Somerville Mayor Vows to Never Drink Sam Adams Following Founder’s Trump Praise

Welcome back to AM Intel, a round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.

“I Will Never Drink Sam Adams Beer Again!”

Boston Beer Co. founder Jim Koch was among a group of executives at a recent dinner with President Trump, where Koch praised recent federal tax code changes, saying that they’d allow Boston Beer Co. a level playing field against foreign brewing companies — and thus the ability to “kick their ass.” Somerville mayor Joe Curtatone was having none of that and took to Twitter to write, over a series of tweets, “I will never drink Sam Adam’s [sic] beer again! We need to hold these complicit profiteers of Trump’s white nationalist agenda accountable! Hey Jim Koch! While you were thanking Trump for your tax break, did you happen to express any concern for the families separated under his cruel and inhumane immigration enforcement policy?” Curtatone, a Democrat, has been mayor of Somerville since 2004. Since Trump took office, Curtatone has been outspoken about protecting Somerville’s status as a sanctuary city.

Head to a Wine Bar for Lunch

(Well, not today, but later in the week.) New Haley.Henry sibling spot Nathálie (186 Brookline Ave., Fenway) is starting up lunch hours later this week, opening at 11:30 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. It’s the same menu all day long, including snacks like corn nuts and cheese plates, not to mention montaditos — little Spanish-style open-face sandwiches in three varieties (anchovy, butter, and parsley; whipped lardo, poblano, and candied peanut; grilled eggplant, spicy mayo, crispy garlic). Hungrier? Don’t miss the Chatham cod with agretti and stewed Sungold tomato. And wine, of course.

Schlow Continues to Open Restaurants Outside of Boston

On the heels of closing Doretta Taverna in Back Bay, restaurateur Michael Schlow is continuing his restaurant expansion beyond Boston. While he has appeared to be most interested in opening restaurants in DC in recent years, his newest project is in Birmingham, Michigan, about 20 miles north of Detroit. Adachi opens this weekend inside a historic mansion, serving sushi, poke, and a variety of rice- and noodle-based dishes. Locally, Schlow is still behind Tico in Boston’s Back Bay and Alta Strada in Wellesley (and a little further away at Foxwoods in Connecticut). Plus, both Tico and Alta Strada are expanding to Boston’s Logan Airport in 2019.

The Shutter

The Kenmore Square location of Bruegger’s Bagels is no more (644 Beacon St., Boston). The 35-year-old bakery chain — a familiar sight around the Boston area — was founded in Troy, New York, and is headquartered in Burlington, Vermont. There are still a handful of Boston-area locations, including a couple right in downtown Boston, one in Longwood Medical Area, and others in Somerville, Brookline, Belmont, and beyond.

Charlie Trotter Days

In honor of late chef Charlie Trotter (of the two-Michelin-starred Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and more), who died in 2013, restaurants around the country are participating in a fundraising event called Charlie Trotter Days from August 15 through August 19. A portion of the proceeds from certain menu items will benefit The Trotter Project, a non-profit organization that works to provide underserviced communities with culinary scholarships for students. Local restaurants participating include Coppa, Toro, Little Donkey, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34, and Tico.

Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email boston@eater.com.