May 2026
Food:
When my parents were in town, we took a day trip down to the Duxbury–Plymouth area and had a lovely brunch at Winsor House by Island Creek Oysters. I’ve become really intrigued by what Island Creek has built there — from the oyster farm itself to the restaurants and broader brand experience. They’ve done an impressive job curating two very different restaurant spaces that still feel deeply connected to the same identity and sense of place. I’m excited to spend more time down there this summer.
Another day trip we took while my parents were visiting was up to the Essex–Ipswich area, which was completely new to me. Before exploring, we stopped at Little Wolf Coffee in Ipswich for a great cup of coffee and some truly unreal pastries. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.
While we were up in the Essex–Ipswich area, we had to find a spot for clams. We ended up at Essex Seafood in Essex, MA, where we ordered steamers, fried clams, and chowder. We absolutely loved the fried clams and chowder — some of the best we’ve ever had. There are still a handful of other seafood spots in the area we want to go back and try, and it feels like the kind of summer tradition we’ll happily keep adding to our list.
We’re no strangers to Mexico Lindo in Melrose, MA — it’s one of our favorite nearby spots for great Mexican food — but we had never tried their brunch menu before. We’re happy to report that the huevos rancheros were absolutely delicious.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned Crying Thaiger in Malden, MA many times before, but it continues to be our favorite spot for Thai food in the area. We’ve eaten there and ordered takeout more times than we can count, and it still reigns supreme in our minds. Everything they make is consistently so good — and it travels incredibly well, too.
My husband and I have decided to be more intentional about using our grill on a regular basis this summer. We always forget how easy it is to fire up, and we’re trying to think of it less as a special occasion tool and more as part of our everyday cooking routine. We kicked off grilling season with a chimichurri chicken and grilled vegetable spread, and we had absolutely no complaints.
We love grabbing breakfast sandwiches from Revival Cafe + Kitchen in Lexington, MA, so the second the weather turned nice, we headed over, snagged a table outside, and enjoyed the loveliest brunch. My go-to order is the Bagelicious breakfast sandwich, made with fluffy egg whites, cheddar, broccoli, and the most delicious spicy aioli.
We had been hearing about an incredible pizza spot in Wakefield, MA that’s tucked inside a gas station, so we finally decided to give it a try. Slice is absolutely not messing around. They have a serious pizza oven setup and are turning out some seriously delicious pies. We loved the classic slice, and we’ll definitely be back again and again.
For dinner on my husband’s birthday, we had the most incredible meal at Bernadette in Salem, MA. We were actually served by one of the co-owners, and she made the entire experience feel so special. She expertly guided us through the menu, offered thoughtful recommendations, and paired wines perfectly with our meal.
We originally ordered a pasta dish with Marblehead lobster, but unfortunately they had run out of lobster that evening. Instead, she went above and beyond and created a custom seafood pasta for us on the spot. We truly felt like VIPs the entire night, and we’re already counting down the days until we can go back again.
For his birthday cake, I made him the cake of his choice. We went with an almond cake filled with raspberry jam and mascarpone vanilla whipped cream. It turned out absolutely delicious!
We recently took my sister-in-law to China Pearl in Boston’s Chinatown for her first visit, and it did not disappoint. It’s a really solid spot for classic push-cart dim sum, now set in a refreshed, modern space that still keeps the lively energy Chinatown dim sum is known for.
We spent Memorial Day weekend with our friends on Gibson Island, Maryland, and one of my favorite things my friend makes is this roasted red pepper, tomato, and mozzarella pasta salad. It’s so fresh and summery, and somehow gets even better after sitting in the refrigerator for a few hours. We couldn’t find basil at the local grocery store this time, but it’s usually made with fresh basil too!
We went to The Choptank in Annapolis, MD for a great lunch over Memorial Day weekend! We had delicious Orange Crushes, and I’d highly recommend the Maryland crab dip, honey Old Bay wings, and the fish and chips. Such a fun atmosphere, and the food was fantastic!
We actually ended up going back to Winsor House in Duxbury, MA for dinner this month for a goodbye dinner for my sister-in-law before she heads to Israel for her internship. It was my first time trying their dinner menu, and it was just as delicious as I remembered. That said, I think I still prefer their lunch and brunch offerings, which remain some of my favorites.
We finally snagged a reservation at Willie's in Beacon Hill, one of Boston's hottest new spots for pizza and Italian-inspired bites. Since opening, it's been generating plenty of buzz and earning rave reviews—and after our visit, I can see why.
Everything we tried was absolutely delicious. We started with some of the most unique and creative cocktails we've had in a while, followed by the Caesar salad and karaage chicken, both of which were incredible. For our pasta course, we shared the spaghetti carbonara with yuzu kosho, which was truly next-level and one of the standout dishes of the night.
Of course, we couldn't leave without trying the pizza. We split the Calabrian hot tomato honey and the funghi pizzas. While both were excellent, the funghi was our favorite thanks to the perfectly fried egg on top. The hot honey pizza was flavorful, but we found it a bit too sweet overall.
Between the lively atmosphere, inventive cocktails, and delicious food that blends Italian flavors with subtle Asian influences, Willie's more than lived up to the hype. We'll definitely be back—as often as we can manage to score a reservation!
Other:
Like I mentioned above, my parents were in town recently, and we spent a lovely day exploring the Duxbury–Plymouth area. We really lucked out with the weather and had such a beautiful day by the water.
I also got my summer garden set up this month, and I was excited to use some of the lessons I learned last year to shape this year’s setup. More updates to come, but so far my herbs are absolutely thriving.
We went to see Shane Gillis live at TD Garden and had such a fun night. It was actually my first time at TD Garden, which made the experience even more exciting. The show was completely sold out, and Shane was absolutely hilarious.
I was introduced to cross stitch and needlepoint this weekend, and it’s safe to say I’m officially hooked. I completely understand the hype now — I loved putting my phone down and creating something with my hands. Everyone should probably expect something needlepointed from me this holiday season.
Lenny:
