Eat, Read, Go: Chipotle Salmon Bowl, “Found Time,” and Spring Travel Spots

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. It’s somehow still cold in New York City, so I’ll be staying inside in protest until temperatures rise. Thankfully, I have plenty to keep me busy, like this LEGO set (not a sentence I saw coming). It’s a collab with my go-to flower company, and the finished pieces are bookshelf-worthy. But also...

• I’m debating whether I can pull off the coolest hairstyle right now: the BLSB (good luck figuring out what it stands for). It’ll be a stretch, but my millennial heart is already booked for a consultation.

• To manifest warmer weather, I’ll plan my easy, breezy spring outfits. An oversized shirt is key, thanks to this guide for styling it so you look chic instead of swallowed whole. (The fifth tip is game-changing.)

• I’ll start the final season of my favorite comedy series. I’m not ready to say goodbye to these lovable and badly behaved characters, but at least the reviews promise a “fantastically funny farewell.”  

• I’ll make my way through Easter’s Most Polarizing Candy™ — which I hoarded purely because it was half price. I’ve apparently been eating it wrong my entire life, but TBD if I’ve been missing out. 

• I keep spotting people wearing this denim style, featuring a detail you’ll either love or hate. I thought I was Team Hard Pass, but the more I see it, the more I think I love (and need) it. 

— Jamie Feldman / Writer, Culture & Leisure / Brooklyn, NY

There’s No Such Thing as Making This Simple Yet Impressive Salmon Bowl Once

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We don’t have to convince you of the brilliance that is a rice bowl. They’re easy. They’re reliable. They require little thought. But somewhere around bowl 47, they start to feel the same. That is, until you try Pinch of Yum’s Chipotle Salmon with Orange Salsa and Aji Verde. In this low-effort, high-reward meal, salmon is smothered in a chipotle brown-sugar rub, then baked in the oven — so it’s mostly hands-off and virtually impossible to mess up. Even better? The flaky fish gets paired with fluffy rice, a vibrant orange salsa-salad situation, and a punchy aji verde that’s so good, a commenter swore she could “lick that sauce off of my shoe and love it.” We wouldn’t recommend doing that, but we would recommend doubling the recipe.

The Time Commitment: Approximately 40 minutes.

Key Tips: If you’re in the “cilantro tastes like soap” camp (our sincere apologies), use chives instead. Also, for a lighter aji verde, swap mayo with Greek yogurt.

Other Takes: For more never-boring rice bowls, try…

• Mojo Meatballs. All the zippy, garlicky goodness of the classic Hispanic sauce + oven-baked meatballs = a weeknight dream come true.

• Korean Beef Bowls. Sure, you could go out for Korean BBQ. Or you could make this easy, protein-packed dinner in 20 minutes.

• Sticky Miso Salmon Bowl. Essentially, an elevated pantry salmon recipe with 13,000 five-star reviews — including one that claims it “cured my depression.” Sold.

Found Time by Caroline Goldstein 

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Still in your Love Story era? While we can’t make more episodes magically appear, we can introduce you to Caroline Goldstein’s Found Time — a new novel with ’90s New York City nostalgia and a romance that’ll wreck you. The story begins in the smartphone-free utopia that was 1993: Lili and Reid meet at a Jeff Buckley concert in NYC’s East Village, kicking off a steamy summer together before their paths diverge. Flash forward 30 years, and they’re both single parents, each raising a teenage daughter. When they have a chance encounter, Lili and Reid are forced to reckon with what they left behind…and whether it’s still there. We asked Goldstein — who, we should note, is also our senior commerce editor — a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one thing everyone needs to watch?

Goldstein: RuPaul answering increasingly personal questions as the camera inches closer to his face.

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

Goldstein: “What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?” — one of the short stories from Lauren Groff’s new book, Brawler. It gave me a new perspective on the insidiousness of inherited privilege. Also, Pam Grossman’s Magic Maker, which is a guide on imbuing your creative process with more, well, magic.

Q: What’s the one place everyone needs to visit?

Goldstein: Highgate Cemetery in London. It’s a required pilgrimage for goths everywhere (current and former), but it’s also one of the most peaceful places on earth. It feels suspended in time.

If Anyone Needs Us, Here’s Where We’ll Be Vacationing This Spring

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Spring travel is calling…and so are your points. Whether you’re cashing in rewards for flights or finally booking that long-overdue getaway, credit card perks can make it all a little easier (and a lot more fun). But here’s the thing: some of the rewards we rely on could be on the chopping block. That’s where The Points Guy comes in, breaking down what’s at stake and helping you protect the perks that help power dreamy trips like these.

🌊Craving sun, salty air, and activities that keep the whole crew entertained? San Diego, California is the answer. Make your way to 15th Street Beach in Del Mar, a laid-back stretch of sand with easy access and a classic SoCal surf break. After an afternoon of swimming and building sandcastles, head up to Powerhouse Park — a grassy, bluff-top hangout spot for golden hour magic.

🪻If wide open spaces and wildflower-lined roads are more your speed, Texas Hill Country is calling. Just outside Austin, the region famously comes alive this time of year thanks to epic fields of bluebonnets, views made for sipping a crisp glass of wine (Texas Hill Country boasts dozens of wineries and vineyards), and charming small towns like Fredericksburg. But whatever you do, don’t leave without trying some classic barbecue.

⛰️ Asheville, North Carolina delivers when it comes to a spring reset. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this artsy, dog-friendly city has it all. Think: blooming trails (don’t miss the Craggy Gardens along the Blue Ridge Parkway), waterfall hikes (Looking Glass Falls is popular for a reason), and fresh mountain air you’ll want to bottle up. Oh, and did we mention Asheville has a seriously good food and brewery scene? Cheers to that.

Psst…trips like these aren’t just fun, they’re fueled by the points and rewards millions of Americans earn every day. These cash back and rewards programs not only support travelers but the small businesses and communities that depend on tourism. The current proposed legislation would cut rewards, reduce protections, and greatly impact how (and when) we travel.

Want to make the most of your spending on your spring getaway — and beyond? Head to ProtectYourPoints.com to learn more and take action.*

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

Q: My friend complains constantly, and her negativity has started bleeding into every hangout. I’m not even sure she realizes it. What’s the kindest way to bring it up?

“Start from a place of compassion. Has she gone through a breakup, job loss, serious diagnosis, or death in the family recently? Is she burned out from the news cycle or the demands of modern life? You might say, ‘I've noticed you’ve been sharing more frustrations than usual. I get it — there's a lot to complain about right now. But as your friend, I want to check in. Is everything OK?’ Pair that honesty with an invitation for change. Let her know you care and you’d love for your time together to feel more uplifting. Something like: ‘I really value our friendship — and life is already draining enough. What if we set a timer and spend the first 10 minutes airing our frustrations, then focus on having fun?’ This makes you allies instead of adversaries, which will keep her open rather than defensive.”

Skimm’d by: Jamie Feldman and Melissa Goldberg. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.