Eat, Read, Go: Crispy Chicken With Fennel Arugula Salad, “The Paris Express,” and Puglia

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. This week, I had the unique experience of discovering a bird was stuck between my roof and ceiling — really. The bird is fine, but I’m still recovering. Thankfully, a few things on the internet have provided much-needed distraction, including: the shocking rise of the “sock-shoe” (price aside, why??), the equally perplexing “butter skin” trend (to be fair, it isn’t quite as greasy as it sounds), and Khloé Kardashian’s actually cute, Y2K-coded bob (it’s giving Lizzie McGuire). Plus, after spending, oh, 96 hours thinking about, yes, Parker Posey’s White Lotus accent (I’m still laughing at this hilarious take), but also, Aimee Lou Wood’s glittery eye makeup, I discovered it’s very easy to recreate. And, while I’ve previously sworn off dyeing my hair, spring’s biggest colors, from “Parisian Copper” to “The Olsen Dip,” are tempting…

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

This Crispy Chicken With Fennel Arugula Salad Belongs in the Dinner Hall of Fame 

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The only combo more elite than PB&J? Deeply golden chicken cutlets and salad — at least, according to the internet. The pairing has recently dominated our feeds, which is exactly how we discovered this Crispy Chicken With Fennel Arugula Salad from Lindsey Eats. In the instant weeknight hit, delightfully crackly, fried-but-not-heavy chicken cutlets are topped with a mountain of lemony salad, featuring peppery arugula, thinly sliced fennel and red onion, briny capers, and grated Parmesan. So it’s part hot and crispy, part light and refreshing — adding up to something very delicious.

The Time Commitment: About 40 minutes — leaving you with plenty of time to grab a glass of sauvignon blanc (an ideal pairing) and enjoy dinner alfresco.

Key Tips: If frying chicken cutlets sounds like a job better suited for literally anyone but you, we understand. Our advice? Use thin-sliced chicken breasts, so there’s minimal pounding (worth noting: it doesn’t get easier or more cathartic than this mess-free method), and have a good instant-read thermometer on hand, so you can ensure the oil reaches 350° before adding the chicken. If you need more pointers (or moral support), click here.

Other Takes: Want a cutlet that’s extra crunchy, extra satisfying, and just…extra? The secret is crushed mini pretzels — as evidenced by this Pretzel Crusted Chicken With Honey Mustard Arugula. Or, try this foolproof Crispy Chicken With Crunchy Salad, accurately described as “always amazing,” thanks to juicy Asian pears and a magical five-ingredient miso dressing. Meanwhile, if chicken Caesar wraps are your entire personality, this Chicken Caesar Schnitzel only takes 30 minutes if you use store-bought dressing (no one will know). And for a Greek twist, don’t sleep on this Crispy Chicken Cutlet recipe, piled high with a classic lettuce salad and an unholy amount of Parm.

The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue

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All aboard — Emma Donoghue’s The Paris Express has arrived. Inspired by the real-life 1895 train crash at Paris’s Montparnasse station, the gripping historical-fiction novel tells the story of those on board. At the center is Mado Pelletier, a young anarchist fed up with working-class conditions and set on making a statement — one that involves the three members of Parliament seated in first class. But as the journey unfolds, she crosses paths with a medical student, a secretary trying to sell her boss on the future of movies, a Black artist, and other passengers who just might change her course. We asked the best-selling author of Room a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

Q: What’s one thing that’s made you 10% happier?

Donoghue: The kids getting old enough that I don’t have to give them lifts everywhere.

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

Donoghue: Slow Horses. [It’s] the perfect blend of American-style super impressive spy drama and British-style self-deprecating loser comedy.

Q: What’s one thing everyone should do? 

Donoghue: Climbing the Eiffel Tower is an unmissable experience and so much more interesting than taking the elevator. Do it at sunset for colored skies on the way up and seas of twinkling lights on the way down.

There Are Road Trips, and Then There Are Italian Road Trips

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Growing up, road trips meant squeezing into the backseat and asking “are we there yet?” over and over again. But as an adult, they’re an opportunity for scenic views, spontaneous discoveries, and taking your sweet time. One prime example? Italy’s Puglia region — aka the heel of the boot — which is best seen from the driver’s seat of an Alfa Romeo Tonale. La dolce vita, here you come. 

🏛️ Art lovers should not skip Lecce, the “Florence of the South,” and capital of Baroque architecture. Start at the city’s crown jewel, the Basilica di Santa Croce, then admire one-of-a-kind papier-mâché art at the Museo della Cartapesta or get your own hands dirty at an artisan-led workshop. Wrap things up with a plate of antipasti and a glass (or two) of local wine at Crianza in the city center. 

🏰 About an hour north of Lecce, you’ll find the hilltop village of Ostuni — aptly nicknamed “the white city” for its charming whitewashed buildings. Get lost in the maze of medieval alleyways in Old Town before venturing to Ostuni Market for fresh produce and cured meats. Spend the night in a masseria, a fortified farmhouse-turned-luxury accommodation, for an experience unique to Puglia.

🏖️ Sun lovers should make the 40-minute drive to Polignano a Mare, a coastal town perched on limestone cliffs. Take a dip at Cala Paura, a secluded white pebble beach with crystal-clear waters just outside the city center. Dine at Grotta Palazzese, a world-renowned restaurant set inside a sea cave. And if you want more up-close-and-personal time with the spectacular grottoes and cliffs, hop on a boat tour. 

Italy is waiting for you — and so is the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Because what better way to experience what Puglia has to offer than behind the wheel of a luxury Italian vehicle? Let’s go.*

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

Q: I recently made a few new friends, and a couple of times, they’ve mentioned things from their group chat. Is there a polite way to ask to be added, or is that just awkward?

“It’s important to consider the primary purpose of the group chat: If it’s for more vulnerable conversations, your joining might dampen their sharing; but if it’s for logistics and planning, then it makes sense for you to be included. [Based on that], there are a few ways to approach it…

• Ask to be included in planning: If they mention the chat in a context where it would’ve made sense for you to be involved (like organizing a get-together), say, ‘I didn’t see that. I don’t think I’m on that group chat, but I’d love to be added for future plans.’

• Show interest when the chat is referenced: If they talk about a story shared in the group chat, respond: ‘I’m not on that group chat, so I don’t know about X. But I’d love to hear the story if you don’t mind telling it again.’ 

• Separately raise it with one person: If you’re closer to one of them, start by talking to her. Be respectful of their established bond and give them an easy way to say no. Something like: ‘It sounds like you all stay connected through a group chat. Is that something I could join? I know you’re all closer to each other than I am, so if it feels weird, I get it.’

• Start a new group chat: Message them saying what a fun time you had, propose an idea for a future gathering, or send them something that made you think of them.”

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.