Eat, Read, Go: White Bean Tuna Orzo, “Audition,” and Spontaneous Getaways​

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Just when I thought no collab could be more perplexing than these Balenciaga x Scholl high-heeled sandals (even Orthopedic Shoe Queen Sarah Jessica Parker wouldn’t touch them), along came the Kate Spade New York x Target designer trash bags. I repeat, designer trash bags — which are somehow even more troubling than they sound. But those weren’t the only things that had me doing a double-take this week. So did Jon Hamm’s stance on the Craig Conover and Paige DeSorbo breakup (who knew he was such a Southern Charm fan?), Vogue’s extremely compelling case for “sister dressing” (apologies to my mom, but her matching frilly dresses could never), and the meteoric rise of this surprisingly versatile vest style, which is “going to be everywhere this spring.” If you haven’t spotted it yet, give it, oh, five minutes.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

This White Bean Tuna Orzo Solves Tonight’s Dinner — and Tomorrow’s Lunch — Problem

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Ever find yourself staring at the fridge, wishing dinner would just...appear? (Welcome, you’re among friends.) When that happens, we whip up a big batch of this White Bean Tuna Orzo — as close to magic as dinner gets. The fast and fuss-free recipe — included in Jessica Merchant’s new cookbook, Easy Everyday — turns pantry staples like canned tuna, tender orzo, cannellini beans, roasted red peppers, and quick-pickled onions into a satisfying, protein-packed salad that’s even better the next day. So double the recipe and you’ll also have plenty of not-at-all-sad desk salads.

The Time Commitment: Only 25 minutes. But if you do yourself a favor and cook the orzo and prepare the dressing in advance, you can have dinner on the table in 15.

Key Tips: While this salad shines on its own, Merchant also likes to pile it on a bed of greens or scoop it into lettuce cups, which “adds an additional refreshing crunch.”

Other Takes: Want more dishes that can be dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow? Try…

• Spring Couscous Salad, loaded with peas, herbs, and a garlicky za’atar marinade (pro tip: if you’re meal prepping, add the pistachios and arugula right before eating). 

• This delightfully nubby Chopped Broccoli and Grain Salad — roughly 50 times more delicious than the creamy, bacony ones your mom used to make. 

• Farro With Blistered Tomatoes, Pesto, and Spinach, which is accurately described as both “virtuous (all those grains and vegetables) and lush (melty mozzarella).”

• Halloumi Chopped Salad — essentially, a happy jumble of roasted peppers and potatoes, tangy pepperoncini, and fried cheese.

Audition by Katie Kitamura

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Katie Kitamura’s Audition opens with a Manhattan lunch between two strangers: a seasoned stage actress in rehearsals for a new play and a much younger, attractive man. But before you assume it’s Babygirl in book form, here’s the twist: he thinks he might be her son. Whether that’s true — or whether they’re something else entirely — only gets murkier as this “deftly crafted, slow-burn psychological thriller” unfolds in two acts (yes, like a play), each offering a competing version of the truth. We asked Kitamura a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s the last thing you read that you can’t stop thinking about?

Kitamura: On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle.

Q: What’s a corner of the internet you recently discovered?

Kitamura: Archival ballet clips on Instagram.

Q: What’s your shortcut to relaxation?

Kitamura: Eye masks, but also extreme fatigue.

These Next-Level Hotels Are Perfect For Spontaneous Getaways​

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Looking for a break from everyday life? We’ve got great news: HotelTonight can make your getaway dreams a reality as early as, well, tonight. Plus, you’ll actually get rewarded for booking last minute. For each booked stay, users earn 10% of the booking value in Airbnb credit.^† (A gift for not planning ahead? Sign us up.) Keep reading to preview a few of our favorite spots.

Heading “out east” to the Hamptons is on almost every New Yorker’s bingo card. Do yourself a favor and check into the Canoe Place Inn in Southampton for your next visit. Despite being the site of America's oldest inn, this year-round luxury destination feels refreshingly new thanks to its careful restoration and curated art collection. The best part? You don’t have to leave the property to hear world-class music performances, indulge in relaxing spa treatments, or enjoy delicious cuisine.

The Hamptons are to New Yorkers as Napa Valley is to San Franciscans. For anyone itching to escape the Bay Area, book a stay at Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs — a top-notch wellness resort in Calistoga where relaxation is the name of the game. You can soak in all three of their geothermal mineral pools, cool off with a mud bath, and participate in one of their many wellness workshops on digestion, lymphatic immunity, mindful eating, and more.

LA residents hankering for a slower-paced weekend should head straight to the Avalon Hotel and Bungalows in Palm Springs. The boutique hotel’s 72 Spanish-style lodgings and three pools are nestled among lush gardens. Unwind with a complimentary yoga class or schedule time with a private trainer at the state-of-the-art fitness center before trying a detoxifying salt scrub or LED diamond facial at their top-of-the-line spa. And don’t leave without eating at Melvyn’s, a legendary restaurant that was once a private hideaway for stars like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra.

Need a respite from Charlotte, NC? Drive two hours west to Asheville, where local craft breweries, eclectic architecture, and vibrant art shows come standard. Enjoy all it has to offer by staying in the heart of downtown at The Restoration Hotel. Sweeping Blue Ridge Mountain views and botanical-inspired cocktails await at the rooftop bar, plus the hotel has its very own bowling alley and regularly hosts  local musicians.

You don’t need to plan ahead to enjoy a weekend away, especially when HotelTonight has your back. Go ahead, book a spontaneous getaway — and get rewarded with up to 30% off and an Airbnb credit for a future vacay. Ready, set, relax.*

We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:

Q: At a recent family gathering, my partner brought up an argument we had over monthly expenses. I’m more private than they are, so it made me uncomfortable, but I wasn’t sure how to shut it down without making things awkward. What could I have done?

“Take a moment when you’re alone with your partner and have a conversation. Without being accusatory, say: ‘I would prefer that topics like this are private and not shared. That’s really important to me.’ We all come to relationships with different ‘rules’ around what we do — and don’t — talk about, especially with families. It’s not about blaming the other person, but [rather], letting them know your comfort level [around certain topics] … which is basically expressing a boundary. 

… [That said, if you need to say something in the moment, keep it casual]: ‘Hey, I’d prefer not to talk about this right now,’ and change the subject. You don’t want to make it into a huge deal.”

FEATURED EXPERT:

Jillian Turecki

Relationship expert and author of It Begins With You

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.