Columbus foodie guide for July: Summer bites and sips and a dinner tribute to Wu-Tang Clan
As if recent high temperatures didn't already do the job, summer menus also have announced the season's arrival.
"Current" hangs above the intersection of Gay and High streets in downtown Columbus, where a Bastille Day celebration organized by Chouette will be held. The French restaurant is at the intersection's northeast corner.
In July's Columbus foodie guide, a monthly rundown of special events, new dishes and other food and drink news of note, let's start off with a look at some of the summer additions to local menus.
What's new for summer?
Summer ravioli at Sycamore: The all-day German Village restaurant, 262 E. Sycamore St., has added a summer ravioli that's filled with farmer’s cheese and tossed with grilled sweet corn, cherry tomatoes and micro basil. Other seasonal items include grilled octopus with mint salsa verde and a green olive and pomegranate relish.
Summer produce at Comune: Tomatoes, sweet peppers, peaches, watermelon and other summer produce all make an appearance — or two — on the summer menu at Comune, the vegan restaurant at 677 Parsons Ave. on the South Side. Highlights include a summer-squash lasagna and eggplant schnitzel.
Summer berries at Gene's: The menu at Gene's, 91 S. High St. in Dublin, changes with the seasons. Among summer's additions: strawberry shortcake with whipped mascarpone, rhubarb sorbet and rhubarb chips.
Summer coffees at Royal Flamingo: Royal Flamingo Coffee House is doing more than throwing some ice in its brews as the weather heats up. Summer drinks include a garden party latte (its flavor is described as a creamy cucumber-mint-basil mojito, naturally) that starts with nitro espresso and a salted watermelon espresso tonic that's made with espresso, watermelon simple syrup and Fever-Tree tonic water. They're available at 945 King Ave. in Fifth by Northwest.
Summer heat at Figlio: While many go light and refreshing for summer, Figlio, 1369 Grandview Ave. in Fifth by Northwest, is playing up the heat. Its summer harvest pizza is topped with a spicy red sauce, chorizo, jalapenos and shaved corn. The spicy tomato blackened chicken is a pasta dish: penne with a spicy tomato sauce, artichokes, spinach, kalamata olives and feta. There's strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Skip the meat, save some money
If you're a Meatless Mondays eater or a meatless eater every day, here's a deal: Yellow Springs Brewery Taproom & Kitchen in Clintonville offers half off all its vegetarian and vegan sandwiches every Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. for dine-in customers. There are four plant-based options on the menu: a black-bean burger, a sweet-and-spicy seitan sandwich, a seitan melt and a no-tuna salad sandwich. Locally, Yellow Springs is at 2855 Indianola Ave.
Bastille Day celebrations set
The Refectory, 1092 Bethel Road on the Northwest Side, will host a four-course dinner (chef Richard Blondin's menu has yet to be shared) and a string quartet playing music of French composers on July 14 at 5:30 p.m. It's $150 per person; a few reservations are still available on the restaurant website.
Chouette, 66 N. High St. in Downtown, will host a holiday celebration from noon to 4 p.m. on July 13 at Gay and High streets. Admission is free, but there will be food, wine and cocktails sold. Retail vendors will be set up as well. Register through a link at the restaurant's website.
Veritas' next stop is Mexico
As he prepares for a 2026 opening of Rosalita's, his next restaurant venture, chef Josh Dalton will offer a preview of its contemporary Mexican menu starting July 8 at Veritas, 11 W. Gay St. Dalton, who takes Veritas diners to new culinary destinations every couple months, will run his Mexican Supper Club through Aug. 31.
Dinner tribute to Wu-Tang Clan
Seven chefs will present their take on Chinese takeout at a July 10 dinner designed as a nod to Wu-Tang Clan, which is scheduled to perform the night before at Nationwide Arena as part of the hip-hop group's final tour.
The dinner will take place at The Mercury Diner, 621 Parsons Ave. Ticket proceeds — organizers are suggesting $10 or pay what you can — will go to the Royal Oak Initiative, a group that builds community and mentors young people through the game of chess.
Participating chefs include Hayden Palmer of The Mercury Diner, Justin Wotring of Caroline's, Carnell Willoughby of Willowbeez SoulVeg and Chef Maki of Hidden Leaf Cafe.
Food truck festival at Tanger Outlets
Tanger Outlets will host a three-day Foodees Food and Culture Festival over the Fourth of July weekend at the shopping center north of Columbus at 400 Wilson Road S. in Sunbury.
The event, scheduled for 1 to 9 p.m. on July 4, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 5 and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 6, will feature 40 food trucks and vendors selling handcrafted goods, artwork and more.
Restaurant recommendations: Check out Columbus Monthly's listings for dining options
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus foodie guide for July: Summer bites and sips and a dinner tribute to Wu-Tang Clan
