A closed aquarium in Chicago let two of their penguins wander around the tanks and reception area and it’s by far the best 56 seconds you’ll watch this week (their little faces!!)
Facing an abundance of beans? Here’s a very detailed guide on how to cook pretty much every type of bean out there, including some failsafe advice on how and when to soak, what flavours to add and what to do with all that leftover brothy goodness
Seinfield storylines in the age of coronavirus (“Someone finally spares a square for Elaine”)
Meet the woman behind those chaotic Co-Star notifications we all loathe to love (“When I’m writing things I want it to feel like this ex-punk, cool older sister who you trust and would smoke weed with, but who would also remind you of that embarrassing note you wrote to your crush in fifth grade. We write things the way that we talk to our friends and the way that we want our friends to talk to us.”)
Tiny love stories
Our podcast rec of the week comes courtesy of Lizzie, who’s obsessed with Birds Eye View, a new series that shares the stories of 18 women currently in prison in Darwin. There’s incredible interviews, plus audio from the holding cells where women are strip-searched – and they even take you behind-the-scenes to some of the ‘industries’ sections, like where the Qantas headsets are cleaned. Compulsive listening.
Preparing to give birth in a pandemic
This story about a group of Americans who set out on a 25-day rafting adventure in mid-Feb with no access to the outside world only to emerge this week totally unaware of the coronavirus panic is utterly fascinating (“Another rafter’s family texted that the supermarket shelves in California were bare and urged the group to stock up on rice, beans, dog food and toilet paper. “We’re sitting here trying to piece the world together,” Mr. Thomas said. “What does a toilet paper shortage mean? Why are they out of toilet paper?”)
This week’s carbs carbs carbs recipe is none other than six (!!) recipes for pasta from some of Australia’s most delicious restaurants, feat. Ragazzi’s bottarga and egg yolk spaghetti, Bert’s spaghetti aglio e olio and a Tavola’s pappardelle con ragu. Alllllorrrra.
Here’s loads of ideas of what to stream on Netflix, iTunes, Stan, Foxtel, Hulu, BBC right now, with a big focus on comfort watching (no West Wing allowed)
London bakery school Bread Ahead have just launched free online tutorials on its Instagram page for anyone feeling the urge to get kneading in the kitchen. They kicked off with a doughnut workshop on Wednesday, and there’s a rosemary focaccia-making session today (!!), and choc brownies and hot cross buns to come. All tutorials will be available on their Instagram story for 24 hours.
If you’re looking for something to take your mind off current affairs, we highly recommend this story about Abigail Bruley, a woman in the US who lost most her memories in a car crash at age 30, and has had to rebuild her identity through clues and blunt optimism
Think you don’t like canned tuna? This Japanese-style tuna noodle salad is probably going to change your mind
Finally, some newsletter love: Vanessa recently subscribed to Drawing Links, a newsletter by former Hairpin editor Edith Zimmerman, who draws her daily interactions and conversations in such an honest, funny and heartfelt way that it instantly makes you feel a little less alone in this big world. Highly recommend.
