Sponsored by New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau

There’s a moment at the start of every vacation when you truly arrive. Maybe it’s when you catch your first shimmering glimpse of the ocean, or cross the bridge that connects you to an island paradise. Or maybe it’s sipping a tropical cocktail as you watch the sunset from a treetop restaurant.

In New Smyrna Beach, on Florida’s east coast, you feel a similar thrill every time you clink a glass or pick up a fork. The area beckons visitors with 17 miles of pristine beaches, bustling village-like hubs, and a vibrant arts scene of galleries, performances, and festivals. It’s all so accessible now that Avelo and Breeze Airways fly low-cost direct routes into visitor-friendly Daytona Beach International Airport from Hartford, New Haven, Providence, and White Plains.

Here’s the delicious surprise: New Smyrna Beach’s treasure trove of eateries rivals that of many larger destinations. There is more culinary variety, sophistication, and innovation than you’d ever expect from a nostalgic beach town.

Consider Norwood’s Restaurant & Treehouse Bar, an area landmark since 1946, famous for its succulent seafood, house-aged steaks, and leafy deck perched high in an oak tree overlooking the intracoastal waterway. Meet friends here at sunset for live music, bacon-wrapped scallops, and a cocktail crafted with house-made syrups and freshly pressed juices. Or if you’re in a wine mood, discover a new favorite among their impressive collection of very affordably priced bottles gathered from around the world.

Just blocks from the beach, Third Wave Café occupies a Craftsman-style cottage, operating as a laid-back bistro during the day and an elegant dinner spot at night, complete with a lush garden in back. Not only are the daily seafood selections enticing, but they’re also environmentally friendly thanks to Chef David Moscoso’s dedication to cooking with local and sustainable ingredients, a commitment recognized by the prestigious James Beard Foundation. You can also feel good about the wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas, Wagyu short ribs, and candied salmon—all must-tries.

In this city teeming with natural beauty, a picnic by the ocean indulges all of your senses at once. To get started, head to Paco Submarine, which redefines sandwich-making as a serious craft. Everything here is made from scratch: that includes smoking bacon for the BLT and curing pastrami for The Clayton, a layering of meat, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and creamy mustard on rye. Each sandwich gets its own style of bread, which is also homemade. If you can’t wait to spread out your blanket, order some fries to eat on your trek over the causeway. They’re as good as you’ll find anywhere, Belgium included. 

If you’re craving a cup of coffee with a side of Bohemian charm, visit Luma, an open-air café with hanging chairs and shady porticos. Revel in the chill atmosphere or grab something to go and warm your toes in the sand while watching surfers ride the waves.

Tiki culture is alive and well at Avanu on Flagler, where gastropub classics are accented with Asian and Polynesian flavors. Check out the rooftop to bask in ocean breezes and behold incredible views of the palmy surroundings. The crispy Korean fried chicken, lemongrass seafood noodles, and playful bar menu are irresistibly inviting after a sunbaked day on the shore.

At Café Verde, it’s immediately clear you’re about to eat well on vacation. Their menu features plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. This bright, airy space is the perfect spot for imaginative salads, grain bowls, globally flavored entrées, and craft cocktails. Their BLT scallop tacos topped with house-made salsas are an edible getaway all on their own.

Across the Indian River from the beach, Spanish River Grill brings an authentic taste of Spain to Florida. The whipped feta, garlicky mushrooms with house-made bread, and crispy chicken a la plancha pair perfectly with a glass of sangria or Spanish wines from a well-curated list. For dessert, the Basque cheesecake is a light, fluffy, caramelized wonder. Just heavenly.

Speaking of otherworldly baked goods, the Dutch Oven Bread Co. opens soon on Canal Street in the midst of shops and galleries (there’s a sister bakery a short drive away in Edgewater). Pick up a crusty, chewy baguette, and recharge with a mouthwatering fruit danish or an enormous cinnamon roll. Just down the street, there’s Shebeen, where you can indulge in treats like truffles with a matcha latte or a fruit-topped waffle with an icy-cold chai. Their inventive ice creams include “booze-jee” flavors for adults only.

In a town replete with bright colors, warm hospitality, and Old Florida charm, New Smyrna Beach’s restaurants stir richness into the mix, creating a destination where every meal is a reminder to embrace the good life and “Relax Already.”

Start planning a delectable escape at visitnsbfl.com.

