Day: September 21, 2025

• Chef Samin Nosrat showed Meghan Markle how to make a chicken and bread salad on “With Love, Meghan.”
• I tried the recipe, which features homemade croutons and a passion fruit vinaigrette.
• The delicious salad is filled with ingredients, and making it helped me become a better cook.

While watching season two of “With Love, Meghan,” one recipe immediately caught my eye.

In the fourth episode of Meghan Markle’s Netflix show, James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Samin Nosrat shows the Duchess of Sussex how to make a roast chicken and bread salad.

Inspired by a dish from the iconic Zuni Café in San Francisco, the salad was packed with colorful vegetables, homemade croutons, and a passion fruit vinaigrette.

It was unlike any salad I had made before, and it looked incredible.

The chicken and bread salad is a cornucopia of veggies, fruit, and cheese.

To make this roasted chicken and bread salad, you’ll need:

• A few slices of sourdough bread, cut or torn into large pieces, for the croutons
• ½ of a leftover roast chicken, shredded and cold
• 5-6 cups of fresh lettuce, cut irregularly
• Radicchio, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• Dates, pitted and chopped into small bite-sized pieces
• Toasted pine nuts, to taste
• Parmesan cheese, broken into chunks with a knife, to taste

If you have time the night before, I recommend shredding your leftover roast chicken while it’s still warm. Not only will it be easier, but it’ll also save you time while making the salad.

If you’re looking for a good chicken recipe, you can try this “engagement roast chicken” that Meghan swears by.

“I have done it so many times; I can do it with my eyes closed,” she says during the “With Love, Meghan” episode. “I roasted a chicken the night my husband proposed to me. Roast chicken is what we served at our wedding. I make it at least once a week.”

For the vinaigrette, you’ll need:

• 3 ripe passion fruit, the fruit and the seeds
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil
• Freshly squeezed juice from one lemon
• A splash of persimmon vinegar
• Honey, to taste

As you’ll see, many ingredients don’t have precise measurements listed alongside them. This was how the recipe was written, not my attempt to make your life harder!

If you’ve read Nosrat’s cookbook, “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat,” you’ll know she is a big proponent of tasting every step of your recipe. It’s a great reminder for this dish, which is all about playing with different textures.

My advice is to layer the salad carefully and thoughtfully. How many dates do you need before the bite becomes too sticky? How much Parmesan is required for a satisfyingly salty bite?

I began by making the homemade croutons.

After preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, I chopped pieces of sourdough from three slices of bread (I couldn’t find a boule at my local supermarket) and arranged them on a baking sheet. Nosrat recommends lining the sheet with parchment paper, but my aluminum foil worked in a pinch.

I drizzled olive oil on top, tossing the sourdough to coat it before evenly spreading the pieces on the baking sheet.

I popped my croutons in the oven for 25 minutes.

Nosrat says you should shake the croutons every five minutes or so. You’ll know they’re ready when they look crispy and crunchy.

While the croutons were baking, I toasted my pine nuts.

I threw my pine nuts into a dry skillet over medium-low heat. It can take about three to five minutes for the pine nuts to toast, but make sure you stir frequently so they don’t burn!

When the pine nuts were ready, I transferred them to a cool bowl so they wouldn’t continue to cook.

When I took my croutons out of the oven, I realized I had almost burned them.

Nosrat recommends baking your croutons for 15 to 25 minutes. Mine had barely changed by the 15-minute mark, so I added 10 minutes to the timer.

The croutons still tasted good, but I recommend keeping a closer eye on them after 20 minutes to ensure you capture that golden sweet spot.

Once my croutons were ready, I prepped my veggies for the vinaigrette.

I minced my shallot and crushed my garlic, using my knife to smash each clove.

Since the garlic cloves will be removed from the vinaigrette, try not to smash them too hard. It’ll save you time digging around for the chunks in the vinaigrette. (I speak from personal experience.)

It was around this time that I realized I had bought the wrong main ingredient for the vinaigrette.

I have to be honest with you — I had never seen or tasted a passion fruit before I made this recipe. So when I walked by a farmers market stand and saw a sign advertising them, I excitedly grabbed the first box I saw.

When I sliced into these little things, I realized they looked nothing like the juicy fruit Nosrat had used on Meghan’s show. I sent a picture to one of my friends who immediately replied, “I’m afraid you got bamboozled, those are figs.”

I felt pretty embarrassed, but I realized I was in good company when I rewatched the episode.

“I don’t think I had fresh passion fruit until a few years ago,” Nosrat tells Meghan as they cook. “And then I was like, ‘What is this thing!'”

Thanks to an emergency DoorDash order, my passion fruit quickly arrived.

If you had any questions or doubts, these are what your passion fruit should look like.

With the correct ingredients on hand, it was finally time to make the passion fruit vinaigrette.

Nosrat says to add the shallot and passion fruit “into a mortar and pestle and grind.”

Unfortunately, I lack a mortar and pestle, so I added them to a sturdy bowl and used the end of my French rolling pin to grind them instead. It seemed to work!

I added the lemon juice, stirring with a spoon, before throwing in a splash of persimmon vinegar.

This is also when I added the smashed garlic cloves, which should steep in the vinaigrette until it’s time to dress the salad (then just remove them with a spoon).

I slowly whisked the extra-virgin olive oil into my dressing before adding the honey.

Nosrat recommends adjusting the dressing as needed with more olive oil, salt, vinegar, lemon juice, or honey, making sure to “work in small amounts until it is just right.”

I followed her advice to taste every step of the way. When I tried the dressing right after adding the ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil, it completely overpowered every other flavor in the vinaigrette. So I added small splashes of everything — a little persimmon vinegar here, some lemon juice there, a hearty pinch of salt. When I tasted it again, I realized it still needed more acidity, so I added another splash of vinegar. Then it needed more sweetness, so I drizzled in a bit more honey.

When it finally tasted perfect, I couldn’t even begin to tell you how accomplished I felt knowing I had built the dressing myself.

It was time to build the salad! But first, I needed to dress the chicken…

In “With Love, Meghan,” Nosrat explains that she likes building this salad in layers. I’ll let her explain.

“I want every bite to be the best bite,” she tells Meghan. “So I like making sure that all the parts individually taste good. Things absorb dressing differently — the right amount of dressing for the chicken might not be the same as the right amount of dressing for the lettuce.”

Nosrat also notes that leftover chicken often “needs a little perking.” So I added a pinch of salt before tossing it with some of my passion fruit vinaigrette.

… and the croutons.

I put one-third of my homemade croutons in a bowl and drizzled them with some vinaigrette before tossing them together.

“I like having multiple textures in the salad, so if I’m having bread salad, I don’t want it to all be too crunchy or all be too soggy,” Nosrat tells Meghan while dressing the individual ingredients, adding that you “need some sog, some crunch.”

I chopped my lettuce and radicchio before adding them to a separate salad bowl.

Nosrat recommends chopping the radicchio, which adds some lovely color, into bite-sized pieces.

I threw in some chopped parsley, dates, pine nuts, Parmesan, and another third of the croutons.

Nosrat has a trick for the Parmesan chunks, which she showed Meghan during the episode.

“You just flick off these little bits,” Nosrat says, using her knife to create small chunks of the cheese.

After seasoning the salad with vinaigrette and salt, I tossed everything together. Then I added the dressed chicken and tossed again.

Nosrat recommends using your hands, which she calls “your most incredible tools,” to toss the salad.

“I can feel when the lettuces are dressed. I can feel every piece of this in a way I would never feel with tongs,” she tells Meghan during the episode. “A lot of people have feelings it’s gross to use your hands, but to me, there’s nothing gross about it — we’re going to eat it.”

I added more of the dates, Parmesan, and croutons before serving with the remaining vinaigrette.

A note of caution — don’t go too heavy-handed on the dates. I threw in about six chopped dates, and their sweet flavor and gummy texture overpowered some bites of the salad. I recommend starting with three and tasting before adding any more.

The chicken and bread salad is a delicious journey full of different flavors and textures.

Nosrat describes this salad as a “panzanella with a passion fruit vinaigrette,” which I think is selling her own dish just a bit short. The dish has been constructed to provide so much for your taste buds with every bite. It’s fresh and crisp, crunchy and soggy, sweet and salty.

