Eat, Read, Go: Salmon En Papillote, “Atmosphere: A Love Story,” and Chatham

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Saturday. It’s official: No one is going to have a better summer than Taylor Swift, after she dropped that announcement yesterday. Still, that’s not going to stop me from trying. To do so, I’ll:

• Copy Sarah Jessica Parker, who invented a new way to wear a necklace. It’s giving Hocus Pocus…but chic?

• Contemplate whether my next vacation should include “land snorkeling” — one of several travel trends giving “coolcations” a run for their money.

• Wear this bold yet subtle mascara color (nope, not brown), inspired by both Dua Lipa and my friend — who was repeatedly stopped on our walk last weekend.

• Learn how to properly eat a mango (or, what Rihanna considers properly eating a mango) since, like DJ Khaled, I’ve been “butchering” them.

• Make No-Churn Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Sandwiches (picture: the Good Humor bars, but better), which I’ve had intrusive thoughts about for, oh, 48 hours.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

Anyone Can Make This Shockingly Simple Salmon — Even If the Only Thing You “Cook” Is Cereal

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If cooking salmon sounds like a job better suited for literally anyone but you, we understand. So allow us to introduce you to the most hands-off, foolproof way to prepare it: en papillote (that’s “in parchment,” for those who ended their French Duolingo streak). Specifically, The Modern Proper’s Salmon En Papillote With Tomato Butter, in which the fillets are placed inside parchment-paper packets, along with juicy cherry tomatoes, zesty lemon slices, tangy olives, briny capers, and an umami-rich tomato butter. Pop them in the oven for roughly 15 minutes, and, to borrow another word from the French, voilà — you’ll have consistently tender, flaky, and flavorful fish, with minimal cleanup.

The Time Commitment: Just 30 minutes. After all, the days should be getting longer, not harder. 

Key Tips: No parchment paper? No problem. You can use foil instead. Whatever you do, make sure to double the compound butter recipe — since, fair warning, you’ll want to put it on everything.

Other Takes: For more low-lift, high-reward salmon en papillote dinners, try…

• One-pot, kid-approved Steamed Salmon With Garlic, Herbs, and Lemon, served with a ridiculously good green yogurt sauce that’s marked as optional — but, friends, it is not. 

• This Slow-Roasted Salmon in Parchment Paper — basically, sweet-salty-citrusy magic on a sheet pan. Think: caramelized onions, fresh cilantro, melt-in-your-mouth olives, and a generous serving of lime juice. 

• Soy-Ginger Salmon in Parchment, featuring shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy, carrots, and red bell pepper tossed in a hoisin glaze that’s a little sweet, a little salty, and absolutely delicious.

Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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We’re not scientists, but we can say with almost 100% certainty that anything Taylor Jenkins Reid writes turns to book club gold. (Case in point: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six.) Her latest novel, Atmosphere, will likely be no exception. Set against the high-stakes backdrop of 1980s NASA, the space-thriller-meets-love-story follows Joan Goodwin, an ambitious astrophysics professor who’s selected as one of the first women to join the agency’s space shuttle program. Cue big egos, old-school sexism, and Vanessa Ford — a curly-haired engineer who just might steal Joan’s heart. But when a mission takes a dangerous turn, Joan’s career — and Vanessa’s life — hang in the balance. We asked Reid a few questions. Here’s what she had to say…

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

Reid: Falling Back in Love With Being Human by Kai Cheng Thom. I was so taken with the kindness and vulnerability.

Q: What’s one thing you’re an armchair expert on?

Reid: I always think I know the best way to move a piece of furniture from one room to another without scratching the floor — and I am always wrong.

Q: What’s one recipe everyone needs to try?

Reid: Nadiya Hussain’s tortilla egg rolls are the absolute easiest breakfast sandwich you will ever make.

