Eat, Read, Go: Baked Cabbage Salad, "Half His Age," and San Miguel de Allende

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. Perhaps it’s because you, me, and just about every celeb is suddenly obsessed with 2016, but I’m feeling extra nostalgic this weekend. So while I relive the Facebook albums of my 20s and pursue this new — well, new-to-me — hobby (I finally have the patience to learn number eight on this list), here are a few other ways I plan to lean into simpler times:

• I’ll bundle up and partake in my favorite childhood activity. Fingers crossed I can look one-eighth as cool as Jennifer Lawrence while I do it.

• Speaking of Fearless Fashion Leaders, I’ll also follow Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s lead and purchase a pair of these “dated” tights to wear with all my winter outfits.

• I’ll try the trend that my middle-school self found very weird, but my adult self finds very chic — thanks to Bella Hadid.

• I’ll whip out this ’90s artifact, which is apparently making a comeback at weddings and birthday parties. First I just have to delete all the cringeworthy content that’s probably still on there.

• I’ll “borrow” my grandma’s go-to blouse — the best shirt to pair with jeans this season.

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

This Cozy, Fiber-Packed Winter Salad Will Be Your New Dinner Obsession

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We’ll admit: We didn’t have 2026 being named “The Year of the Cabbage” on our culinary bingo card — but here we are, eating our words...and our cabbage. Not convinced? Justine Doiron’s Baked Cabbage Salad with Winter Romesco will do the trick. The leafy green and thinly sliced delicata squash form the base of this hearty, deeply comforting bowl of goodness, which is tossed in a warm, zippy, garlicky romesco-like sauce and topped with crispy pecans, pepitas, and sage leaves. Serve it alongside a thick slice of ricotta-covered sourdough, your favorite protein, or both — and you’ll never have another neglected cabbage sitting in the back of your fridge again.

The Time Commitment: About 45 minutes.

Key Tips: To say this recipe is customizable? That’s putting it lightly. Some of Doiron’s top subs include: kale, Broccolini, or Swiss chard for cabbage; virtually any squash for delicata; sunflower seeds, pine nuts, almonds, or hazelnuts for pecans and pepitas; and/or cottage cheese for ricotta.

Other Takes: For more easy dinner recipes that’ll make you a believer, try…

• Cabbage Roll Soup — essentially, everything great about cabbage rolls (ground beef, tender rice, savory tomato flavor), minus the tedious stuffing and rolling.

• Sausage, Cabbage, and White Bean Skillet. When you get home at 9 pm and can’t face cooking, this 20-minute, one-pan wonder packed has your back.

• Cabbage and Glass Noodles Stir-Fry. In the time that it takes to pick a takeout spot, you could clean out the fridge with this simple, satisfying dinner. 

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy 

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Nearly four years after the release of her blockbuster memoir, Jennette McCurdy is back for her next act: fiction. Specifically, Half His Age, which has already been dubbed “2026’s Most Provocative Read.” Inspired by McCurdy’s own teenage relationship, the darkly funny novel follows 17-year-old Waldo, who, in between working at Victoria’s Secret and heating up frozen dinners, falls in love with her creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy. But Never Been Kissed’s Sam Coulson he is not. Despite Mr. Korgy’s “atrophied” and “withered with the gross decay of glaring middle-aged-ness” appearance, the Alaska teen goes to varying (read: obsessive) lengths to seduce him — and must reckon with a complicated mother-daughter relationship, power imbalances, loneliness, and female rage along the way. Like McCurdy’s memoir, something tells us it’s only a matter of time before Half His Age will get the TV series treatment, too. We asked McCurdy a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

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

A: The first season of Enlightened. It’s the best thing I’ve seen on television.

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

A:  Flesh by David Szalay.

Q: What’s the last social media post you sent to your friends?

A:  [Something from] Stephen Spencer’s Instagram. He takes random things his toddler says and turns them into these immaculately composed songs with soulful melodies. I highly recommend “Funchy the Snow-Woman.”

Spend a Weekend in This Mexico Vacation Spot — And You’ll See Why It’s the “World’s Best City”

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Sure, Mexico’s beautiful beaches and all-inclusive resorts are great — but its central highlands may offer something, dare we say, even better. Specifically, San Miguel de Allende. The “Next-Generation Creative Capital” boasts an enchanting mix of quaint cobblestone streets, stunning Spanish colonial architecture, buzzy bars and restaurants, and a thriving arts scene. Plus, there are plenty of day trip opportunities — from exploring the region’s natural wineries to experiencing the hacienda-based ranch culture. No wonder Travel + Leisure named San Miguel de Allende its favorite city in the world last year.

🛏 While Casa Hoyos’s location makes it ideal for seeing the city (many top attractions are less than a 10-minute walk away), we don’t blame you if you don’t want to leave the 17th-century manor turned boutique hotel. Not only are the 16 rooms and suites cool and contemporary (think: a desert-esque color palette, terracotta-tiled bathrooms, decor made by Mexican artisans), but the cacti-dotted rooftop terrace also has a plunge pool and some of the city’s finest sunset views.

🌇 The best way to experience the city’s rich culture and history is by wandering. Start in its center, home to the iconic neo-Gothic church La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel (you can’t miss the pastel-pink, wedding cake-like towers) and the main plaza, Jardín Allende (aka “people-watching central”). From there, stop by some art galleries, including: Galería Nudo, which showcases contemporary pieces by Mexican artists; Galería Casa Diana, previously home to surrealist artist Pedro Friedeberg; and Fábrica la Aurora, a former textile factory that’s now an art and design complex. Along the way, make sure to pop in local boutiques, like Mixta for Mexican fashion and home decor and Suki Palomina for a handmade hat.

🍴 Fuel up for a day of sightseeing and shopping with one of Lavanda Café’s signature lavender-infused drinks. When you’re ready for lunch, head to Raíces, which serves inventive twists on traditional favorites, like crispy tacos stuffed with hibiscus flower and tropical pico de gallo. For something just as creative, consider the Mexi-Thai cooking at popular dinner spot Zibu Allende (our picks: softshell crab tacos, ajillo-marinated octopus) and the seasonal, locally driven tasting menus at Áperi. And while a one-hour tequila tasting at Casa Dragones is a must, you should also get a nightcap at Bekeb, a renowned rooftop bar mixing up cocktails inspired by ancestral Mexican ingredients and traditions.

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

 I recently moved back home and reconnected with an old acquaintance who wants to be friends, but I'm not really feeling it. How do I handle her repeated dinner and playdate invites without being rude?

“First, [stick to group hangouts for now]. Bigger gatherings allow you to keep things light and friendly without the pressure of one-on-one intimacy. Plus, this will give you the chance to meet new people and rebuild your social circle. Second, give yourself permission to decline invitations with kindness and clarity: ‘Thanks so much for thinking of me! I’m going to pass while I focus on settling in, but I hope you’re doing well.’ Honoring your boundaries is part of being emotionally honest and socially healthy.”