Eat, Read, Go: Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Bowls, “The Divorce,” and Copenhagen

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. After a relentless stretch of gray, rainy days, the sun has finally returned to DC — and I feel 90% more alive. But that’s not the only thing making me smile…

• I’m headed to the salon, and for once, I won’t be telling my longtime stylist to “do whatever” — because stylish women everywhere are ditching the Italian Bob for a low-maintenance alternative that’s already being called “Summer’s Chicest Haircut.”

• If you were, to put it mildly, obsessed with your frilly childhood comforter, the most millennial-coded bedding brand has teamed up with H&M for a shockingly cute children’s collab. Lucky for my niece, she has a fourth birthday coming up next week.

• Strawberry season has officially arrived at Trader Joe’s, and these are the limited-edition items worth hoarding. No. 2, I’m coming for you.

• Wondering what pattern could possibly dethrone polka dots? This Annie James- and Hallie Parker-approved print — and it’s cooler and more wearable than I remember.

• The only Britain’s Got Talent contestant I can name is in a “new era.” Between the bob, sunglasses, and fur coat, I’m not exaggerating when I say the transformation is astounding. Someone check on Anna Wintour.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

These Easy Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Bowls Will Be Your Summer Fixation

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We’re dangerously close to the time of year when the relentless overlords of heat and humidity could strike at any moment, making it downright offensive to turn on an oven. That’s one reason to have Maxi’s Kitchen’s Peanut Chicken Spring Roll Bowls handy. The others? The dish takes less time to make than watching an episode of Summer House. The low-fuss recipe is packed with crunchy veggies and bouncy vermicelli noodles — so it’s essentially a deconstructed version of your favorite Vietnamese appetizer. And, perhaps most important, there’s a sweet, spicy, obscenely good peanut dressing that you’ll want to put on everything (speaking from experience). Good thing you’ll have all summer to do so.

The Time Commitment: Approximately 35 minutes.

Key Tip: To keep the noodles from sticking together, Maxine Sharf (aka Maxi’s Kitchen) recommends rinsing them in cold water after draining and tossing with a little olive oil. 

Other Takes: For more easy, breezy, summer recipes, try…

• Sheet Pan Salmon and Potatoes with Caper Chimichurri. We could wax poetic about this weeknight hero, but all you need to know: Everything cooks in one pan, then is smothered in a ridiculously vibrant sauce.

• Miso-Ginger Chicken Slaw. Use a rotisserie chicken and bagged coleslaw mix and the only real work is making the drinkable dressing and frying the shallots — technically optional, but are they really?

• Corn Avocado Feta Dill Salad, which is loaded with crisp cucumbers, pickled onions, juicy chicken, and lots of herbs — so it’s fresh, filling, and in the words of one fan, “summer personified.”

The Divorce by Freida McFadden 

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Still reeling from The Housemaid’s whiplash-inducing twist? Freida McFadden’s The Divorce is your next obsession. The psychological thriller follows Naomi, whose life looks flawless from the outside — a hedge fund manager husband, a dream house, a Lexus in the driveway, and a young son she’d do anything for. Until she comes home to find the locks changed. And that’s just the beginning. Jeremy hires a team of cutthroat divorce lawyers, empties the couple’s bank accounts, and takes up with 20-something Veronica, whom Naomi can’t stop thinking about. Naomi has two options: accept defeat and move on, or take matters into her own hands. We’ll let you guess which one she chooses in this domestic battle royale. We asked McFadden a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s your favorite unapologetic indulgence?

McFadden: Freeze-dried yogurt. Technically, it’s meant for infants, but man, it’s delicious.

Q: What’s one thing you can’t leave the house without?

McFadden: A pair of sunglasses. I think I’m half vampire.

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

McFadden: Mushrooms, which currently comprise 50% of my diet. I’d die of malnutrition, but what a way to go.

PS: To learn what “thing” makes McFadden laugh without fail, read our extended author interview here.

Less Spritz, More Scandi — This Summer, Copenhagen’s Calling

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What comes to mind when you think of a European summer? Sipping spritzes in Italy? A picnic under the Eiffel Tower? Copenhagen said, “hold my Carlsberg beer.” The bike-friendly Danish city has long been lauded for pilgrimage-worthy design and dining, but it’s quietly emerging as Europe’s new capital of cool. So expect plenty of harborside swimming spots, renowned cultural institutions (don’t miss the nearby Louisiana Museum of Modern Art), vibrant neighborhoods, Scandi-chic hotels (check out Villa Copenhagen), and outrageously good bakeries. Add in blissfully long summer days and one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, and it’s no surprise Denmark regularly ranks among the happiest places on Earth. Disney, who?

📐 There’s no better place than Copenhagen for a crash course on what’s arguably Denmark’s top export: design. Kick things off at the Danish Architecture Center to learn how the city became a global design capital, then join one of its guided walking tours. After, swing by Designmuseum Danmark — worth visiting for the Danish Modern exhibit alone (see: the famous “chair tunnel”). And to bring a little hygge home, stop by Strøget — Copenhagen’s main shopping area — to browse sleek furniture, stunning textiles, and covetable ceramics at stores like Hay House and Illums Bolighus.

⚓ Copenhagen’s idyllic waterways aren’t just for show — they’re central to the city’s charm and packed with things to do. After wandering around the picture-perfect Nyhavn harbor (imagine colorfully painted town houses, wooden ships, and outdoor cafés galore), sail through the city’s famed canals, either hopping aboard an organized boat tour or renting your own via GoBoat (no experience necessary). Need to cool off? Join the locals and take a dip at one of the many swimming spots along the waterfront (we promise, it’s much cleaner than you think), including at La Banchina, a popular hangout/restaurant in the buzzy Refshaleøen neighborhood.

🍴 There’s only one acceptable way to start the day in Copenhagen — and that’s with a heavenly croissant, gooey cinnamon roll, or buttery cardamom bun (we’re partial to the ones at Juno the Bakery). When you’re ready for lunch, head to Barr, known for inventive spins on traditional smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches on rye bread), with toppings like fried pickled herring or beef tartare. Come dinnertime, snag a reservation at Kødbyens Fiskebar, where the seafood is just about as fresh as it gets — think: razor clams, mussels, and the “famously good” oysters you won’t want to skip.

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

Q: My partner and I recently went on a double date with another couple, who suggested a fancy new restaurant and mentioned they had a gift card. When the bill came, they only applied it to their portion. Were we wrong to assume it would go toward the total?

“If these are friends you dine with regularly, and this restaurant was outside the normal price range for the four of you, then yes, it was fair to assume the gift card would allow you all to try somewhere new and pricey. But if you’ve only dined together a few times, there’s less reason to assume it covered everyone. They may have just been trying to explain why they suggested that place. Either way, they should’ve been clear from the start — something like: ‘We have a gift card, but if you’d prefer somewhere less pricey this weekend, we can save it for another time.’ That said, you could’ve also asked about the gift card up front or suggested a different restaurant if the price point gave you pause. Bottom line: The other couple handled this poorly.”

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