Your New England Summer Starter Pack Begins With Chatham 

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Nestled in the elbow of Cape Cod, Chatham has long been a beloved summer escape for New Englanders — and it’s easy to see why. The Massachusetts seaside gem has it all: pristine beaches, postcard-worthy charm, accommodations straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie (check out Greyfinch Chatham Inn), and deep nautical roots, from the Chatham Pier Fish Market (go late morning to see fishing boats return with their catch) to the Atwood Museum (an 18th-century sea captain’s home). Add in breezy bike rides along the nearby Cape Cod Rail Trail, whale-watching tours that wow, and seafood so fresh that it practically high-fived the fisherman — and, yeah, it’s no mystery why people return year after year.

⛱️ Let’s start with the reason you’re here: Chatham’s wide, sandy beaches, each with its own vibe. Hardings Beach is considered the best for families (think: calm surf, warmer waters, ample room), while Lighthouse Beach — home to, as the name suggests, a historic lighthouse — is popular for picnics and long strolls along the shoreline. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could also hop aboard a boat tour to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, a protected stretch of coast with seals, horseshoe crabs, and countless land and sea birds.

👟 Need a reprieve from the sun and sand? Spend an afternoon wandering around Chatham’s storybook downtown — an idyllic mix of wildflower gardens, quaint Cape Cod cottages, and the lively Main Street. There, you’ll find cozy cafés (fuel up at Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters), the beautifully restored Chatham Orpheum Theater, unique art galleries (don’t miss Gallery Antonia), Kate Gould Park (where, for almost a century, the Chatham Band has performed every summer Friday night), and one-of-a-kind stores. Those include: Ducks in the Window (the self-proclaimed world’s largest rubber-duck shop), Maps of Antiquity (browse over 18,000 antique maps, prints, and charts), and 70-year-old Chatham Candy Manor (you’re welcome). 

🍴 In what should be a surprise to no one, Chatham crushes the seafood game. Start at The Chatham Squire, a Cape institution that boasts live entertainment, hearty pub grub, and some of the best lobster rolls in town (order the hot one). Or, swing by local fave Del Mar Bar & Bistro for excellent cocktails, Mediterranean-inspired small plates, and wood-fired thin-crust pizzas (the fig-and-prosciutto pie is a must). Want something more upscale? You can’t go wrong at The Impudent Oyster, where inventive dishes — like Atlantic cod over a crispy scallion potato cake, topped with littlenecks and lobster tail — steal the show.

Your morning commute isn’t always the same. Sometimes your coffee mobile order gets stolen or they close down a highway lane — and it feels like your day is out of control before it's even begun. One thing that can help make you feel on top again? DKNY’s new Paula Commuter Tote. It’s super spacious, well-organized, and fully adjustable — so it’s ready for whatever you throw at (or in) it. No matter which chic color you pick, you’re guaranteed to get compliments.*

Can you really call yourself a pro traveler if you don’t have CLEAR+?

We think not. It’s a fast, easy way to verify your identity so you can get to your gate faster. Enroll now to get two months free of CLEAR+. Or, sign up for $169 per year — that’s $30 off. Less time waiting in line = more time at the MAC kiosk at duty free.

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

Q: Two of my close friends recently had a falling out, and whenever I hang out with one, I worry that the other thinks I’m taking sides. What’s the best way to navigate this?

“As easy as it might seem to maintain separate friendships, it’s actually quite difficult if the strain is a serious one. The best scenario is to:

1. Avoid all conversation about the friend who isn’t present. Make it clear you won’t tolerate gossip, harsh words, or snide comments about them: ‘I’ve [already said] I don’t want to talk about this situation.’ Or, ‘I refuse to take part in [trashing] Sarah.’ [You can also] shut down the conversation by changing the topic or simply getting up and walking away.

2. Don’t carry stories back and forth between them. If they have something to say, suggest they speak directly to each other, and remove yourself from the middle. You don’t want to be the messenger.  

[The falling out might not last forever], but in the meantime, you can remain neutral and set boundaries … Ultimately, you don’t want to be part of a friendship where someone is fixated on toxic chatter. It’s a good indicator that it could easily be you at some point.”

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.