The depth is unlike any I’ve achieved in a salad I’ve made at home, and it feels all the more rewarding since Nosrat’s recipe gently guides you to find the perfect balance on your own. My one addition would be some avocado, which I added to leftovers the next day to balance out some of the sweetness from my extra dates.

Full transparency — this salad takes some time, and there are a lot of bowls that end up in the sink. But if you’re looking for a recipe that tastes delicious and will improve your skills as a chef, I can think of no better one than this.

• President Donald Trump’s H-1B visa fee order sparked panic among tech workers in the US.
• Trump announced a new $100,000 visa fee on Friday, prompting some companies to urge visa holders to return to the US.
• Some techies say they are canceling travel plans and reconsidering their lives in the US.

On Friday, the White House announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications, sparking a wave of confusion and panic as companies and workers scrambled to make sense of the order.

Three tech workers from across the US explained how they spent Friday night and Saturday.

Two spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation for speaking to the media; Business Insider has verified their identities.

1. Sherin Sunny, a senior software engineering manager at Walmart

I studied engineering back home in India and got recruited into a US-based tech company straight out of college.

After working at the company’s Indian operations for about three years, I was given the opportunity to transfer to the US because I was one of the few people familiar with the technology and their customers.

I received my H-1B right away and moved to the US in 2013.

The green card backlog for Indian-born applicants has kept me on an H-1B for 12 years, with no clear end in sight.

I first saw the news that the president had signed a proclamation for a $100,000 H-1B visa fee on Friday.

The last 36 hours have felt like being on call for a production outage, except the system being debugged is my career.

At first, it wasn’t clear whether this applied to new H-1B applications, renewals, or even H-4 dependents, such as my wife. I was also worried about who would have to pay the fees — employees or their companies — and if firms would be willing or able to pay this fee for thousands of H-1B workers.

I have been constantly checking YouTube, LinkedIn, and the White House official channels for clearer instructions.

Many companies have already advised employees to avoid travel, and some friends who were abroad on H-1Bs have even been asked to return before September 21st.

I saw my friends who were visiting India book last-minute flights to get back to the US after calls with their human resource teams. Everyone was stressed about them not being able to come back to the US.

I was planning to travel to India for vacation, but I need to rethink that because of the uncertainty around whether current visa stampings will be impacted.

My sister, who recently gave birth, also planned to travel soon, but canceled her trip this weekend. She would have been flying back with my mother, who was visiting us, and I had to scramble to find someone who could make the trip back to India with our mom.

The White House’s update that it would only impact people in the next lottery cycle brought a lot of relief.

The anxiety of this weekend and the lack of a clear pathway to a more permanent residency are now making us rethink things.

We might decide that if it’s getting harder to live on the H-1B, it’s better to go back to our home country rather than being stressed out in the US.

2. A Big Tech software engineer on the West Coast

I moved from India to the US a decade ago to pursue a master’s in engineering. I’ve been with my current company since graduating from the program.

I received my H-1B visa on my third try in the lottery. I was anxious leading up to it and had already started exploring what my fallback options could be.

I found out about the new White House order on the H-1B visa on Friday from friends who began checking up on me and whether the new rules would affect me.

I opened ChatGPT and asked what exactly the order was, what criteria of H-1B holders it affected, and if there were any changes to alternative visas like the E-B1 or E-B2. More than H-1B, I was hoping there were no changes to the green card routes.

I was planning a holiday in a couple of months, but I’ve punted planning that trip and buying tickets. It doesn’t make sense for me to book something and then not be allowed to travel.

The White House’s clarification about how the new rules only apply to new applicants was definitely relieving.

After years in the US, my spouse and I have the mindset of not letting these changes affect us too much. We say that if we’re here temporarily, let’s make the most of it and continue to grow in our careers by making ourselves more indispensable.

But in the past year, I’ve started to explore ways I can build a more credible profile so that I qualify for more expedited green card options.

Since the administration changed, I’ve also been making sure we are renewing our documents and getting our passport stampings done proactively and not waiting until the last minute.

It’s made me feel the pain of new graduates and how difficult it would be for them to come to the US, pay off student loans, and get an opportunity to find an employer that would be supportive of them working here.