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Looking for the best things to do in Boston this summer? Whether you’re craving city-spanning adventures, sky-high relaxation, or flavors from around the globe, this curated list of 10 can’t-miss experiences has you covered. From feasting in the North End and catching Shakespeare under the stars to pedaling through the Emerald Necklace or sipping cocktails on a tiki boat, these are the most unforgettable ways to soak up summer in the Hub—whatever your perfect day looks like.

10 Best Things to Do in Boston This Summer

1. Join the Party in the North End – Celebrate Italian heritage at Boston’s lively summer street festas.

The colorful, flavorful, and semi-chaotic glory of the North End’s festas (or feast days) celebrates the southern Italian heritage of honoring beloved saints and martyrs with processions, music, food, and prayer. Streets fill with revelers, live music echoes off brick buildings, and the air is scented with savory sausage and peppers. Two of the largest are the Fisherman’s Feast, August 14–17, and Saint Anthony’s Feast, August 28–31, but all are worth checking out.

2. Dine by the Water in Eastie – Savor Italian fare with million-dollar skyline views.

The best-kept secret in waterfront dining is East Boston, where the million-dollar views of Boston’s skyline seem to outshine any other on the harbor. Water taxis board at Fan Pier or Long Wharf on the Boston side and disembark on the Eastie side just steps from Mida, chef Douglass Williams’s award-winning Italian restaurant, where the meatballs, gnocchi cacio e pepe, and clam pizza hold their own against the scenery.

3. Pedal the Parks – Explore Boston’s green gems by bike on a guided or DIY ride.

Don’t get so distracted by the harbor’s sapphire waters that you forget the city’s Emerald Necklace. Urban AdvenTours runs a four-hour guided bike tour through the beautiful string of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. From the Esplanade to the Southwest Corridor Park and the Arnold Arboretum, you’ll cover more than 15 miles and several of the city’s most beloved urban oases. Or, strike out on your own with a rented e-bike from the network of Bluebikes parked all over Boston, and you’ll barely break a sweat.

4. Soak Up Free Culture – Enjoy outdoor concerts and Shakespeare under the stars.

The Boston Landmarks Orchestra hosts open-air concerts at the Hatch Shell throughout the summer. Grab snacks and a beer before the show at the Esplanade’s Night Shift Brewing beer garden. Alternatively, Free Shakespeare on the Common presents performances of As You Like It from mid-July through early August on Boston Common. Nab picnic supplies at the newly opened Flour Bakery at the nearby Concession Pavilion and savor a repast beneath the stars.

5. Catch a Tropical Wave – Sip tiki cocktails while cruising Boston Harbor.

Tiki Boat Boston operates a fleet of three pontoon boats, all decked out in full tiki bar fashion with palm roofs and tropical silk flowers arranged around a full bar complete with bartender and DJ. Parties of up to 24 can sip mai tais and palomas while cruising Boston Harbor and soaking up views of iconic landmarks on the 90-minute trip. Private and corporate reservations are available, too.

6. Get Your Licks In – Take a scoop-filled tour of Boston’s best ice cream spots.

Take inspiration from the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, which highlights 100-plus sweet spots across the state, to plot your own scoop-filled journey across Greater Boston. Emack and Bolio’s in Charlestown and the Back Bay, Gracie’s in Somerville, and Honeycomb Creamery in Cambridge are all worth a visit, along with locally owned mainstays like New City Microcreamery, Toscanini’s, and Christina’s in Cambridge; Boston Ice Cream Factory in Dorchester; Crescent Ridge at the Boston Public Market; and vegan specialist FoMu in the South End, Fenway, and Quincy Market.

7. Take a Sky-High Dip – Lounge poolside above the city at the Colonnade Hotel.

The Colonnade Hotel boasts a lovely rooftop pool with views of the Back Bay and the South End, food and drink service, and cabanas to rent. It’s open to the public Monday through Thursday and on Sunday afternoons for a fee of $55, which seems fair for a full day of waterside luxury in the heart of the city.

8. Chow Down in Chinatown – Eat your way through a neighborhood rich in flavor and history.

Along with roughly 7,000 residents, Chinatown is home to legacy eateries and newcomers, plus bakeries, barbecue spots, and enough other treasures to fill a weekend itinerary. Boston Chinatown Tours, led by longtime resident Jacqueline Church, takes you to the best of the best, with delicious bites and deep insights along the way.

9. Go ‘Fourth’ and Conquer – Celebrate Independence Day the Boston way.

There’s more to Independence Day in Boston than the Pops and fireworks. Attend the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House in the morning, then head to the Seaport to view the turnaround cruise of the USS Constitution. In the afternoon, head to Downtown Crossing for an ice cream social and the reading of Frederick Douglass’s electric 1852 speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”

10. Roll with It – Enjoy the ultimate lobster roll with harbor views to match.

A great lobster roll eaten by the water is the ultimate expression of the form. ReelHouse Oyster Bar sits at the very end of Fan Pier, and its lobster roll, served cold with mayo or hot with butter, is excellent. The restaurant is upscale, with seafood towers and caviar service (along with Neapolitan-style pizzas for the seafood-averse). Looking for a seafood-shack vibe? James Hook & Co. has all the classics—hot and cold rolls, lobster pie, chowder—just a stone’s throw from the spot where Fort Point Channel meets the harbor.

See More: 2025 Boston Travel Guide | Hotels, Dining & Attractions

What tops your list of the best things to do in Boston this summer? Let us know!

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In early July, I was rowing a dory in Maine’s Belfast Harbor with Nicolle Littrell just as the bright disk of the sun began to penetrate the upper layers of fog. As we reached the outer harbor, Nicolle, a Registered Maine Guide who leads excursions through her company DoryWoman Rowing, pulled out a thermos of tea and fluffy biscuits seasoned with finely chopped seaweed. While we snacked, a harbor seal swam over to say hello. If mermaids or selkies were real, that would’ve been my cue to roll overboard and find my pod. Instead, we picked up our oars and made sure the camera crew in the chase boat had gotten enough good shots of the moment that everyone watching Weekends with Yankee, the public television show we produce with WGBH, could enjoy it, too.

The ninth season of the show, which premieres in early April and rolls out over the course of 13 weeks, is full of memorable moments like that one. We comb Connecticut’s coastline with chef and forager Chrissy Tracey as she sources a meal from the small miracles growing all around her. At Newport’s Castle Hill Inn, we enjoy a lobster bake on top of a bluff so gorgeously lit by nature’s golden hour you might think our camera crew used filters. We meet the Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage, who patrol nearly 1,000 ponds on Cape Cod to clean these beloved waters with humor and spirit. We experience the beauty of a New Hampshire lavender farm in full flower, a cozy afternoon on a Maine houseboat, a bike trip to find the best fried clams on Boston’s North Shore, and a maple farm in Vermont where a “happy” (aka group) of golden retrievers welcomes guests for playtime and snuggles. And we visit Mashpee Wampanoag tribal lands in Massachusetts to cook squash stew in a traditional hut called a wetu with James Beard Award–winning chef Sherry Pocknett.

It’s our best season yet, and we hope you’ll tune in. In the meantime, here are five recipes that we prepare on the show, along with the stories that inspired them.

“Weekends with Yankee” Recipes

Sherry Pocknett’s Butternut-Cranberry Soup

After decades spent in restaurant kitchens, Sherry Pocknett came to national attention when she won the 2023 James Beard Award for the Northeast’s best chef. Her food reflects both Wampanoag and European influences, emphasizing the former, and we were honored to cook with her in the Mashpee, Massachusetts, wetu where her tribe still conducts official business. You can visit her restaurant, Sly Fox Den Too (it’s named after her father, tribal leader Vernon “Sly Fox” Pocknett), in Charlestown, Rhode Island—but until then, here’s a recipe to make at home.

The method Sherry used (“the Wampanoag way,” she called it) was new to me. By long-simmering the squash until the cooking water was reduced by about half, you end up with a very concentrated squash-enriched base; from there, you incorporate additional flavors. As much as possible, Sherry uses ingredients indigenous to the Northeast, like sunflower oil instead of butter. While shallots are not native to this region, they are far easier to source than wild onions. The cream is optional (but delicious).

Dos Gatos’s Seared Scallop Tacos

After a morning of rowing in Belfast, I headed to one of the town’s newest and best restaurants: Dos Gatos Gastropub, where tequila and mezcal reign supreme and where the tacos are inspired by co-owner Jesse Soto’s memories of growing up in Texas. Using modern Tex-Mex as a culinary framework, chef Gary Cooper works wonders in dishes like this one: scallop tacos topped with crunchy pico de gallo flavored with cucumber, lime, tomatillo, and cilantro. We recommend using natural or “dry” sea scallops, which are not treated with phosphates and have a pale tan color. These not only taste better, but also let you achieve that delicious caramelized crust. The recipe also works beautifully with sautéedshrimp and seared salmon.

Little Whale’s Linguine with Clams

We spent a sunny day with chef Michael Serpa biking along the coast of Ipswich and Essex, Massachusetts, where excellent littleneck clams grow in the nutrient-rich mud flats and estuaries of the Great Marsh. Michael is an avid cyclist, and when he opened his Boston restaurant, Little Whale, as an ode to New England clam shacks, he found inspiration for his recipes while riding his bike on the North Shore, home to the Clam Box in Ipswich and Woodman’s in Essex.

Castle Hill Inn’s Skillet Cornbread

To pull off the kind of clambake that chef Jennifer Backman and her team prepared for us at Newport’s Castle Hill Inn, you need a fire pit, mounds of lobsters, clams, chouriço, potatoes, corn, and seaweed—plus a team of waitstaff trained in silver service, myriad side dishes, wine pairings, and a sunset to backlight the parade of sailboats drifting past Castle Hill Cove. If you don’t happen to have any of that on hand, you can enjoy the experience for yourself at the occasional clambakes that the inn offers to the general public each summer (call for reservations). Short of that, keep an eye out for the Castle Hill Inn segment on season 9, and make yourself a pan of chef Backman’s fantastic cornbread to go with it.

Gould Hill Farm’s Apple Crisp

At Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook, New Hampshire, the apple crisp is made in such massive batches that I had to scale the recipe back by a factor of ten to make it suitable for the home kitchen. That’s because this farm boasts the most dramatic views of any apple orchard in New England, as well as more than 100 apple varieties, and draws large crowds throughout the season. Between the views, the fruit, the bakery (and cider doughnuts), and the on-site Contoocook Cider Company, this is a fall experience for anyone’s bucket list.

On With the Show!

Want to know where to watch the brand-new season of Weekends with Yankee? Go to weekendswithyankee.com, where you’ll also find full episodes from past seasons and 200-plus snackable segments — many of which are available on the Yankee Magazine YouTube channel, too.

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It’s a windy Saturday night in early February, and despite temperatures that plummet with every gust, there’s a lively après-ski crowd gathered around firepits outside Au Comptoir, a craft cocktail bar just behind Central Street in Woodstock, Vermont. Inside the white clapboard cottage (originally built as the personal garage of Laurance S. Rockefeller, whose largesse left a permanent stamp on this town), the decor is all reclaimed barn wood, antique brass, and marble. Owner Zoe Zilian was a cofounder of the artisan housewares brand Farmhouse Pottery, and there isn’t a sconce or bar stool or cocktail that isn’t expertly curated.

Au Comptoir encapsulates much of what is lovely and stylish about winter in Woodstock. The Danes may get through winter with their hygge—a quality that embraces coziness and small pleasures—but this Vermont village has its own brand of gentle comfort.

Consider Central Street: At the darkest time of the year, when most people have dutifully taken down their holiday decorations, this main commercial street still abounds with fairy lights sparkling in shop windows and sidewalk trees. Over on Elm Street, the Vermont Flannel Company specializes in the snuggliest of winter fabrics. And a few miles down the road in Quechee, you can dine in style in Simon Pearce Restaurant while gazing out at the dramatic falls that once powered a woolen mill here.

The Woodstock Inn & Resort commands a prime spot on the village green and boasts several satellite facilities, including the Saskadena Six Ski Area, a Nordic center, and a fitness center with an indoor pool, a sauna, a steam room, and a hot tub. A day on the slopes followed by a soak in the hot tub and a hot toddy at the inn’s Richardson’s Tavern is a good day.

On this visit, though, we’re lodging in a newer spot. The Vesper is a bed-and-breakfast run by Dana Hale, who updated an 1835 brick Greek Revival with colorful modern design featuring textiles and pottery from her partner Rafael’s native Guatemala. The couple have two young children, so it’s no surprise the B&B has a relaxed “we’re all family” vibe (so much so that the young couple we meet at breakfast become our companions for beers and rollicking conversation later that night).

The Vesper stands as a stylish, budget-friendly option right in the village and reminds us that while Woodstock has long had a reputation as a retreat for the Rockefeller set, it’s possible to enjoy a trip here without overspending. Consider this: A weekend day pass at Saskadena Six costs about half that of nearby Killington, and there’s something more intimate and welcoming about its smaller size and the crackling wood fires inside the lodge (and outside, as well).

Back in town, you’ll find shopping at many price points, from Farmhouse Pottery with its upscale home goods to the Yankee Bookshop, the perfect small-town bookstore. Founded in 1886, F.H. Gillingham & Sons reigns as the archetypal general store, complete with penny candy and Carhartt work wear. Meanwhile, the Norman Williams Public Library, housed in a stunning Romanesque building of pink sandstone and Barre granite, offers an eminently calming—and free—place to pass a snowy afternoon. (Note to parents: The children’s room downstairs is excellent and welcoming to visitors.)

Even if you’re not staying at the Woodstock Inn, you can still enjoy its athletic club via a $25 day pass that allows you to use all the exercise areas and the pool. The town’s three free trail networks are perfect for day hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or fat-tire biking. Waiting for you afterward is perhaps a drink at Au Comptoir or a burger at Worthy Kitchen.

On our last day in town, we buy day passes at the Woodstock Nordic Center and head out on the trails that run around and through the golf course—the easiest route for our modest skills. A light coating of fresh flakes has blessed us with smooth tracks, and with a temperature of about 14 degrees, the snow makes that perfect squeaking sound as I glide alongside Kedron Brook.

Skate skiers zoom past me, glowing with rosy-cheeked good health, and—just as I do every time we visit Woodstock—I think about how much more outdoorsy and glowy I’d be if I lived here. I’m reminded of how many ways there are to truly enjoy the outdoors in winter. And I remember how to find warmth and comfort on the long, dark nights.

What to Do in Woodstock, Vermont

Dining in Woodstock, Vermont

Au Comptoir: There’s more to this bar’s popularity than just its sleek good looks. Juices are freshly squeezed, syrups and some bitters are made in-house, and many of the spirits hail from Vermont. aucomptoirvt.com

Ransom Tavern: Just down the road in South Woodstock’s Kedron Valley Inn, dig into Neapolitan-style pies from a Forza Forni gas-fired pizza oven. Imaginative combos include ingredients such as gorgonzola, maple syrup, and butternut squash. kedronvalleyinn.com

The Red Rooster: The Woodstock Inn’s signature restaurant offers seasonal fare that’s sourced locally and served with a Mediterranean accent. You can always count on the pork chop, the roast chicken, and the Vermont cheese plate. Don’t miss the Parker House rolls. woodstockinn.com

Simon Pearce Restaurant: For delicious food with a waterfall view, make a reservation: This upscale eatery adjoining the Simon Pearce glassblowing studio fills up fast, especially on the weekend. Save room for the triple chocolate layer cake. simonpearce.com

Worthy Kitchen: Craft beer lovers, rejoice: Worthy Kitchen has your Hill Farmstead, your Trillium, your Heady Topper. Use them to wash down smash burgers and crispy wings—and possibly a fresh doughnut or two. worthyvermont.com

Lodging in Woodstock, Vermont

The Vesper: The room names at this B&B pay homage to owner Dana Hale’s favorite musicians, and she brings her personal taste to the decor, too: part modern, part folk art, all colorful. Expect good coffee, a generous breakfast buffet, and general bonhomie. vesperwoodstock.com

Woodstock Inn & Resort: Classically elegant (“Vermont semiformal,” if you will), the inn offers a big crackling fire in the lobby, afternoon tea and cookies in the conservatory, a Vermont-meets-Scandinavia-style spa, and two top-notch restaurants. woodstockinn.com

Things to Do in Woodstock, Vermont

Artistree: This vibrant community arts space near Saskadena Six hosts live theater, touring musicians, jam sessions, and a gallery featuring the work of Vermont and New Hampshire artists. artistreevt.org

Billings Farm & Museum: Visit velvet-nosed Jersey cows in their milking parlor and tour an 1890 farm manager’s home at this beloved outdoor history museum. billingsfarm.org

Saskadena Six: With three lifts and 28 trails, the former Suicide Six ski area is perfect for novices but still fun for advanced skiers. saskadenasix.com

Woodstock Nordic Center: Buy or rent cross-country skiing equipment, sign up for lessons, or even have lunch at this well-appointed facility, which welcomes snowshoers and fat-tire bikers, too. woodstockinn.com

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In all the years I’ve been developing Thanksgiving recipes, no one has ever demanded, “Give me a fancy menu with hard-to-find ingredients that will really show off what a sophisticated cook I am.” There are people who treat their holiday meal as a tour de force, but most of us are looking for a delicious menu that’s familiar enough and interesting enough and won’t drive us crazy in the making. That’s what I offer here.

I also limited the number of ingredients in any dish to seven (except for salt and pepper, which are so ubiquitous they hardly count, right?). Despite the fact that supply chains have been restored and inflation has eased a bit, supermarket food prices have stayed stubbornly high. But as these recipes demonstrate, you don’t need a lot of ingredients to deliver a lot of flavor.

So remember: It’s the holidays! A time for merriment and good cheer. May your feast be abundant and your cooking serene, and may all your loved ones be happy and healthy, now and in the coming year.

7 Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Spicy Feta and Red Pepper Dip

Easy Cranberry-Orange Sauce

Creamy Green Beans and Mushrooms with Crispy Garlic

Dry-Brined Turkey

Easy Turkey Gravy

Sausage and Onion Dressing

Impossible Pumpkin Pie

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When Yankee’s annual Food Awards debuted back in 2013, we singled out artisan makers whose cheeses, chocolates, and other delicacies were helping put New England on the map. “This old land of cod and beans has become a hotbed of culinary innovation,” we proclaimed back then—and it’s something that’s still true today.

But this year, the spotlight has expanded to include the chefs and restaurants that make this region a dining destination to equal any in the country. As Yankee’s food editor, I looked for people and places with both consistently amazing food and a newsworthy achievement in 2024, whether it was hitting a landmark anniversary or transforming a menu. I also sought out the best representatives of four of the year’s biggest dining trends: tasting menus, mocktails, vegan dining, and mezcal.

Alongside these new honorees is a selection of the region’s best artisan foods, which, as in years past, were chosen because they are exceptional, made in New England, and available to all (i.e., they can be shipped nationwide).

The goal? To give you the most complete snapshot of the best New England food right now, whether you’re dining around the region, shopping for the perfect gift, or simply searching for something new and exciting to add to your holiday meal. 

The 2024 Yankee Food Awards

Restaurant of the Year:
Gift Horse (Providence, RI)

Benjamin Sukle and Bethany Caliaro’s newest restaurant has earned plenty of laurels over the past year. Chef Sky Haneul Kim was a semifinalist for a James Beard Award, while Gift Horse was named to USA Today’s “Restaurants of the Year” and Esquire’s “50 Best New Restaurants in America.” Here’s why I’m piling on: Providence has a well-earned reputation as one of the most innovative restaurant towns in New England, and this raw-bar/small-plates concept does that rep proud. Doughboys served with caviar, crispy seasonal fish ssam served with seasoned rice and spicy peanut dipping sauce … the list goes on. Surprise and delight are precious commodities, and both are found in abundance here.

Chef of the Year:
Melissa Kelly, Primo (Rockland, ME)

One of the East Coast’s original farm-to-table chefs, Kelly is among the few to build an actual farm on her property, complete with greenhouses, gardens, beehives, and chickens, pigs, and ducks. This bounty drives her Italian-accented menu, which is ever changing but always stocked with homemade pastas and breads, meat dishes like porcini-dusted steaks and pork saltimbocca, wood-fired pizzas, and local cheeses. And as Primo celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it’s the perfect time to sing Kelly’s praises.

Pastry Chef of the Year
Renae Connolly, Moëca and Giulia (Cambridge, MA)

Save room for dessert; make time for art. It’s highly achievable advice when you’re about to savor one of Connolly’s creations—maybe a beach plum macaron filled with vanilla–lemon custard ice cream perched atop pistachio sabayon, or a perfect oval of milk chocolate mousse with a “magic shell” drizzle on a bed of sesame shortbread crumble. Discover treats like these at global-seafood spot Moëca; at its sister restaurant, Giulia; or at Connolly’s recently debuted “Daydreamer” ice cream pop-up series. @renae.connolly on Instagram

Waterfront Restaurant of the Year
Haring’s (Noank, CT)

A cozy coastal village at the mouth of the Mystic River, Noank is one of Connecticut’s hidden gems. And it’s here that a white dockside shack festooned with lobster buoys, formerly Ford’s Lobster, was acquired by the team behind award-winning Mystic restaurants Oyster Club and The Port of Call and reopened this summer as Haring’s. Grab a table on the pier and tuck into a smashburger, lobster bisque, broiled scallops with grits and tomato-bacon jam, or a fried seafood platter—all a level up from what you’d find at many waterfront tourist spots. Combine fair prices with a fresh sea breeze, and you have one of my favorite new spots in New England.

