The NEW Unearth Women Newsletter!
The perfect NYC getaway + a French recipe to transport you to Paris.
Welcome to the new Unearth Women newsletter!
Our decision to move from MailChimp to SubStack is simple: this new style of newsletter allows us to have more of a dialogue with our readers who can leave comments on newsletters they enjoy and become a paying subscriber to receive exclusive travel guides, country-inspired recipes, and more.
This newsletter will be written by me, Nikki Vargas, the Founding Editor of Unearth Women. If you were a subscriber to our previous newsletter, The Weekly, then you know a little of what to expect here. For those who are new, welcome! This newsletter (which I will try my very best to have in your inbox every Friday) will combine features on inspiring women, global recipes, candid conversation about the state of travel today, and a behind-the-scenes look at Unearth Women.
It goes without saying, the pandemic has thrown us all for a loop. For me, I’m somewhere caught between treating my kitchen like a full-service restaurant and getting myself in tip-top airport running shape for future trips.
In today’s newsletter, I’m going to talk about two of the joys that have kept me sane throughout 2020: local travel and cooking. These two pleasures have encouraged me to redefine travel and get creative with “seeing the world” from home.
Redefining Travel in the Time of COVID
I have something to confess: I have historically been one of those people who don’t consider a trip to be exciting unless I have a stamp in my passport. For this reason, I am admittedly guilty of not having explored much of the United States, instead using any vacation time and spare dollars I have to transport myself to places like Vietnam or Belize.
Enter Coronavirus.
During the course of this pandemic, I’ve needed to redefine my idea of traveling. Thanks to a perfect storm of unexpected unemployment, living in a COVID hot spot, and travel restrictions — international travel is off the table for me this year, as it is for many people. At the start of the pandemic, I tried to satisfy my wanderlust with virtual travel, taking digital tours of the Great Wall of China and National Parks. Then came summer and fall.
With the warmer weather came the opportunity to step outside of my apartment, like a bear waking up from hibernation, to embrace local travel. From pumpkin patches in Pennsylvania to vintage record stores in Kingston, New York - I am finding local travel to be one of my few joys of 2020.
There is one farm, in particular, that I’ve now visited upwards of five times. Located less than three hours from NYC, outside the town of New Paltz, it is exactly the sort of place you want to go during a pandemic. Picture wildflower fields bordered by dense forest, free-roaming horses lazily munching their way across the grass, a trio of golden retrievers always down for a belly rub, and Hudson Valley vineyards within driving distance.
For a special travel guide to my favorite NYC farm getaway, become a paid newsletter subscriber. The guide will appear in your inbox within 1-2 days.
This pandemic has pushed local travel to the forefront, which I love. The idea of travel being made more accessible to the masses is one that is long overdue. At the end of the day, travel is a luxury, and a mode of travel being shared that is more inclusive (and environmentally-friendly) is, well, sorely needed. Seeing people get creative with the concept of travel (like this mom who transformed her home into a world tour), has been one of the cooler things to come out of this pandemic.
Recipes to Transport You
If I could do a before the pandemic/after the pandemic montage of my cooking, it would look a little something like this: soggy cereal vs. a homemade heirloom tomato tart.
It is no exaggeration that at the start of this pandemic, I was congratulating myself for successfully making frozen pasta. Today, I am hard on myself if my homemade coq au vin is slightly over salted. I’ve come a long way and, as Ratatouille famously put it, I’m getting fancy with the spices now.
Throughout the pandemic, cooking has allowed me to traverse the globe through flavor. From coconut stews reminiscent of Thailand to cacio e pepe that brings me right back to Rome, my palate has had quite the year of travel.
My latest cooking endeavor has been this French-style apple tart (tarte tatin) that brings me right back to the streets of Paris. Oh, how I long for the day when I’ll be sitting at a sidewalk table in front of Café du Flor, trying my best to look Parisian. In the meantime, there is this sticky, sweet, caramel-y, apple tart (best paired with champagne).
If you want this apple tart recipe and other goodies, say oui to becoming a paid newsletter subscriber. The recipe will appear in your inbox within 1-2 days.
Woman to Watch: Monique Greenwood
One of my favorite things about Unearth Women is our Women to Watch series, in which we spotlight the work of inspiring women across industries. Today, I want to spotlight Monique Greenwood, who is the former Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine. Monique left her glitzy life in publishing to make a career change and open a bed & breakfast in Brooklyn, Akwaaba Mansion. Since then, she has become a successful hotelier with B&Bs in four different states. Read our full interview with Monique (including her brush with Oprah!) here.
Things to Do this Week
Register to vote and encourage others to do the same. Buy a shirt from Social Goods, which supports a non-profit with every purchase. I’m currently wearing this shirt, which supports voting and civic engagement through the non-profit, Eleanor's Legacy.
If you’re new to Unearth Women, pick up a copy of our past print issues. The stories are timeless and celebrate the incredible contributions women have made around the globe. Catch up on season one of the Unearth Women podcast, available on iTunes or Spotify.
Great format, thank you!