The Round up: January 2026
Food:
On January 1st, we celebrated an early birthday dinner with friends at JiangNan in Boston for Peking duck. The food was incredible, especially the duck and the xiao long bao. While the atmosphere was a little stiff, the quality of the food made it well worth it.
For my birthday lunch (shout-out to early January birthdays!), I grabbed a bánh mì from Ba Lê Restaurant in Malden, and it did not disappoint. Their sandwiches are always fresh and packed with flavor — I love the BBQ pork and BBQ beef — and I can’t resist adding a few spring rolls and fresh rolls on the side. Highly recommend if you’re in the area!
For my birthday dinner, we did an omakase at Akami in Brookline. It was good — I enjoyed the atmosphere and all the bites — but it wasn’t exactly mind-blowing. There are definitely stronger omakase options in the Boston area, though this is one of the most affordable we’ve found.
We finally checked out Nouvelle Maison, the French market in Winchester, and wow — it’s adorable. Part café, part grocery (stocked with French products, wine, and specialty goods), plus a full cheese and meat counter, it’s basically a little slice of France. We grabbed some pastries and sandwiches and were so impressed with the quality. Safe to say we’ll be regulars!
I made herby, double-stacked turkey burgers for dinner and forgot just how good a turkey burger can be. Juicy, flavorful, and perfect for an easy weeknight meal — this one’s definitely going back into the regular rotation.
Don’t sleep on the premade bibimbap veggie boxes from H Mart — they’re such an easy, delicious meal. I love grabbing one when my husband’s out of town and I don’t feel like cooking; just add fresh white rice and a fried egg, and dinner is done.
My friend and I tried Qiao Lin Hotpot and it was so fun and delicious. We skipped the meat and focused on veggies, seafood, and dumplings, and the broth was super flavorful. I recently learned that Allston, MA is basically the hotpot capital of the USA with the most hotpot spots per capita — and I can’t wait to work my way through them all!
I tried HeyTea for the first time in January and I genuinely cannot stop thinking about the Mango Boom. It’s almost like a drinkable mango sticky rice — sweet, creamy, and perfectly refreshing. Absolute perfection in a cup.
I had a really delicious clam chowder at Minglewood in Gloucester that totally stood out. We’ve been a few times and some dishes are better than others, but the chowder was truly amazing and absolutely worth ordering.
When my brother-in-law came to visit, we took him to Judy’s Bay in Cambridge and had yet another incredible meal. It’s easily one of my favorite Boston-area finds — cozy, welcoming, and every bite somehow better than the last.
While we were in Gloucester, we picked up some smoked salmon pieces and turned them into the most delicious breakfast spread, paired with bagels from my favorite spot in Reading, MA — Bagel World. Just look at how gorgeous this spread is!
I picked up a beef loin New York steak from Costco and it was honestly amazing. We baked it in the oven, finished it with a quick sear, and it came out perfectly cooked. We turned it into our own steak frites night at home — complete with McDonald’s fries, a green salad, and my dad’s cucumber salad.
January’s cold weather had us fully leaning into big, elaborate breakfasts — and this one was my favorite of the month.
Other:
My birthday is in early January, which automatically makes it one of my favorite months. Even though I didn’t do anything huge or over-the-top to celebrate, I felt so loved by my friends and family — and that’s what made it special.
We watched the series All Her Fault, and it was an excellent thriller. It’s completely gripping—highly recommend adding it to your watch list if you’re looking for something binge-worthy.
These North Face Women’s ThermoBall™ Lace-Up Waterproof Boots have honestly been saving me with all the Northeast snow lately. They keep my feet so warm and dry on long dog walks — I’m beyond happy to have them this winter.
Lenny:
