April 2026
Food:
Apparently it’s maple tapping season in the Northeast, so we had to check it out for ourselves! We headed up to New Hampshire to visit Parker’s Maple Barn, where we stocked up on fresh maple syrup and enjoyed a delicious, maple-themed brunch—complete with maple coffee, maple walnut pancakes, and maple chicken sausage. It was the perfect way to spend a spring day near Boston.
During the eight days of Passover, many Jewish people abstain from eating chametz (anything leavened), so the night before the holiday, we made sure to have pasta. We prepared a delicious meat sauce and topped it with burrata for a simple but satisfying pre-Passover meal.
At the start of April, we celebrated Passover by hosting a Seder for my husband’s family. We prepared some of our favorite traditional dishes—matzah ball soup, brisket, and almond cookies—which made the evening feel especially festive. Passover is easily my favorite holiday when it comes to food, so I always look forward to hosting.
Passover also means matzah brei, a classic Ashkenazi Jewish dish traditionally eaten during the holiday. It’s made by soaking matzah in water, mixing it with eggs, and frying it up—somewhere between scrambled eggs and French toast. It can be served sweet (with jam or maple syrup) or savory. I love matzah brei, so it’s something I look forward to every year.
We tried Cafe Sushi in Cambridge and had one of the most incredible meals. I love a spot that feels casual and unassuming, only to completely blow you away with the food. Every bite was better than the last, but we were especially impressed by the nigiri—creative flavor combinations that never took away from the incredibly fresh fish.
We also had the sweetest server, who helped us choose an excellent sake and even brought over a yuzu sake for us to try at the end of the meal. It’s truly a hidden gem, and we’re already planning our next visit.
In April, I got to see some of my immediate teammates—who are usually spread all over—which made our dinner at Kava in the South End feel extra special. The food is undeniably delicious and thoughtfully done, and the staff couldn’t be nicer. That said, I’m not a fan of the reservation process (having to wait until exactly 24 hours in advance feels unnecessarily stressful), and the tables are quite small for a menu designed around sharing. Still, the quality of the food and the overall experience make it stand out.
We went to a friend’s house for brunch and a puppy playdate, and she made the most delicious chilaquiles.
As you probably already know—and are probably tired of hearing—we’re huge fans of Puritan & Company in Cambridge, MA. We go pretty often because we love the food and it’s always consistently delicious, and this visit was no exception. I especially loved the duck on the menu, served with mushrooms and Brussels sprouts.
I finally got to take my husband to Sichuan Gourmet in Burlington, MA, and it did not disappoint. It’s such a great Chinese option in our area, and everything we tried was delicious. We started with the roast beef scallion pancakes and wontons in chili oil, then had the beef lo mein, tangerine chicken, and stir-fried pea shoots for our mains. Truly a 10/10.
We had our third installment of Cookbook Club, and this time we cooked from Hailee Catalano’s By Heart. I’m a huge Hailee fan and love her cooking style, so this meetup was especially fun for me. Highlights included the party meatballs and the olive oil pineapple upside-down cake.
To wrap up April and welcome May, my parents came to visit for a long weekend, and I got to take them to my favorite Cambodian spot in Lowell, Simply Khmer. Everything was incredibly delicious and full of flavor.
I also took my parents to try Judy’s Bay in Cambridge, MA—another one of my favorite spots—and they loved it. They especially appreciated the New England take on izakaya-style food. Everything was incredibly fresh and full of flavor. The Maine uni handroll was out of this world, and I always love their lobster pasta.
Other:
I’ve found a new favorite nail polish top coat: Seche Vite. It gives a beautiful, glossy finish and applies in a thicker layer, making my manicure look really polished and professional.
I couldn’t get enough of The Idiot podcast from The New York Times—it’s incredibly compelling and thought-provoking. I love a narrative podcast that keeps you coming back for more, and M. Gessen’s storytelling really delivers, especially with the added depth of telling their own family’s story. It brings an extra layer of insight and intimacy that makes it all the more engaging. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something new to listen to, especially for a road trip.
We absolutely loved the newest season of Shrinking! It strikes such a great balance—funny, emotional, and genuinely entertaining. You end up caring about every character, and while there’s always something happening, it never tips into feeling overdramatic. The writing is sharp and witty, and overall it’s easily one of the best shows we’ve watched in a while.
Love Island: Beyond the Villa is back on Peacock, following last year’s Love Island USA cast—and I could not be more thrilled. I love the Love Island franchise; it’s easily my favorite reality TV.
Lenny:
