Hello and happy Friday! This post is going live much later than usual because today is our fifth wedding anniversary!

Cheers to five years of joy, laughter, fun, and a lot of great food. Not to mention all sorts of adventures big and small. But enough about our wedding (so, so fun) and our cake (so, so delicious) pictured above, let’s get to the new Buffet!

Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy this week’s selection of articles, recipes, and some of my favorite places to eat. Plus, some wish-list shopping because why not? ;)

READ

I am so impressed and proud of Simone Biles’s decisions this week. She is a superstar of strength in every sense of the word. However, Suni Lee won the all-around gold medal; her story and family are equally incredible. I’m proud of everyone!

A quick read with one of the White Lotus stars, Jake Lacy, who plays the horrible-on-purpose character Shane. Any one else watching this mini-series? Just three more episodes left…

Yikes. Nothing good is happening at the Frito-Lay factory. Having second thoughts about my next Cheetos purchase…

All of the times Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have been spotted together in Boston. Ha! Maybe it’s time they come back for a home game?

This is a very blue Victorian home - but look at all those details! So much charm. Don’t worry. We’re not moving.

Speaking of decor (and the White Lotus), I enjoyed this piece discussing the on-site set design at the Four Seasons Hotel in Maui.

COOK

Fun facts and a great dish featuring gnocchi and summer veggies? Sign me up!

Yes, we will be making tomato brown butter for all of the tomatoes that August will bring. Yum!

Is it even summer without chowder? I’d love this creamy corn, zucchini, and bacon chowder for dinner next week.

A watermelon peach salad sounds so refreshing for one of these ultra-hot summer days. I’d serve it with burgers off the grill, personally. :)

A goal for August: prepare a poke bowl at home! I love this dish.

When you just can’t decide what to cook, not much is as satisfying as crispy ground beef tacos. Major. Yum.

Finally, in honor of our wedding anniversary today I’ll share with you my favorite summer (any time) treat: crab cakes. This recipe is the best and one of the most delicious dishes Seth has ever cooked for us. :)

DINE

Five of our favorite restaurants filled with memories, right this way…

Border Cafe…because this is where we had our very first date so long ago.

The Bancroft…because this is where we love to relax with great drinks, excellent food, and an always top-notch experience.

Myers and Chang…because we used to run over there for dinner when we lived nearby and enjoy amazing food facing the open kitchen.

The Stones Commonhouse…because it’s our go-to for fries, burgers, and the friendliest staff around.

Woodman’s of Essex…because we ate GF fried clams and shrimp in our car from here on New Year’s Eve and it’s a humorous, special memory from a tough 2020.

Click here for our Maine dining favorites. :)

SHOP

Five wish-list items since browsing is always free…

Bookmarking this beautiful couch for our someday-designed attic.

And this is the rug I’d like for under that couch.

I’m not really into the major-sparkle, but I love these corduroy-and-sparkle sneakers.

No need, but I really like this fridge. I think we’d want the matching ovens and dishwasher though and then we’d have to remodel the kitchen and that’s a whole ordeal. ;)

And because it’s our anniversary, Seth wants this saw. “For house stuff,” he says.

Have a great weekend and enjoy!

Mollie