Coffee Shop of the Year
Brio Coffeeworks (Burlington, VT)

New England loves its cafés, the best of which roast their own beans, make great coffee drinks, and offer a community vibe. That’s check, check, and check at Brio, which transforms its award-winning single-origin and blended beans into perfect coffees, espressos, and canned nitro drinks. It also donates a percentage of its sales to the nonprofit Food 4 Farmers. And as of this summer, Brio is a featured vendor at the World Trade Center Oculus in Manhattan, at a store called Local Maverick. It’s been a big year for Brio, and I’m happy to see them making a splash beyond our borders.

Pizza Place of the Year
The Tillerman (Bristol, VT)

I’ve called out Bristol as one of New England’s best up-and-coming food towns, and The Tillerman is a big reason why. Located in a refurbished inn of the same name, it turns out wood-fired sourdough-leavened pies topped with farm-fresh seasonal ingredients and house-made mozzarella. The surroundings are cozy, and the food demonstrates a mastery of flavor and technique. I especially love the potato, blue cheese, and mushroom, and the pepperoni with Italian sweet peppers.

Ice Cream Shop of the Year
Far Out (Brookline & Boston, MA)

Far Out specializes in New Zealand–style ice cream, which blends frozen bananas, mangos, blueberries, and other fruit into vanilla or chocolate ice cream, yielding a more fruit-forward blend. The ice cream itself is super-premium stuff from Maple Valley Creamery in Hadley, so this is, in a sense, an award for both spots. As of this year, Far Out has a new location near Fenway Park, and I hope it’s just the first of many more iterations.

Brewery of the Year
Athletic Brewing Company (Milford, CT)

Gen Z and millennials are drinking less beer and wine, which may be why Athletic Brewing has become such a juggernaut. Its nonalcoholic beer truly tastes like beer, and comes in a range of styles from IPAs to sours to goldens. In the summer, I’ll sip the lemony Ripe Pursuit; in winter, the All Out stout. This certified B Corp secured funding this year to become a bona fide national brand, while also winning a gold medal at the North American Brewers Association’s International Beer and Cider Awards.

Seafood Shack of the Year
The Clam Shack (Kennebunkport, ME)

Having survived flooding last winter that damaged its on-site seafood market, The Clam Shack came back strong this summer with its signature lobster rolls, fried clams, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Owner Steve Kingston is a stickler for quality, and that shows in the food: In the countless times I’ve visited here, I’ve never had a disappointing meal. (Note: The Clam Shack is closed until spring, but it ships kits that allow anyone to make its clam chowder, lobster rolls, and fried clams at home.)

4 Food Trends of 2024

1. Tasting Menus
311 Omakase (Boston, MA)

Facing labor shortages and inflation in recent years, many chefs have pivoted to serving set menus for a fixed price. Meanwhile, sushi restaurants have been doing it for decades. At his restaurant set in a classic South End brownstone, chef Wei Fa Chen makes deceptively simple sushi that layers luxury ingredients like truffle, caviar, and lobster with perfect pieces of tuna, crab, and amberjack. It’s a splurge, but you’ll be wowed.

2. Mezcal
Dos Gatos Gastropub (Belfast, ME)

At Dos Gatos, owners Adam Roberson and Jesse Soto translate their love of mezcal—tequila’s smokier, artsier sister—into negronis, Moscow mules, and old-fashioneds. Chef Gary Cooper even threads mezcal through the menu of truly superlative tacos made with homemade tortillas. And there’s plenty of tequila to go around, too.

3. Vegan Dining
Foglia (Bristol, RI)

A 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist, chef Peter Carvelli creates dishes loaded with hearty flavor and textures that run from creamy to crisp—in other words, you won’t miss the meat. Instead, this is a great restaurant that happens to be vegan. Foglia is also friendly to gluten-free diners: Almost every dish is either gluten-free or can be made so.

