Olives & Grace
In a year when sending love meant more than ever, Sofi Madison’s “Local Maker Gift Box” provided a much-needed dose of TLC, in the form of delectable shortbread cookies from Lark Fine Foods, peanut butter patties from Seacoast Sweets, and a Well Told rocks glass engraved with a city map. The best part? Purchasing one for your favorite cousin or college bud is a gift to the community, too, as every small-batch, handcrafted item inside is produced right here in the Bay State. 623 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118, olivesandgrace.com.
Brian Mercury, Oak + Rowan
Since earning this accolade four years ago, Mercury has somehow managed to up his game even further in his current role at Oak + Rowan. His beguiling confections are at once adventurous and familiar (see: the Twix-inspired sweet with chocolate cremeux, whey caramel, and a bright-green pool of EVOO). And Mercury’s deft touch extends far beyond the dessert menu, from his outstanding sourdough bread to the irresistible pastry cart at brunch. 321 A St., Boston, MA 02210, oakandrowan.com.
Hive Events
It doesn’t get much cooler than throwing back an Old Fashioned while lounging in a 1983 Airstream. Let the team from Hive Events curate (or create) the perfect beverage selection for your wedding and then bring it to sweet, sippable life in one of their retro trailers, which they’ll park outside your venue. Posh glamping tents offer additional, highly ’Grammable space for relaxing and imbibing. Good luck getting your guests to leave after last call. MA hive-events.com.
Whaling in Oklahoma
Chef Tim Maslow casually explodes the crudo genre at his innovative South End izakaya, playing at a level few others can match. The brilliance is in the deft balancing of bold contrasts. Charred-skin mackerel with pungent truffle ponzu cries out for a palate-resetting respite—then gets it, from feathery radish sprouts. Velvety scallops with sweet blood orange are nudged back to savory by fiery-citrus yuzu kosho. Norm-core tuna tartare this is (definitely) not. 647 Tremont St. , Boston, MA whalinginoklahoma.com.
Saltie Girl
Briny oysters are just the tip of the ice-packed platters here. Sure, restaurateur Kathy Sidell provides an intimate Back Bay port of call for passersby to stop and slurp expertly shucked bivalves—buttery, Duxbury-raised Merry Oysters, sweet South Bay Blondes from a multi-generation Onset farm. But there’s also super-fresh shrimp and crab cocktail, sea urchin spruced up with ponzu sauce from medicine droppers, and a list of bottles for washing them down in crisp waves of wine. 281 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA saltiegirl.com.
S.H. Videography
This Back Bay videographer understands that there are certain moments you’ll want to relive over and over. Thanks to nearly three decades of documenting couples’ special days, S.H. Videography knows exactly what to linger on: the sweet first look; the vows that made the whole crowd cry; the heartfelt, two-Jamesons-deep toast from Uncle Don; the ring bearer breaking it down on the dance floor. As S.H. puts it, “A photo captures a moment in time, but a video captures time in motion.” 162 Newbury St., Boston, Massachusetts 02116, shvideography.com.
Singh's Roti Shop
Drawing influences from Indian and Caribbean cuisines, this Trinidadian shop's roti wraps—pizza-size flatbreads griddled to order, then stuffed with meat (curried goat!), vegetables (sautéed cabbage, potato), and a house-made spicy pepper sauce (also available to go by the bottle)—are hearty and bold. Share one with a friend to leave room for the rest of the menu's treasures, which include curried chickpeas, garlicky puréed pumpkin, and spongy pholourie fritters with sweet-sour tamarind sauce. 692 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, MA 02125, singhsrotishop.net.
Ciao! Pizza & Pasta
Marvin Posada's Neapolitan-style pizzas are notable, and not just because he serves them in an eight-seat spot underneath the Tobin Bridge. The chef's chewy, blistered crusts and fresh toppings rival any pie shop in the city: Sweet piquillo peppers are an uncommon complement to chorizo, oregano, and fluffy house-made ricotta, while the garlic confit that blesses the soppressata should be added to everything. Formerly of Mistral and L'Andana, Posada and his business partner, Edson Coimbra, also have hospitality on lock. 59 Williams St., Chelsea, MA 02150, ciaopizzaandpasta.com.
Gracie’s Ice Cream
The future of ice cream lives in the freezers of this Fluff-cone-stuffing, hot-fudge-slinging, topping-tossing mecca of flavor, now with even more selection: Affable dairy maven Aaron Cohen recently teamed up with Juliet’s Josh Lewin and Katrina Jazayeri to create rich, offbeat flavors such as Swedish apple pie, sweet potato, and peach basil. 22 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 02143, graciesicecre.am.
Rafanelli Events
You have a vision. Bryan Rafanelli can make it a reality. From save-the-dates to servers in period costume, Rafanelli's got it covered. So whether you want something exotic and over-the-top or a refined and elegant affair, here's one guarantee: Your special day will be remembered forever, as Team Rafanelli fades sweetly into the background and you take all the credit. 142 Berkeley St., Second Floor, Boston, MA rafanellievents.com.
Party Favors
Between hitting the dance floor and hitting the bar, most wedding guests ignore the cake—or else pick halfheartedly at a slice that's too sweet on the outside, too dry on the inside. The veteran treat-makers at Party Favors will bake your choice of 10 kinds of batters (among them, carrot, almond, and lemon); pack it with moist fillings like cherries and cream, French mocha buttercream, and white chocolate-cinnamon mousse; and top it off with a just-right frosting. The result: a cake made to get, and keep, your guests' attention. 1356 Beacon St., Brookline, MA partyfavorsbrookline.com.
Rendezvous
No green apple martinis here. Only ingenious blends make it onto Rendezvous's cocktail list: gin blended with kaffir lime and curry, vodka stirred with pear brandy and cardamom. Like the formidable wine list, the mixed drinks are designed to enhance the Mediterranean flavors on the plate. Not too staid, not too trendy, and never too sweet—precisely what we (over 21) Goldilocks types are looking for. 502 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA rendezvouscentralsquare.com.
The Daily Catch
It's true that the menu here rings more Sicilian than New England. But this is equally true: The seafood you'll find tossed with pasta and served in the skillet, or dressed simply over a salad, is worlds more flavorful than the clam-shack offerings you'll find all over town. The calamari is tender; the broiled haddock's simplicity showcases its sweetness; and the chowder is a combo of clams and cream that's truly soul-warming. 2 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 2210, dailycatch.com.
Les Zygomates
Gleaming, deep-cup Island Creek oysters. Salty-sweet Wellfleets. Fleshy shrimp and crab so tender, they go down in one gulp. This is the ocean's bounty as originally interpreted by way of French brasseries: an icy onslaught of shellfish that is mostly raw (of course), but occasionally cooked (as with the Jonah crab claws). Everything is so fresh, the sauces and mignonettes ought to be superfluous—and yet they're so damn tasty, you can't leave them alone. 129 South St., Boston, MA 2111, winebar.com.
Christina's
No child's play, this. Christina's ice cream is an acquired and—unless your offspring have preternatural palates—grownup taste. By that we mean green tea. Adzuki bean. Carrot cake. Fresh rose. Herbal chai. Even the standbys generally get an epicurean twist: The vanilla is malted, and the coffee is cappuccino. All of it is homemade, and flavors change with the seasons and the whims of its creators. When's the last time you saw something sweet taken so seriously? 1225 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 2139, christinasicecream.com.