Eat, Read, Go: French Onion Soup Meatballs, “Strangers,” and Los Olivos

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Between those Taylor Swift and Blake Lively texts (I’ll never think of a violin the same) and the Queer Eye cast drama, celebs were exceptionally messy this week. Thankfully, the internet delivered a few things that’ll help me recover emotionally. That includes…

• This video of the Hamnet cast dancing their hearts out to Rihanna’s “We Found Love” in full Shakespearean costume. It’s the purest thing I’ve seen in weeks, if not months — and isn’t at all cringe.

• Hilary Duff performing this Certified Millennial Banger live for the first time ever. Yes, this is what dreams are made of.

• This French-Girl collab is back with another highly anticipated, undeniably chic collection. This time, I’ll snag something before everything sells out, like this patchwork jacket. 

• According to Bella Hadid, we should all be cosplaying as this spunky children’s book character. Consider me fully on board — once my hair gets a little longer.

• Finally, as a year-round sneaker evangelist, I’m heavily invested in this list of the best winter sneakers. Yes, even with the impending snowstorm.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Not to Be Dramatic, But This Is the Coziest Winter Recipe of All Time  

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You don’t need to be a meteorologist to know the forecast: Cloudy (sorry, snowy) with a chance of meatballs. Specifically, Rachel Mansfield’s French Onion Soup Meatballs. In this protein-charged riff on the bowl of cheese disguised as soup, jammy caramelized onions are used two ways: as part of the juicy meatballs and in the savory pan sauce — all of which gets covered in a blanket of bubbly, bronzed Gruyère cheese. And while you could pile it on top of noodles or grains, we highly recommend eating it straight from the skillet, with some crusty bread to soak up all the deliciousness. Mon Dieu.

The Time Commitment: Just over an hour. Though most of that is spent caramelizing the onions, so they get that sweet taste and jammy texture — which, we promise, is worth the effort.

Key Tips: While the recipe calls for ground beef, Mansfield says you can use ground turkey instead. And if you’d rather bake the meatballs, pop them in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes while the onions caramelize.

Other Takes: For more French onion everything, try…

• French Onion Pasta. With buttery toasted breadcrumbs and the only long noodle shape that matters, there’s no such thing as only making this once.

• French Onion Baked Lentils and Farro. Accurately described as “a dream of a winter dish,” this vegetarian recipe is hearty but not heavy, mostly hands-off, and tastes just as good eaten cold the next day.

• Skillet Chicken With Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions. Unlike most French onion somethings, this one-pot dinner comes together in 30 minutes — which might explain the more than 15,000 five-star reviews.

PS: Want more? RSVP here for Rachel Mansfield’s live cooking demo with Skimm+. We’ll send the ingredient list ahead of time, so you can cook alongside her — and leave with dinner done.

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden

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As far as early pandemic — and, who are we kidding, life — scenarios go, Belle Burden’s looked idyllic: holed up with her husband of 20-plus years and two of their kids in their Martha’s Vineyard mansion, drinking whiskey sours and building impressive fires. But as we learn in her unputdownable memoir, Strangers, that all shattered overnight. In one fell swoop, the granddaughter of Manhattan socialite Babe Paley discovered her husband had been having an affair, wasn’t happy in the life they’d built, and wanted out. In an expansion of her viral 2023 Modern Love essay, Burden dissects what she thought was a happy marriage, reckons with her new reality, and examines an age-old question: Can we ever really know the person lying next to us in bed? We asked Burden a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?

Burden: I don’t love to share dishes at restaurants — there’s never enough food.

Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence?

Burden: Honey-dipped donuts from Back Door Donuts on Martha’s Vineyard.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only eat one thing, what would it be?

Burden: My daughter’s spaghetti Bolognese. It’s so good.

This Charming Wine Destination Is California’s Best-Kept Secret

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Santa Barbara may get all the glory when it comes to getaways on California’s Central Coast. But there’s a lesser-known destination that’s, dare we say, even cooler and more magical than where the “Princess of Montecito” resides. Located about 45 minutes inland, Los Olivos is a charming community in the increasingly popular Santa Ynez Valley. And while it may not have beaches, it has renowned restaurants, Old West charm, plenty of ways to take in the pure pastoral setting (think: biking, hiking, horseback riding), and what seems like a tasting room every .01 square mile.

🍷 The “new Napa” is home to dozens of wineries — many of which have tasting rooms downtown. Start at Stolpman Vineyards, popular for its small-batch natural wines (worth noting: Its Fresh Garage Patio has more experimental offerings). Then head across the street to Liquid Farm (known for its chardonnay and pinot noir), before visiting the female-run Story of Soil for spectacular gamay. When you need a break from sipping, pop into nearby boutiques, like Los Olivos General Store (for chic candles and kitchen accoutrements) and Global Eye Shop & Studio (for handmade tableware and decor).

🛍️ In addition to Los Olivos, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to five other equally picturesque communities — all of which are within a 15- to 20-minute drive. So it’s easy to do a day trip to one or more. We recommend stopping in Santa Ynez, a “sophisticated cowboy town,” to shop for everything from custom hats to designer clothes, learn more about the local history, and listen to live music at an old-school saloon. And don’t miss Solvang, an excessively whimsical Danish village that looks straight out of a fairy tale. (Pro tip: Pick up a kringle from 50-plus-year-old Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery.)

🍴 Los Olivos is surrounded by farms, so make sure to stock up on fresh produce and other tasty souvenirs at one of the local stands (Finley Farms and Summerset Farm are both excellent choices). For something more substantial, check out Nella Kitchen & Bar, where any of the six pinsas (think: pizza but with light, fluffy bread) are a must-order. And you can’t go wrong with a reservation at Bar Le Côte. The French-inspired, California-cool seafood spot is “the crown jewel in the town’s dining scene.”

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

Q: My friend constantly cancels at the last minute, but she’s super sensitive and I’m worried bringing it up will make everything worse. But I’m also annoyed all the time, so what’s the best way to talk to her about it without starting drama? 

“When someone consistently cancels, it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t care about your friendship — so approach the situation with kindness and compassion. You can say something like: ‘I love spending time with you, and I know we have been friends for years, but you’ve been canceling plans at the last minute a lot lately, and it leaves me feeling hurt and confused. I make time to see you, and then I am left without plans when you cancel.’ You’re not asking her for an answer — you’re letting her know how you feel. Even if your friend is sensitive, that shouldn’t stop you from being honest. The relationship is already being hurt, and it’ll only get worse if this pattern continues. Walking on eggshells isn’t healthy for any relationship, and a friendship should be able to handle kind but difficult conversations.”

When your body wants to move but your brain is saying “nah” — Apple Fitness+ yoga gets it. Their flows are proof that you can feel strong, stretched, and centered without burning all your time and energy. Thanks to welcoming trainers and modifications for all levels, you can show up exactly as you are, wherever you are. Whether you’re squeezing in a 10-minute reset between meetings or in desperate need of a longer, feel-good flow after a stressful day, there’s something for everyone. And with new episodes dropping every week, consistency feels less like a commitment and more…refreshing. Did we mention new subscribers get one month of Apple Fitness+ free? ‘Cause they do.^†*