Sep 23, 2026 · 5 min listen · Last updated September 23, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Hey, it's Chloe. September 23rd. Ten stories — one trial, three reviews, six takes you can actually use. Let's get into it. First, from niksharma. This Sunday: Come Linger with Me & Hetty McKinnon on Substack Live.
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Daily Health & Wellness Brief · September 23rd
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This Sunday: Come Linger with Me & Hetty McKinnon on Substack Live
This Sunday, Nik will be hosting a live chat with Hetty McKinnon about her new book, "Linger." The focus is on enjoying food in a relaxed, communal way, emphasizing the joy of sharing meals and stories. Instead of a formal interview, it’ll feel more like a cozy gathering where they discuss the inspirations behind the book and Hetty's unique approach to cooking, especially with salads and sweets.
The event is set for September 21 at 1 PM ET, and you can join through the Substack app or your web browser. If you’re using the app, you’ll get a notification when it starts, and there’ll be an email reminder too. It’s a chance to bring your questions and maybe even your lunch to feel part of the conversation. Plus, there’s a book giveaway during the chat. Just click the link a few minutes before it begins to join in. Sounds like a lovely way to spend a Sunday!
It features juicy seared skirt steak paired with crispy, Parmesan-crusted potato bites called “CrouTots.” Fresh veggies and peppery arugula add a nice crunch and flavor contrast.
The standout element is the bright lemony dressing made with anchovies and parsley, which ties all the ingredients together beautifully. It’s a clever way to appeal to someone who loves hearty meals while introducing them to the joys of salad. This dish is hearty enough to satisfy without feeling heavy, making it a great option for any meal.
We stayed on the Arabian Sea in Nariman Point—so very different in just about every way from Delhi. The air was better, though the humidity was intense. Instead of a smog-muted sun, monsoon-like rain caught us by surprise. There was more opportunity to walk (humidity notwithstanding). Couldn’t do too much in 48 hours. .My only big regret was not taking a walking tour of Art Deco Mumbai. I did a double take when I saw the Eros Theatre (recently reworked, and I’m sure they ruined the interiors). I had no idea it had the second largest collection of Deco buildings outside of Miami.
The year started off like a stinker, from politics to a friend’s kid’s suicide so forgive me if I’m not in a cheery mood. But hopefully you take me in sickness and in health, from gloom to sunshine. I’ve always been an oversharer, when someone asks me how I am I am completely incapable of not blurting it out. So, when I got on a flight Wednesday, I was hoping to get some distance from it all. Between the killing of Renee Nicole Good and my friend’s daughter has put my balance completely off.
I landed. I walked. I talked. I drank. I ate. And I looked around. (and as I’m on the road, my fingers are crossed this is typo free. But feel free to shoot an email and tell me how I messed up so I can fix). TREND ALERT: Of course I’ve been looking for distraction and the streets of Paris have plenty and also. plenty of tulle skirts. Makes me smile and that is needed these days. Vintage Coach bags are all over the metro. The puffer is replaced by Harris tweed cloth coats. Evidence of a warm winter over here. Man buns are in decline.
There are two standout English wines worth noting. First up is the Domaine Hugo 2021 Brut Nature, a sparkling wine made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Gris. It’s a no-dosage style, which means no added sugar, and it’s co-fermented and aged in anfora and neutral Burgundy barrels. After two years on the lees, it’s got a complex profile and is priced around $90.
Then there's the Many Moons 2020 from Offbeat Wines, a still wine that combines 69% Pinot Blanc with 31% Chardonnay. It’s crafted in Crouch Valley, Essex, and has a vibrant acidity that really stands out. This one’s priced at about $60 and offers a refreshing, electric taste. Both wines reflect the emerging identity of British wine, moving beyond imitation to something uniquely their own.
The 2023 Burgundy vintage is looking promising, especially for red wine lovers, as it’s a plentiful year. This is a welcome contrast to the 2024 vintage, which is expected to be quite limited due to issues like mildew affecting many vineyards. Some producers reported losses of up to 80% in their red wine output, while the whites managed to hold up better. The hard work put in by the best winemakers has paid off, resulting in some truly delightful wines. I had the chance to taste offerings from Chanterêves and Antoine Lienhardt, which were impressive. There’s also a newcomer, Jean Marshall, whose 2023 wines show potential.
In Paris or London? I’d love to see you. In Paris this Monday Feb 9th? I’ll be at RAW Paris signing two of my books that were published in French, Skin contact and Pour tomber amoureux, buvez ceci. Please come by! The following Monday on February 16th I’ll be kicking off this semesters for Heidi Nam Knudsen’s A Thousand Decisions. I will be riffing on “fine wine,” is it true or crap, how hard is it to make natural wine in fancy appellations, terroir and does it matter. I’ve some beautiful wines in my line up to discuss.
“The burst of expat energy has cooled,” said a friend who helped transform Beaune’s coffee scene. Over an allongé, he filled me in on the town’s current gloom: falling tourism, economic anxiety, and widespread belt-tightening. Tomas Turner, who co-owns the excellent Avintures wine shop, put it bluntly: “Wine shops will fold. But maybe that’s not a bad thing. There are too many.”Le Soleil has drastically reduced hours. Crème Comptoir is flirting with burnout. La Dilettante may be for sale— the hope is that the sale goes to someone who can keep it going with the same philosophy.
The trip to Berlin in December 2025 wasn’t about work, it was about friendship. But Liz had to put up with my obsession about food and wine— which she did with grace. And anyway, those were much needed after a heavy dose of history. Where’s the traffic? The lack of traffic was a huge and pleasant surprise. Is Berlin actually… livable? While the trains get you anywhere, the city is disorienting. Three days is not nearly enough to get bearings. If you have limited time, I’d suggest you focus on Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg, and Neukölln. Great coffee? Not so much. I came for dense bread.
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