Washington, DC New Menu Report: 06/03/15

If it swims in water and has fins, scales, gills, or a carapace, chances are it's on the new spring and summer menus popping up all over Washington, D.C. Seafood may be a healthier option for some, but that doesn't mean locals aren't prone to carnivore and carb cravings. Why else would we be so taken with burgers and doughnuts? This week you can gobble down all of the above plus some cooling cocktails and refreshing, discounted wines.

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
This Friday, June 5, is National Doughnut Day, a day created to honor the women of the Salvation Army who proudly served doughnuts and coffee to our soldiers fighting in the trenches in France during World War I. To mark the occasion, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken has created a colorful doughnut that salutes the red, white, and blue. Each doughnut comes with a strawberry glaze, blueberry drizzle, and a lemon buttercream topping, and 100% of the sales will benefit the Fisher House Foundation, which builds homes on the grounds of military and VA medical centers across the US and in Europe. These homes make it possible for family member to be by the side of their military loved ones while they are being treated for combat injuries and illness. The doughnuts sell for $3 each, just on Friday, and can be purchased from the food truck or in the store.

Burger, Tap & Shake
Burger, Tap & Shake's got it goin' on with their latest monthly hamburger for June: The Little River Turnpike. For just $9, you get their house-ground, "custom blend of 30-day aged, naturally raised Local Harvest beef chuck and brisket, char griddled and topped with American cheese, grilled pork belly, kimchi, and Gochujang BBQ Sauce." Just don't forget to order a high octane "shaketail."

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab is going wild this month. For starters, they are shipping third generation fisherman Bill Webber's primo, just-caught, wild sockeye salmon overnight from Copper River in Alaska. You can order it cooked with lime butter or as a burger served with cucumber salad and dill sauce. If that's not your fancy, try the tender buttermilk fried soft shell crab, it's fresh, and so are the blueberries in this month's #PieItForward pie. Inside the light flaky crust are naturally sweet blueberries topped with lemon streusel, and throughout June, $1 from the sale of every slice of blueberry pie goes to support The Women's Center. This local non-profit is dedicated to improving the lives of women, men, couples, and families, regardless of their ability to pay for their services.

Lupo Verde
This summer you can drink like an Italian at Lupo Verde when you order one of their delicioso cocktails with an Italian twist. Two lip smackers with zing include the Amore with pisco, hibiscus liqueur, lime juice, and frothed egg white and the boozy Fragolino, which is made with tequila, mezcal, mandarin liqueur, strawberry puree, and bitters. Limoncello fans will get a kick from Peppino, which is made with gin, Limoncello, lemon juice, Peychaud's Bitters, and prosecco, and there's the crispy fruity Bella Mora, too. It's made with vodka, sloe gin, fennel liqueur, fresh blackberry puree, lemon juice, and a spritz of tonic water. Che bella!

Nage Bistro
Finding great bargains on wines by the bottle isn't easy in pricey D.C. restaurants, but Nage Bistro has your back for the entire summer. They are offering some of the bigger tickets wines in their cellar for steeply discounted prices during brunch, lunch, and dinner until Labor Day. These hard to find wines are priced from $40 to $99 per bottle at Nage, $63 to $193 at other restaurants, and retail for $46 to $129 at wine shops. Some of the beauties offered include Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet/Shiraz Southern Australia 2012, Far Niente Cabernet Oakville California, 2009, Domaine Berthet-Reyne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Côtes du Rhône France, and Sequoia Grove Cambium Blend Napa Valley California 2009.

Summer Whitford is the D.C. City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal and the DC Wine Examiner. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva.