😋🏆 Boston’s James Beard nominees are ...

😭 Legend alert: To whomever changed every iPhone background inside the Dedham Apple store to a picture of Drake Maye … we hope your Dunkin’ is the perfect shade of brown. <3

🎉 And a B-Side member b-day shoutout is in order for … Natalya B! We hope your special day feels as fab as a fat W over the Broncos (manifesting). 

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

Break out your Beli app, B-Siders! The James Beard Foundation just dropped its list of semifinalists for the 2026 Restaurant and Chef Awards — the most prestigious nods for American restaurants.

Here’s a taste of local spots that made the cut:

🍝 Luke Fetbroth, Tonino, Boston. A beloved JP Italian joint and notoriously tough table. But the taleggio cappelletti (a.k.a., these cheesy dream pillows) drizzled in aged balsamic are worth the chase.

😋 Shi Mei, Lenox Sophia, Boston. Michelin-recommended and serving a five-course prix fixe that’s a liiiittle outside our budget (~$113/person) — though the seafood toast might convince us otherwise.

🤑 Amarilys Colón, La Padrona, Boston. This bougie Italian spot is on a roll after a bang-up review from the Globe’s food critic and a Michelin rec. Though fair warning: The menu is $$$.

🥘 Sāsha Coleman, Comfort Kitchen, Boston. Home to our first B-Side Certified <3. This Dorchester rockstar bursting with flavors from the African diaspora continues to shine.

🍜 Peter Nguyen, Lê Madeline, Quincy. A third-generation Vietnamese spot that’s evolved into a vibrant gastropub, serving dishes like these unbelievable-looking crawfish noodles.

🍷 Spoke Wine Bar, Somerville. The wine list balances familiar faces (hi, chardonnay and pinot noir!) with plenty o’ surprises. And good news for wine newbs: The staff is very helpful. 

🤵 Ostra, Boston. A classic “take your parents when they’re in town (and they pay)” kind of place. But rest assured, you’re in good care from start to finish. Branzino included.

🍣 O Ya, Boston. The restaurant world was shook when this hot (read: $$$) omakase spot didn’t get any Michelin nods. Consider this their well-deserved second chance at love. 

🍷 Talulla, Cambridge. Built around the relationships with the folks who put the food/bev on the table, it’s no surprise Talulla’s wines come from people they know and places they’ve been.

🇹🇭 Pao Thampitak, Gaaeng Thai Supper Club, Boston. This award-winning pop-up serving unique Thai recipes is one of the hottest tickets in town. I mean, hello, just look at this curry.

🥐 Monica Glass, Verveine, Cambridge. When your gluten-free menu can fool this bread-loving team, yeah, you deserve a nod like this. Consider us the president of their ube brownie fan club.

🍶 Alyssa Mikiko DiPasquale, The Koji Club, Boston. Sake, sake, and more sake take center stage at this already award-winning bar (they have other bevs, too).

🍸 Nader Asgari-Tari, Zurito, Boston, MA. Order the “Rojo, Eso Sí Que Es” and thank us later.

😋 Hungry for more? From Providence to Portland, check out all the New England restaurants that made the cut here. Finalists drop March 31, with the winners announced June 15 — so stay tuned!

💸📚 If going back to school is on your vision board — but the price tag isn’t — this message is for you. Fall 2026 students in Brandeis University’s master’s business programs automatically receive a $10,000 scholarship, with even more funding available. Study finance, business analytics, applied economics, or pursue an MBA at one of the top-ranked business schools in the U.S. Just outside Boston, Brandeis prepares leaders across industries — from global finance to community leadership. Apply by March 1 and let the math work in your favor.

‼️ Reminder: The State of the Commonwealth is TONIGHT. Quick refresher: The SOTC is Gov. Maura Healey’s chance to flex her Ws and set her agenda for the new year — a pretty big deal considering she’s up for re-election this fall. FWIW: The Globe fact-checked the wins she highlighted in her new campaign video, which provides great context. We can probs expect some overlap between said video and her SOTC (think: Standing up to Trump and affordability). Catch it here at 7 p.m. $100 she says “The state of the Commonwealth is STRONG.” 

🚉 New fare gates, same old MBTA vibes. Translation: South Station’s new fare gates sometimes don’t open. Fun! These gates are meant to crack down on fare evasion (an effort that technically worked at North Station), but their first month on the job has been … rocky, with plenty of scan failures, bottlenecks, and frustrated commuters to go around. Sure, early kinks aren’t a surprise, but let’s just hope they get ironed out before similar gates roll out in Back Bay and Ruggles stations this year.

💋 The time to book V-Day dinner plans is *checks watch* … yesterday. Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, which = good luck getting a reservation. Enter: Boston Chefs’ handy dandy Valentine’s dining guide, spotlighting menus for all budgets (with availability!). Our picks: State Park’s “Lady and the Tramp” $65 menu for two (obv with spaghetti and meatballs); The Lexington’s $60/person three-course dinner with lobster bisque and baked Alaska; and for the splurge, Michelin-recommended Woods Hill Pier Four’s $100/person prix fixe looks divine. 

🍵 A foodie’s excuse to get out of the house: BOGO drinks! PSA: All HEYTEA locations (so, Allston and Newbury) are offering a buy-one-get-one deal TODAY on their new jasmine tea drinks with pistachio cheese foam (we’re drooling at this video). Another reason to get out: Flour Bakery opens its 11th(!) location TODAY in Brigham Circle. Bonus: Post your first trip to the new digs and tag @flourbakeryandcafe on IG for a chance to win a gift card! And don’t forget about the free Flour sweet treat on Friday …

Paul Mescal has added an unexpected title to his résumé: Red Sox fan. Let’s rewind.

In a British GQ interview, the Irish movie star-slash-heartthrob was asked what people would be surprised he takes seriously. And the man didn’t stutter: “I take baseball very seriously now.” Specifically, THE Boston Red Sox. *swoons*

His baseball obsession ramped up when he attended his first MLB game at Fenway last year (obviously near the dugout), and the rest is history. Though to be fair, breathing the same air as Roman Anthony could convert anyone.

Any interest in cricket? Meh. “I’m a big Red Sox boy,” he proclaimed.

— Emily Schario

🌭 Thanks for reading! Proof that a Fenway Frank can, in fact, change a life.

💜 Special shoutout to today's sponsor, Brandeis University, for supporting local journalism and giving Boston students the tools they need to build better futures. 

🗳️ The results are in: Looks like we got a bunch a Healey stans on our hands. Nearly 78% of respondents said they’d vote for the Gov if Election Day were today. One reader said, “My roommate works for Healey, soooo… gotta go with her.” We respect the loyalty.

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