the round up: July 2024
Food:
What feels like a million years later, we finally snagged a Pascual reservation! As the biggest fan of Pascual’s sister restaurant, Lutece, I was super excited. Pascual was very good, but not mind blowing in my opinion. There were some things that were absolutely exceptional and some things that were good. If I get the chance to go again, I would order slightly differently - ordering the guac, all of the tacos, apps and veggie. Their fish taco was SO good!
I finally caved and tried the viral smash taco trend on these banh mi inspired smash tacos. They were super easy to make and really delicious!
One of my absolute favorite things to make and eat in the warmer months is a peach / tomato / burrata panzanella salad. Using the most ripe and juicy tomatoes and peaches you can find- this will definitely hit the spot.
We had brunch at Vagabond Bar + Kitchen with some friends on 4th of July, and I must say, they make a pretty good breakfast burrito and pancake!
Is there anything more Americana than a dirt cup? They are the best and most easy desserts! We made them with the delicious dark chocolate petit pot jars, topped with Oreos, Bunch o’Crunch and gummy worms.
I made lobster rolls AT HOME for the first time ever! I had no idea it was this easy! I received a Seafood Medley box from Kildare Seafood, so we will be eating a lot of seafood for the foreseeable future.
For our first meal in Plymouth, we obviously were on a lobster roll mission, so we stopped in the Lobster Hut. This spot felt like a community staple, with people of all generations there. I really enjoyed that the lobster roll came a bit “deconstructed” because the bread wasn’t soggy when we ate it and we got a decent amount of lobstie meat. Overall, I would definitely go back!
We had a hearty and homely brunch at Water Street Cafe in Plymouth. the staff was really friendly and the food was really nice. I would definitely put this on your list for brunch - they had a ton of options and everything was delicious.
While my husband was off being a groomsman, I was wandering around the main strip of Plymouth and stumbled upon the most amazing Thai spot called Mea Thai Cuisine. The lady working there (who I think was also the owner), was SO nice and welcoming - especially because I was eating alone. I had some spring rolls and a really delicious tom yum soup that was spicy, sour, hearty and filled with flavor. I would absolutely recommend this spot and I am already excited to go back!
When you think about Duxbury, MA, you probably think about oysters - specifically Island Creek Oysters. When looking up brunch options in the Duxbury area, it turns out that Island Creek Oysters also has a restaurant called Winsor House and their menu is unreal. We stopped for brunch, but would come back for literally any meal. We had some delicious raw and grilled oysters and an unreal oyster po boy.
With our few weekends left in DC, you know we had to hit up one of our favorite spots in DC, Lutece. Fun fact, my husband and I went on our first date in the spot Lutece now is back when it was Cafe Napoleon 8 ish years ago. Lutece is - in my opinion- the best restaurant in DC.
July brought us back to The Hamptons for a wedding and ate at Bostiwck’s on the Harbor. The food is similar to the other Bostwick’s but slightly more elevated. I had an amazing lobster and some steamers, while we watched the sunset - not a bad deal!
Drinks:
One of my favorite non-alcoholic beverages to order has to be an Arnold Palmer and I tried this canned version I saw at a market and it was honestly perfect. It was just sweet enough and you could still taste the tea. If you see it, pick it up!
Sort of in the same vein, I had a great cocktail at Bostwick’s on the Harbor called the Lily Pond Lemonade, which was Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka with Lemonade. Essentially a spiked Arnie P.
Other:
We spent two days in Plymouth / Duxbury, Massachusetts for a wedding, and it was super lovely. Plymouth is full of cute shops and restaurants (a bit less quaint but has a lot to do) and Duxbury was just amazing (charming, East Coasty-y vibes). I will definitely be back!
We spent 5 days in the Rockport, Maine area - exploring, Rockport, Rockland, and Camden- and we had such a lovely time! I am excited to have Maine a bit more in my backyard and be able to get up there a lot. You can read about all of my food recs here!
Obviously we have to talk about Love Island USA!! It was such a drama-filled season and it was great to see how much traction this season has gotten. It is great to not be the only Love Island fan in the USA.
I am on a self-proclaimed shopping ban that I have implemented for myself until my birthday (in January). I need to learn to wear the clothes I have and only really buy when I need vs. when I want. My only exceptions are when I buy something with credits / gift cards.
Like I mentioned above, July brought us back to The Hamptons and we had such a nice weekend there. The Hamptons is such a special (and expensive) place - you have the charm and coast of the East Coast coastal towns with the convenience and luxury of New York.
I read Real Americans by Rachel Khong and really loved it. It was one of the best books I have read in a while. It reminded me of a combination of Free Food for Millionaires meets The Leavers. It is a story of family and their various stories and experience in China and America. It deals with ethics, science and relationships. It was a really great read!
Lenny:
