— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
theSkimm
Jodi Picoult’s new historical fiction novel explores an infamous Shakespearean theory — whether the playwright used a ghostwriter. By Any Other Name tells the story of two female playwrights: Emilia Bassano, who is based on a real woman, and in 1581, manages to get her play on stage with the help of William Shakespeare. (Reminder: Women writers weren’t exactly welcomed with open arms back then.) And Melina Green, her fictional descendant, who centuries later, also finds success as a playwright using a male pseudonym. We asked Picoult a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…
Q: What’s the last social media post you sent to friends?
Picoult: I sent a People article to my friend, who is a closet conspiracy theorist, about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s weekend in Rhode Island. She’s convinced they actually got married.
Q: What’s an unpopular opinion you stand by?
Picoult: Jukebox musicals aren’t really musicals and should not be made.
Q: What’s one recipe everyone should make?
Picoult: No-knead bread. I keep a vat of dough in my fridge all winter, so I can pull off a grapefruit-sized chunk and bake it fresh whenever I want some.
This Pasta Primavera Is the Perfect Summer Send-Off
theSkimm
Excuse the hot take, but while Starbucks would have you think otherwise, September is summer month. That’s exactly why we’ll be making Once Upon a Chef’s Pasta Primavera from now until September 22. In the simple yet satisfying recipe, almost end-of-the-season veggies (including sweet cherry tomatoes, crispy zucchini slices, and crunchy corn kernels) are roasted until they’re slightly jammy, then the juices are combined with butter and cheese, creating a luscious sauce that coats each bite of pasta. Add in herbes de Provence, red pepper flakes, pine nuts, and basil, and you’ve got a recipe that can shine at a Labor Day BBQ or be thrown together for a busy weeknight dinner.
The Time Commitment: Just 45 minutes are all that stands between you and this seriously easy pasta.
Key Tips: No herbes de Provence? No problem. Dried thyme is a fine substitute. And while the recipe calls for fusilli, feel free to use penne, farfalle, gemelli, or campanelle instead.
Other Takes: Your summer days might be numbered, but there’s no shortage of end-of-season pasta recipes. Consider this Summer Corn Tomato Pasta, which, as the name implies, consists of barely-cooked corn and tomatoes, plus melty globs of mozzarella. Two other great options if you went overboard on corn? This Creamy Sweet Corn & Brown Butter Ricotta Pasta and this deeply comforting Easy Creamy Corn Pasta — essentially a grown-up mac and cheese. Meanwhile, if too many tomatoes are the problem, check out this Bon Appetit recipe, which (a) accurately describes cherry tomatoes as “nature’s Gushers” and (b) takes about 15 minutes.
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This Majestic Scottish City Is Straight Out of a Fairytale
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Whoever came up with the phrase “something old, something new” definitely wasn’t talking about Edinburgh — but perhaps they should have been. Sure, Scotland’s capital has both an Old Town (which famously inspired Harry Potter) and a New Town, which is slightly misleading given it was built in the 18th and 19th centuries. But while its storybook-like castles, beautiful Gothic buildings, and twisty cobblestone streets might look ancient, the city is also vibrant (thanks to a world-famous arts scene) and trendy (thanks to its wealth of buzzy bars and restaurants). And, if you’re still not convinced, Edinburgh is also home to the world’s only knighted penguin. Seriously.
🛏 Any hotel that welcomes guests with a “wee nip of whisky” is one we can get on board with — as is the case at the Scotsman Hotel. Housed in the former headquarters of Scotland’s national newspaper, the boutique hotel pays tribute to its history with accommodations ranging from Reporter Rooms to Headline and Publisher Suites — most of which boast light and airy color palettes, high ceilings, and fantastic views of historical attractions. That’s in addition to a brasserie-style restaurant, a gorgeous Art Deco cinema, and two bars (including The Press Bar).
🏰 At the heart of Edinburgh is the Royal Mile, a historic street (technically, 1.13 miles) that runs through Old Town. Start at the 12th-century Edinburgh Castle to see the country’s crown jewels and the firing of the One O’Clock Gun. Then meander down the bustling cobblestone stretch, which is lined with shops, restaurants, and attractions (don’t miss Advocate’s Close and St. Giles’ Cathedral), before ending at the Palace of Holyroodhouse (aka, the official residence of King Charles III). If you still have time after all that, it’s worth the short climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano with unparalleled panoramic views.
🎨 The annual Fringe Festival — which claims to be “one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet” — may have just ended, but Edinburgh is bursting with culture all year. Art lovers should visit the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, which is housed within two grand Georgian mansions and divided by a lush sculpture park. Theater and dance fans can catch the Scottish Opera or Scottish Ballet at the historic Festival Theatre. And film enthusiasts should see a movie at the century-old Cameo Cinema. Plus, don’t skip Summerhall, which hosts musical performances, theater productions, art exhibitions, and more.
🍴 If you’re looking for a full Scottish breakfast, you can’t go wrong at the newly-opened (and very buzzy) Ardfern. Prefer something lighter? Pick up the cult-favorite crème brûlée danish at Lannan Bakery. Later, for a contemporary take on famous Scottish dishes (like haggis bon bons), grab a reservation at The Bon Vivant. Or, try Baba, which whips up inventive Middle Eastern dishes using Scottish ingredients. And when in Scotland, you must drink whisky (we don’t make the rules), so stop by the Balmoral Hotel’s SCOTCH to sip one of its 500-plus bottles.
We asked you to vote on an etiquette question you’d like answered. The winner was:
Q: My partner is a picky eater. When friends and family cook for us, he often won’t eat his meal. I think it’s rude and worry he’s offending them. What’s the best way to handle this?
“If your partner isn’t eating because of a medical or lifestyle situation, you could talk to your family [or friends] and [make them aware of your partner’s dietary restrictions]. Generally, the host will be more than happy to make changes to the menu the next time.
But if it’s simply picky eating, the best course [of action] would be to have a conversation with your partner to explain that not eating the food served [could be] seen as rude and offensive. Encourage them to at least try the food that’s on their plate … Depending on how informal the gathering is, you could also offer to bring a dish your partner will eat. Just be sure to bring enough to share with everyone.”
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Have a book, recipe, or travel rec? Or, a dicey etiquette question you want answered by an expert? Submit them here.
Skimm’d by: Taylor Trudon, Alex Carr, Melissa Goldberg, and Margaret Wheeler Johnson
Photos by Ballantine Books, Johnny Miller for Once Upon a Chef, ewg3D via iStock, Guven Ozdemir via iStock, Drazen_ via Getty Images, courtesy of Courtney Opalko, Brand Partners
