local greens and a poached egg. It’s light but filling, perfect for a toasty summer brunch (no pun intended!)

Shakshuka from Tupelo Honey — Shukshuka from Tupelo Honey. Photo credit: Nichole Wolf

Tupelo Honey also features a Southern twist on a Middle-Eastern-inspired Shakshuka on their new lunch & brunch menu. The dish, with a base of baked eggs and goat cheese grits, is topped with cool avocado and creole sauce for a savory and spicy combination.

Pretty in Peach

There’s nothing better than fresh Georgia peaches in the heat of summer – and Atlanta chefs are getting creative with the versatility of this juicy fruit.

Peaches from Gunshot — *Peaches from Gunshow. Photo credit: Nichole Wolf*

Gunshow’s summer menu showcases peaches at their absolute best within multiple dishes. A standout is their local onion and cheese tart, topped with pistachio, creme fraiche and Georgia peaches. Another interesting twist on our state fruit…a crispy beef short rib with Carolina gold congee, nuoc cham caramel and sauteed peaches.

If you’re looking for something a bit more traditional and hearty, Gunshow also features a beautiful roasted pork loin with smoked peach butter.

Summer Veggies

You heard it here first…summer veggies as entrees are going to dominate the Atlanta restaurant scene. Heavy meat dishes might bring you down in this heat, so turn to some beautiful, light summer vegetable dishes to cool you off.

One of the best places in Atlanta to enjoy fresh local produce is Food 101 in Sandy Springs. They saw a need for lighter summer fare, and developed an entire “From the Garden” section of their menu packed with healthy veggie options.

*Asparagus from Food 101. Photo credit: Nichole Wolf*

Don’t miss the grilled asparagus, with lemon ricotta, a radish & asparagus salad, green garlic vinaigrette and a toasted cornbread crumble. Who said healthy can’t be pretty AND delicious!

Need more Atlanta summer foodie inspo? Follow us on Instagram or Facebook and follow me at @atladventurer on Instagram.