The Round Up: February 2026
Food:
February started out in Los Angeles for a work training, which also meant I got some bonus time with my family. We had lunch at The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills and enjoyed some of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a long time. If you’re in the area, it’s absolutely worth a stop — not just for lunch, but also for their incredible merch and thoughtfully curated specialty grocery items.
Also while in LA, we went to Haidilao for hot pot and had such a delicious meal. They’re the real deal when it comes to hot pot. The shrimp paste and tripe were standouts this time, and the fish maw soup is absolutely to die for.
My sister and I grabbed some late-night tacos al pastor on Lincoln in Venice Beach (right by Whole Foods), and they totally hit the spot. Add a little salsa verde on top, and it was absolute perfection.
One of our favorite casual spots nearby is still Mexico Lindo in Melrose. They don’t take reservations, but if there’s a wait, just grab a margarita at the bar — totally worth it. The carne asada plate is always my go-to.
February also brought the Super Bowl, and we headed to a party with friends where everyone showed up with something delicious. The spread was unreal — sausage and peppers, stuffed mushrooms, mac and cheese, ham and cheese sliders, dips, veggies, pigs in a blanket, deviled eggs, and so much more. Truly the best kind of game day feast.
In February, we also spent a week in Israel visiting family and exploring Tel Aviv. You can read all about everything we ate in this blog post.
Special shout-out to the cottage cheese — and honestly all dairy products — in Israel. Nowhere does it better. I absolutely love an Israeli breakfast, and it’s inspiring me to make more of an effort to recreate that simple spread of cottage cheese and fresh veggies at home.
We make Lidey Heuck’s white chicken chili at least once a month during the colder seasons. It’s so easy to throw together and turns out delicious every single time — the ultimate cozy dinner.
My friend and I tried Rosebud Bar & Kitchen in Somerville, MA for brunch, and it was such a fun (and delicious) experience. They serve classic American diner food with an Indian twist, which makes the whole menu exciting. We split the tikka tots, masala chai French toast, and the fried chicken with chorizo gravy — such a creative and flavorful take on brunch!
I saw a guy on Instagram (@finntonry) make these spicy peanut chicken noodles, and they looked so good that I immediately added them to my menu for the week. I can confirm—they were absolutely delicious and so easy to throw together!
We had our second installment of Cookbook Club this month, where we all cooked from Alison Roman’s new book Something from Nothing—and everything turned out delicious. I made her chicken pot pie, and it was so good and fresh. It would be perfect for spring!
Other:
Like I mentioned earlier, we spent a good chunk of February in Israel and had such a meaningful trip. We hadn’t been back since 2018, so it was long overdue. It was so special to see family, explore Tel Aviv, and enjoy so many incredible meals along the way.
I have a couple of honorable show mentions this month. First, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on Netflix — a fun, twisty series about a high schooler reopening a local mystery. The other is Love Story on Hulu, which dives into the relationship between JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. It’s really well done and such a compelling watch.
I read Theo of Golden by Allen Levi this month, and it was truly an incredible read — one I think just about anyone would love. It tells the story of a mysterious Portuguese man who moves to a small Southern town and the relationships he forms there, all woven together with an underlying mystery about why he’s come. It’s beautifully written and such a compelling, thoughtful story.
I also started a laser facial treatment at Skin Laundry in Lynnfield, MA and I am excited to see the results as someone with acne and rosacea prone skin.
Lenny:
