Fourth of July at The Dutch; Aquavit Herring Festival

SOHO — On the Fourth of July, The Dutch is going to be serving a special cookout meal that you can eat at the restaurant or take home. The menu includes Texas-style brisket, barbecued pulled pork, ribs, corn on the cob, watermelon, and cornbread, all for $28. To drink, the bar will be serving $10 Mellow Corn Juleps. No reservations necessary. [EaterWire]

MIDTOWN — The Aquavit Herring Festival continues tomorrow. The restaurant will be offering a smörgåsbord in the PDR all day. The meal is $32 at lunch and $42 at dinner. [EaterWire]

EATER INTERVIEWS — In part two of his interview with Eater National, Jay Rayner shares his thoughts on Frej: "The restaurant was very good. It was very good indeed. One doesn't want to overweight it by referencing the best restaurant in the world, but that Noma-esque agenda — actually, it has nothing to do with the agenda. It was the quality of the food, the use of bitter, vinegar notes, umami. It was very good food at a very nice price point — young guys cooking up a storm." [Eater National]