It’s a holiday week, so we’ve got some reads today that pair well with an ice-cold beer and a lounge chair. Starting with how every single review of The Bear got it wrong, and continuing with…

• Catamaran dreamin’: Five days on a yacht in the British Virgin Islands
• Secret ingredient: Add this to your BBQ spread

“The Bear” Backlash Was Inevitable. Here’s Why It’s Wrong.

It’s a tale as old as time: something — anything! — becomes massively popular, and eventually the naysayers come out of the woodwork to announce that actually it’s not that good. On rare occasions, they’re right: the later seasons of Ted Lasso were insufferable. But more often than not, these people are simply trying to be contrarian because they’re snobs who can’t allow themselves to like the same things as the great unwashed.

It makes sense, then, that we’ve reached that moment for The Bear. After two critically acclaimed seasons — not to mention a few episodes that are already being described as some of the greatest we’ve ever seen on TV — and a slew of honors, its ubiquity at awards shows and on year-end “best of” lists has made it an easy target. Add to that stuff like Jeremy Allen White’s Calvin Klein ad and the sheer amount of times people keep saying “Yes, chef,” and it’s almost understandable that some would be getting sick of it.

Is The Bear‘s third season perfect? Not at all. But as InsideHook Managing Editor Bonnie Stiernberg details in her appraisal, to argue that it’s somehow bad is, frankly, insane.

Last week, we asked you to tell us about your favorite underrated spirit. We got a lot of great ideas for our own home bars. Here are some our favorite answers:

• "Aberlour A'bunadh. It’s more expensive now but it is still a good 'smooth' high-proof spirit."
• "Evan Williams BIB." That's bottled-in-bond, btw. We agree on this one.
• "Bacanora." Another agave spirit gaining steam.
• "Gammel Dansk."
• "The Holy Spirit." Nice one.

Five Days on a Catamaran in the British Virgin Islands

Whether it’s a pontoon at a bachelorette party, a booze cruise on the Hudson or my dad’s Boston Whaler on Lake George, I am, at all times, ready and willing to be out on a boat. It should come as no surprise, then, that I would find the idea of a small-vessel cruise attractive.

I wasn’t prepared for how attractive until I went on a five-day, 10-person catamaran trip around the British Virgin Islands with The Moorings. Now, having done it, will I ever vacation any other way for the rest of my life? Given budgetary constraints, yes. But if left to my own devices, I would not. — Lindsay Rogers

IN THE NEWS

The Department of Justice has two words for Boeing: plead guilty.

Amsterdam is drastically changing its approach to cruise ships.

Pork roll, egg and cheese on an everything bagel — but make it a liqueur.

Honor the Founding Fathers this week by [checks notes] swimming naked.

This Revered Calabrian Allium Should Have a Place at Your July Table

In the latest installment of Senior Editor Amanda Gabriele’s summer produce series, she’s bringing you a recipe for an easy salsa verde that could be the star of your long Fourth of July weekend, which uses an ingredient that’s new to her — and probably to you too.

“I admit that before I started this produce series, I’d never heard of a Tropea onion. Maybe that’s because it’s not something you’ll usually find in U.S. grocery stores; rather, it’s a delicacy that companies like Natoora source from specialty producers. But this sweet red onion is definitely one to know, especially during the first week of July when it’s truly at its peak.”