4. Mocktails
Aurelia at Castle Hill (Newport, RI)

Reflecting the trend toward tasting menus, Aurelia offers six fixed courses with choices for mains and dessert. Another choice? To enjoy your meal with wine pairings or nonalcoholic cocktails designed to match each course’s flavor profile. That might mean a savory mushroom-infused “tea” with a dish of venison and morels, or a nonalcoholic G&T with your hors d’oeuvres.

Artisan Food Makers

Hot Drinks

Golden Milk Turmeric Tea by Mola Foods (Nashua, NH)

LaFortune Djabea founded Mola Foods in 2016 after moving to the U.S. from Cameroon. Now she makes spice blends, seasonings, sauces, and teas inspired by the flavors of West Africa and beyond. Her Golden Milk Turmeric Tea is a sunny, cozy mix of honey, coconut milk powder, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, and other spices that’s delicious stirred into hot (or cold) milk.

Classic Hot Chocolate by My Original Coco (Norwich, VT)

It tastes like cocoa. It is cocoa. But compared with the typical mix, My Original Coco’s version has a more complex chocolate flavor—you’ll taste notes of fruit and nuts—and less sugar, though it’s still sweet enough for kids to love. It’s also dairy-, gluten-, and soy-free.

Mint Tea by Cup of Sea (Portland, ME)

Hear the phrase “seaweed tea,” and you might imagine a strange, salty brew. Not so! After being washed and dried, seaweed isn’t salty at all (dulse being the one exception) and can taste very much like green tea. Cup of Sea uses mineral-rich varieties such as kelp and sea lettuce and blends them with black, green, and herbal teas. The mint tea blend combines dried peppermint with kelp to make an invigorating but uncaffeinated sipper, perfect for morning or night.

Sweets
Chocolate Jewels by ChocAllure (Wellesley, MA)

Liron Gal makes some of the most spectacular chocolates imaginable: bonbons in bright colors, shiny as lip gloss, and filled with multiple layers of praline, ganache, and caramel or fruit purees, with textures that range from crunch to cream. We adore the s’mores bonbon with its vanilla marshmallow, dark chocolate ganache, and graham cracker crunch.

“Daydream’s” Sea Salt Caramels by Milk House Chocolates (Goshen, CT)

These treats begin with a Jersey cow named Daydream at Thorncrest Farm in the Litchfield Hills. Her milk, butter, and cream are exclusively used to make these delectable caramels—enrobed in milk and/or dark chocolate and dusted with crunchy sea salt—at the farm’s own Milk House Chocolates. Other cows in the herd contribute milk, cream, and butter to produce a full line of single-cow-origin chocolates and bars.

Ursa Major Bar by Enna Chocolate (Exeter, NH)

The finest sustainably sourced chocolate from places like Ecuador, Haiti, and Uganda goes into all of Enna Grazier’s wonderful bars, but we were especially taken with the Ursa Major, whose raspberry white chocolate plays beautifully against dark chocolate from Tanzania, as cocoa nibs add crunch.

Sauces & Vinegars

Brown Butter Squash Alla Vodka Sauce by Trenchers Farmhouse (Lyndonville, VT)

Having met in Italy and cooked in Michelin-starred restaurants in the U.S. and abroad, Giacomo and Jenny Vascotto came to Vermont after Jenny’s mother retired to a 100-acre property in the Northeast Kingdom and invited them to join her. There, they make Italian pastas and sauces featuring Vermont-grown grains and their own eggs and vegetables. We love the warm spices and velvety sweetness of their squash alla vodka sauce, especially when tossed with their fresh fettuccine.

Maple Cider Vinegar by American Vinegar Works (Worcester, MA)

Following an early-19th-century recipe, Rodrigo Vargas ferments vinegars slowly and ages them in oak. The results are balanced, subtle, and guaranteed to up your salad game. His maple cider vinegar starts with local apples and gets just a hint of sweetness from Vermont maple syrup, provided by previous Yankee Food Awards honoree Runamok Maple.

Massaman Curry Paste by Little Trúc (Easthampton, MA)

Far more vibrant than canned curry pastes, Little Trúc’s version is made fresh with shallots, lemongrass, garlic, spices, and chilies. With this and some coconut milk, you’re halfway to a delicious and easy-to-make Thai-accented dinner—try it atop a stew of diced squash, greens, and chicken served over rice.

See More:
Best of New England | 2024 Summer Travel Guide
The 2022 Yankee Food Awards | Celebrating 10 Years

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