Eat, Read, Go: Spicy Vodka Unstuffed Shells, “The Correspondent,” and Mérida

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. I’ll be honest, my holiday spirit has been tested this week. One of the only reasons I still watch Saturday Night Live is reportedly appearing on his last show tonight, the “chic” legging color du jour feels like a personal attack, and Michelle Obama is single-handedly reviving the going-out dress of my college nightmares. Thankfully, a few things on the internet have provided much-needed distraction. Such as: 

• The collective effort to help actress Casey Wilson find out whether there are rats in her vacation house. The comments section of the Rat Watch (yes, really) is healing my soul. 

• The hairstyle I loved as a kid but could never do myself is making a big comeback. Thankfully, I now have an entire internet’s worth of tutorials to finally figure it out. 

• Ariana Grande’s subtle nod to one of my comedy heroes — an iconic fashion moment that feels like it was made just for me. 

• This viral, two-ingredient sweet-potato snack, which is about as much “cooking” as I’m willing to do these days. 

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

This Weeknight-Friendly Version of Stuffed Shells May Be Even Cozier Than the Original

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We don’t have to tell you that stuffed shells are amazing. But stuffing each individual shell? Less amazing. So skip the tedious part with How Sweet Eats’s Spicy Vodka Unstuffed Shells. A shining example of cooking ingenuity, this no-fuss, no-filling-required recipe combines an almost-too-easy homemade spicy vodka sauce, big slabs of pasta, and a generous amount of creamy ricotta — all of which gets baked in the oven, until it’s bronzed and bubbly. Shower it with grated Parm and fresh basil, and you’ll have the cheesy, deeply comforting vibes of the Italian classic, with a fraction of the effort. Fantastico.

The Time Commitment: About 45 minutes. But to cut back on time — and ingredients — use your favorite store-bought vodka sauce. We promise, no one will know.

Key Tips: To take this dish up a notch, top it with store-bought or homemade breadcrumbs before baking. Also, while the recipe calls for jumbo shells, smaller ones or any other short, tubular shapes (think: rigatoni, ziti) will work just as well.

Other Takes: For more pasta dishes that are essentially the culinary equivalent of a weighted blanket, try…

• Baked Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage, which one commenter calls the “undisputed champ” of all the Smitten Kitchen recipes in their rotation — and that’s saying something.

• Brown Butter Miso & Roasted Garlic Radiatori with Crispy Shallots, featuring a delightful, deeply ridged pasta that’s ideal for sopping up the astoundingly simple sauce.

• Pesto Unstuffed Shells. Grab an extra box or two of shells, and you’ve got dinner sorted twice — this time, with a bright, nutty pesto instead of vodka sauce.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 

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We normally wouldn’t spotlight a book that came out, oh, eight months ago — but Virginia Evans’s The Correspondent is worth bending the rules for. That’s because, in recent weeks, it’s been named “the year’s unlikely hit novel.” Or, in the words of Ann Patchett, “a total unicorn.” The breakout bestseller centers around 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp, a prickly retired lawyer, mother, and grandmother who spends most mornings penning messages to friends and family, famous authors like Joan Didion, and one mystery figure to whom she often writes notes that go unsent. Told through these letters and emails, what unfolds is the story of one woman’s life — the relationships and choices that have shaped her, and the baggage threatening to unravel everything she’s painstakingly built. We asked Evans a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one unpopular opinion you have?

Evans: I don’t like eating in restaurants.

Q: If you could be the world’s leading expert on one thing, what would it be?

Evans: Trees. I sort of wish I’d been an arborist.

Q: What is your most prized possession?

Evans: A 4-foot-square painting of Fade Street in Dublin by the great painter Anne McNulty. Second most, the blue leather desk chair my husband bought for me.

Mérida Is Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret — At Least, for Now

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Another week, another look back at one of our favorite travel destinations of 2025. This time, it’s Mérida, Mexico. The colorful capital of the Yucatán has long been a favorite among locals — thanks to its historic landmarks (see: the Catedral de Mérida), lively plazas and markets, vibrant art scene (score souvenirs at Casa de las Artesanías de Yucatán), old-school cantinas (hello, La Negrita), stylish boutique hotels (stay at Hotel Cigno), and stunning Spanish colonial architecture. And while Tulum has started to feel like Cancún…year-round, Mérida is quieter — and, dare we say, more memorable. Mérida, we raise a glass of mezcal to you.

🎨 Centro Histórico is the heart of Mérida, home to Plaza Grande (ideal for people-watching and live music) and Paseo de Montejo, a tree-lined boulevard — inspired by the Champs-Élysées — that’s dotted with grand historic mansions. Many of these architectural gems have been transformed into boutiques (leave time for browsing at Casa T’Hō) and museums. Explore Quinta Montes Molina, with its crystal chandeliers and marble floors; Montejo 495, Casa Museo (an impeccably preserved Gilded Age-style residence); and the Museo Regional de Antropología de Yucatán, which spotlights the area’s indigenous groups and cultures via rotating exhibitions.

🦩 Described as “the doorway to the Yucatán,” Mérida is an excellent jumping-off point for adventure-filled day trips. First up? Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary known for coastal lagoons, mangrove forests, and thousands of American flamingos. Nature lovers should also visit the town of Cuzamá to experience one of the Yucatán’s signature attractions: water-filled sinkholes — dubbed “cenotes” — where you can swim, snorkel, and get some grid-worthy pics. And history buffs shouldn’t miss the Mayan ruins of Uxmal, an ancient city with impressive facades, ornate doorways, and the towering Pyramid of the Soothsayer.

🍴 Start your day on a sweet note, with crispy orejas and sugar-coated conchas from Soco. When you’re ready for lunch, head to Mercado de Santiago, where stalls serve sopa de lima, agua de chaya, and more Yucatán favorites (pro tip: make a beeline for Taquería La Lupita and order the cochinita pibil — or, succulent slow-cooked pork). For dinner, snag a reservation at Apoala, a standout for its Mexican-Oaxacan-Yucatecan dishes (think: fried zucchini blossoms, shrimp ceviche, vegetarian enmoladas). Finally, when you need to cool off, grab a cone at Pola Gelato Shop, where creative flavors like blue cheese with apple compote await.

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

Q: I’m the worst at remembering names, which makes holiday parties a special kind of torture. How do I ask someone for their name again without making it awkward, especially when we’ve met multiple times?

“First, forgetting names just means you’re a human with a full brain and a busy social calendar. [You’re not supposed] to remember every person you meet. The mistake is letting shame turn a fixable moment into unnecessary distance. [Instead, just acknowledge it] with warmth and confidence: ‘I’m so sorry, I really enjoyed talking to you at the last event, but can you remind me of your name?’ Or, ‘I know you just said your name, but my brain is totally fried. Would you say it again?’ Deliver it with a smile, and it won’t land as awkward — just honest.”

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.