Eat, Read, Go: Pasta e Ceci, "Three Days in June," and Mendoza

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. It’s cold and slushy in NYC, so I’m staying inside and enjoying the extra scrolling time this long weekend. So far, my favorite finds include: learning Rachel Bilson has a drawer full of this intensely nostalgic lip balm, these images of Will Ferrell dressed like a “downtown it girl” (he nailed it), the most brilliant ponytail hack for those with thin hair (*waves hand*), and this outrageously cute video of Reese Witherspoon telling the new Elle Woods she got the part (What? Like it’s hard?). Oh, and one more thing: If you’ve enjoyed the Weekend Skimm, we’d love to hear from you — so we can better tailor our newsletters to the kinds of content you want to see.

— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY

Soup Season Isn’t Over Until You’ve Made This One-Pot Pasta e Ceci

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Soup Season™ doesn’t have an official end date, but with spring about a month away, we’re making room for one last exceptionally cozy stew — specifically, Dishing Out Health’s Pasta e Ceci. In this one-pot version of the Italian classic, trusty pantry staples (including protein-packed chickpeas, savory tomato paste, and delightfully small ditalini pasta) are combined with hearty kale and a generous amount of pecorino Romano cheese to create a brothy, starchy bowl of goodness. Serve it with some crusty bread — and you’ll wish you discovered it sooner.

The Time Commitment: Just over 30 minutes. You’re welcome.

Key Tips: Can’t find ditalini pasta? While orzo and elbows aren’t quite as endearing, they work equally well. If you want to take things up a notch, Jamie Vespa (aka Dishing Out Health) suggests finishing the dish with fried pancetta and/or melting “some anchovies into the sautéed garlic and onion mixture for an extra boost of umami.”

Other Takes: A brilliant example of cooking ingenuity, this Sun-Dried Tomato Soup not only solves the problem of what to do with that year-old jar of sun-dried tomatoes (we all have one), but it’s also topped with gooey grilled cheese croutons. Equally bright? This Thai Red Curry Dumpling Soup uses store-bought frozen gyoza, so it’s easily the best meal you can make in 20 minutes. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for extra sustenance (or comfort), you can’t go wrong with this creamy, cheesy, crave-worthy Lemon Orzo Bean Soup. Same with this soul-soothing Chicken and Red Lentil Soup With Lemony Yogurt, guaranteed to “bring you back to life — or at least fool you into thinking so.”

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

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If you thought My Big Fat Greek Wedding was dramatic, wait until you read Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June. At the center of the novel is flinty mother of the bride, Gail Baines. She loses her job the day before the wedding, gets snubbed from a spa outing organized by the groom’s mother, and must host her ex-husband, Max, who shows up unannounced with a foster cat in tow. Things somehow get even worse when their daughter reveals a bombshell about her soon-to-be husband, threatening to derail the entire wedding — and stir up the unresolved history between Gail and Max. True to form, expect “another delightful exploration of sorrow and joy” in the Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s 25th novel.

Say It With Us: Mountains, Malbec, and Mendoza

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Sure, Napa Valley may get all the glory when it comes to American wine country, but we’d like to direct your attention (way) further south to Mendoza, Argentina, where it’s currently peak summertime. A short flight from Buenos Aires, the sun-soaked, desertlike region grows more malbec than anywhere else in the country (and probably, the world, thanks to some 1,000 wineries) and is home to dramatic mountain peaks (including one of the famed Seven Summits), outdoor activities aplenty (the city is partially bordered by the Andes), and a vibrant food scene. Salud.

🛏 Spending the night at Finca Adalgisa Wine Hotel feels like staying with a friend — if said friend happened to have a charmingly rustic house surrounded by over 100-year-old malbec vines. Nestled at the foot of the Andes, the fourth-generation property (which is also a working vineyard and winery) offers 11 Tucson-style rooms, Argentine cooking classes, a lush garden peppered with cozy reading nooks, and a complimentary glass of vino each evening. That said, if you’d prefer to stay in the heart of the city, you can’t beat the Park Hyatt Mendoza.

🍷 Mendoza is Argentina’s answer to Tuscany or Bordeaux. While you can easily sip local wines in and around downtown (do not miss Bodega Los Toneles), a day trip to the Uco Valley is well worth the 75-minute drive. This region boasts some of the country’s most renowned bodegas (or, wineries), so be sure to book a tasting at Zuccardi Valle de Uco (once crowned the “World’s Best Vineyard”), Salentein (a pioneer in the area’s winemaking), and Bodega La Azul, celebrated for its sauvignon blanc and the parrilla-style lunches at its restaurant.

⛰️ When you’ve had enough wine (it’s indeed possible) and need to touch grass, head to General San Martin Park and take a quick hike up Cerro de la Gloria for some of the city’s best views. Feeling extra adventurous? Drive to Embalse Potrerillos, where you can admire the vivid green-blue water or embark on a kayak or horseback riding tour with Potrerillos Explorer. Whatever you do, stop at Termas Cacheuta before heading back to town, so you can soak in the relaxing thermal pools and enjoy other spa treatments.

🍴 You can’t visit Argentina without eating medialunas (essentially the love child of a brioche and croissant), and one of the best places to do that is Bröd. For dinner, try Fuente y Fonda, a local fave where comforting dishes like osso buco empanadas and milanesa are meant to be shared and dessert is always on the house. Or, for something more upscale, indulge in one of the tasting menus at Michelin-starred Azafrán, which makes use of the region’s “gastronomic paradise.” After dinner, walk over to Arístides Villanueva to explore the city’s buzzy nightlife scene and grab a cocktail at Gingger.

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

Q: My spouse has a lot going on at work and didn’t do anything to make my birthday feel special — I even wondered if they forgot. Do I say something or let it go?

“[Have] an honest conversation with your spouse, where you explain why this hurt your feelings and you share the kind of birthdays you hope to have in the future. Be comfortable asking for what you want … [and] set your partner up for success by being specific. What does ‘special’ mean to you? It could mean anything: a spa day, a dinner out, a gift, or a heartfelt card. 

… Then take a step back and let your partner do that for you, showing they listened. You also should ask [them] how they want their special days to be celebrated. It’s OK if you want to spend these days differently — the point is for you both to feel loved, appreciated, and satisfied.” 

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.