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Weekend Recs #42: Groovy shows, dream dates, and tahini french toast

Plus a Q&A with bestselling cookbook author Jess Damuck on her latest book, "Health Nut".

Alisha Ramos

Mar 29

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This is the Friday post, a weekly roundup of recommendations and delightful distractions. If the email cuts off, you can view it on the web by clicking the title ^.

Happy Friday! What’s everyone up to this weekend? Our family is planning to visit our local garden center (looking for tulips), and I’d like to bake something for Easter (if you celebrate, do you have any baking or cooking traditions?).

Today’s issue is jam-packed, and part of it is paywalled for paid subscribers. Occasionally, I paywall these Friday posts as a way to say a big thank you to my paid readers. Without subscriptions, I literally would not be able to do this. Thanks for reading either way! ❤️ Alisha

In today’s post…

We’re continuing our spring cookbook series with Jess Damuck, who is back in the newsletter today to share her just-released cookbook, Health Nut. Jess is awesome — she used to work for Martha Stewart, and her epic LA dinner parties have been featured in the NYT. :) Jess is kindly sharing not one but TWO recipes from Health Nut exclusively with Downtime readers, and we’re giving away a copy to one lucky subscriber.
The new show I’m watching and two FUN podcast recommendations
A delicious, romantic, and nostalgic book for food lovers 🥐
Some of my thoughts (plus an expert’s) on a surprising update from an oft-problematic TV franchise
And the usual fun links and reads!

Coming up next: The return of a bookish column, interviews with two authors whose books I think you’re going to love, and the next installment of the personal style column about my weirdly specific process to avoid buying stuff I probably don’t need. :) Have a great weekend and happy Easter to all who celebrate. 🪺

xx Alisha

P.S. 📚 ICYMI: Our April book club pick is Come and Get It by Kiley Reid! Details on joining meetups will go out next week to paid subs.

A few things I’ve noted this week…

Palm Royale on Apple TV+. I went into this show not really knowing what to expect, but it’s fairly entertaining so far. It follows the story of Maxine Dellacourte (played by Kristin Wiig), an aloof newcomer in town who tries to charm her way into the elite and glitzy inner circle of Palm Beach—but is met with more obstacles and surprises than she anticipated. It’s fun and campy—I think you’ll like this if you enjoyed Only Murders in the Building and/or the vibrant 70s costumes and sets of shows like Minx. The story has a bit of mystery intertwined which leaves you guessing as to who you’re really rooting for and keeps you on your toes. The cast is great, too: Ricky Martin (yes, THAT Ricky Martin), Allison Janney, and Laura Dern among them.
“Either you do it like it’s a big weight on you, or you do it as part of the dance.” I saw this quote on an Instagram post from writer Molly Young last week, and it spoke to me when I was in one of those “BLEEEARAARGHHH” moods after looking at my to-do list. If you have to do something anyway, you might as well have fun with it and do it with a sense of playfulness. It doesn’t have to be so serious. A mindset shift towards something lighter. And I felt lighter!

mollybethyoung

A post shared by @mollybethyoung

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl ($24 on Bookshop, Amazon). This book had been on my radar, and I finally ordered it when I saw that the illustrious author (who was the former editor-in-chief of Gourmet and author of the memoir Save Me The Plums) would be in town for an event! Here’s a link to the event if you’re also in the D.C. area. See you there? 🇫🇷

Here’s the set-up for the book: “When her estranged mother dies, Stella is left with an unusual inheritance: a one-way plane ticket and a note reading ‘Go to Paris.’ Stella is hardly cut out for adventure; a traumatic childhood has kept her confined to the strict routines of her comfort zone. But when her boss encourages her to take time off, Stella resigns herself to honoring her mother's last wishes.”
Photo credit: Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks
What we (and by we I mean my husband :)) made this week: A version of this keema curry. We added peas and spinach and subbed in turkey, and had it with rice. It’s a one-saucepan meal, and the flavors reminded me of the Japanese curries I ate growing up. We want to try making these samosas next!
Two podcast recs:
- Did you grow up watching Felicity? You might be into the new podcast Dear Felicity, which revisits the show and interviews some of its cast and creators. Thanks to Emma and Claire Rich Text for the rec!
- Dolly Alderton, the author of our February book club pick Good Material, was on the Sentimental Garbage podcast (hosted by author Caroline O’Donoghue) recently. It made me lol many times - like listening in on two great girlfriends having a silly, good time.
  LIVE with Dolly Alderton at the Bloomsbury Theatre
  Justice for Dumb Women
  Episode
Minimalist sandals for spring and summer: I’m missing easy, neutral sandals to pair with everything. These are my usual go-to’s and have lasted me forever, but I’m looking for a pair that don’t have the wrap-around ties on the ankle. This one is on my list... Does anyone have rec for a pair under $200?
- Speaking of which, this “elevated Birkenstock” was one of the most-clicked links last week. Please report back on comfort level if you got them. :)
Lastly, just a good oil cleanser that I just repurchased and swear by.

Finally, a show worth skipping… The Regime on HBO. I wanted to support the iconic Kate Winslet but it was unwatchable for me. The plot inscrutable. Just a little too odd.

(Headshot photography by Jennelle Fong. Cover by Linda Pugliese.)

Jess Damuck is the hip bestselling author of Salad Freak (blessed by THEEE Martha Stewart herself) and now, her latest cookbook, Health Nut. Here she shares the inspiration for her vibrant new cookbook, plus two recipes from it—exclusively with Downtime subscribers.

What was the inspiration for this book?

Moving to LA was the inspiration for this book. It’s really my love letter to California and the product of daydreaming about what it must have been like to live here in the 70’s. I read about the health food movement’s pioneers like Gypsy Boots and Jim Baker aka Father Yod from the Source Family. I also missed the Park Slope Food Coop and have been so sad to see little mom-and-pop health food stores disappearing. It’s nostalgic for what I consider to be comfort food — the Moosewood Cookbook, buddha bowls, and maple-sweetened desserts. It’s hippie health food, but updated, fresh — but it’s food that feels good to eat.

What does your downtime look like these days?

I have had very little downtime (I actually wrote two books last year — Open Wide with benny blanco is coming out on 4/30) — but I converted my garage into a little ceramics studio and that has honestly saved me! I LOVE playing with clay, just for fun. I make huge lumpy sculptures and I made all of the dining plates for my book launch party.

Left: Crispy rice and spicy salmon bowls. Right: Orange tahini french toast. (Photography by Linda Pugliese)

Crispy Rice and Spicy Salmon Bowls with Quick Pickles and Greens

“Seasoned sushi rice crisped to deep golden brown topped with plump little nuggets of perfectly spiced salmon, with a big pile of green veggie —to me, this is the perfect meal. It works even better with over cooked rice—so use that if you have it on hand, or make sure you give yourself enough time to chill the freshly cooked rice in the fridge before crisping it!”

Get the recipe:

Downtime X Health Nut Crispy Rice And Sa...

652KB ∙ PDF file

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Orange Tahini French Toast

“My friend Ionut came back from Greece and couldn’t stop eating toast drizzled with tahini and honey. This is the...decadent...version of his breakfast. Is this health food? I don’t know. Is it healthier than thick slices of brioche dipped in butter and cream coated in powdered sugar and jam? I think so. This is a special breakfast and it’s really worth making the homemade challah on page 262 to use for thisFrench toast. Make two loaves and keep one in the freezer, so you have it on hand for next time.”

Get the recipe: Scroll all the way down for this recipe, which is for paid supporters of Downtime. Join for $5/month here for every newsletter, extra content, and other perks.

Purchase Health Nut by Jess Damuck. You can follow Jess on Instagram at @jessdamuck.

Reads

We’re long overdue for an Asian lead on The Bachelor franchise (Vox) — YES YES YES to this. 👏👏👏 My brilliant friend Li Zhou published this piece shortly before Jenn Tran was named the new Bachelorette. I asked for her thoughts on the announcement, and here is what she said:

“Jenn is so charismatic and thoughtful and I cannot wait for her to shine as Bachelorette. Her willingness to be vulnerable — and share stories about trauma she experienced while growing up in an immigrant family — also helped so many people who went through the same thing feel less alone.
For a long-suffering viewer of the franchise like me, having the first Asian American Bachelorette was a pipe dream I didn’t think the network was capable of. It’s a big win for representation and visibility, of course, but it also flips the script on who has power — and agency — on the show. “

Nicholas Galitzine Is Not Your Average Heartthrob (The Cut) — The Idea of You fans, please rise!!! I’m getting more and more excited for the movie (and coming around to the idea of Galitzine as Hayes)…you?
The Mad Perfumer of Parma (The New York Times Magazine *gift link) — “Hilde Soliani makes feral scents that evoke everything from oysters to opera houses.” This is a long and entertaining read worth soaking in this weekend, whether you’re a fragrance lover or not. How good does Soliani’s “bananas and whipped cream” scent sound?

The reads and fun links are continued for paid subscribers. <3

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