That will be a big challenge, at least for the next 12 months, but I’m hoping people are still supportive of the highly skilled talent that comes through.

3. A software engineer in Bay Area tech

I came to the US in 2018 to pursue my master’s in computer engineering.

I was fortunate enough to get my H-1B visa on my first attempt when I was still in graduate school.

Even though I did not move from India with the expectation to stay in the US long term, I felt relieved to get the visa and thought it gave me an option to stay longer if I wanted.

I’ve worked for multiple Big Tech companies since graduating and am currently a software engineer at a tech firm based in Silicon Valley.

It’s been a tough 36 hours.

I was wrapping up work on a Friday evening and solving a client issue when a friend called and started telling me about what was going on.

I instantly started Googling and reading about it, trying to figure out what exactly had happened.

I was troubled because I am going through an H-1B extension right now, and I thought I would be impacted.

I spoke to my wife, who was out of town for the weekend, and we decided she should not travel back to India for her visa stamping. We’re waiting for things to cool down before booking any tickets.

After our call, I was frustrated, so I went to play pickleball with my friends to work out some of those emotions.

I came home to a call from my mom back in India. My parents heard the news, and they asked me what was going on and why I didn’t just leave the US and work somewhere else. I told them we should wait for things to settle down before making a big decision.

My friends, most of whom work at Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft, are all in the same boat. At dinner after the game, we chatted about the new order and what we should do.

That night, I watched webinars from immigration and employment lawyers to try to make sense of the proclamation. I told myself that there was not much I could do right now besides going to sleep.

New guidance from the immigration authority about existing H-1B holders has made me feel like I’m off the hook, but my wife and I are still waiting for more confirmation before making travel plans.

My reason to come to the US was that it’s the heart of innovation. But I was doing well in my previous role in India before I came for my master’s, and I’ve been thinking about whether it makes sense to live here long term.

I’ve started thinking about options such as the Global Talent visa in the UK or opportunities in Singapore.

Being in Silicon Valley is rewarding from a work perspective, because the people here are at the top of their game, but now it feels like, is it really worth it?

Have a tip? Contact Shubhangi Goel via email at sgoel@businessinsider.com or Signal at shuby.85. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.

No hard evidence exists that the apparel firm Hollister officially supports Israel in the Israel-Palestine war. Hollister does not appear in any public documents or boycott lists designating businesses that engage with Israel. Nevertheless, the clothing firm is not linked to calls for a truce in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Despite accusations from certain activist groups claiming that a corporation named “Hollister” or its affiliates engage in military supply, the apparel brand has not been specifically implicated, reports 24brussels.

History of Hollister

The first Hollister store opened in Columbus, Ohio, at the Easton Town Center, on July 27, 2000. This was followed by the establishment of four additional test stores in Paramus, New Jersey; Overland Park, Kansas; Buford, Georgia; and Canoga Park, California. Although Hollister Co. was founded in 2000, Abercrombie & Fitch has crafted a narrative around its founder, John Hollister, Sr., who left New York for the Dutch East Indies and returned to the United States in 1922, later establishing the business in California. The company entered the Canadian market in January 2006, opening stores in Toronto, Ontario.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. invested over $10 million starting in the summer of 2007 to build video walls across Hollister Co. stores, enabling live feeds from Surf City in Huntington Beach, California. To facilitate this, Hollister reimburses the city of Huntington Beach for the camera infrastructure. The brand’s first international store opened in Brent Cross, London, on October 25, 2008. Following the success of its UK outlets, it opened additional locations in December 2008 at Westfield, London, and at Bluewater shopping center in Kent. By May 14, 2009, the brand expanded beyond London with a store in the WestQuay Shopping Center in Southampton, having five outlets in the UK by early 2010, the most recent in Milton Keynes.

Why brand stances on Israel matter?

Customers are increasingly encouraged to avoid purchasing from companies such as Starbucks and McDonald’s, perceived as supporters of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 28,000 Palestinians. These boycotts form part of the larger Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign led by Palestinians aimed at exerting pressure on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territories. Companies like McDonald’s and Starbucks have faced scrutiny amidst the conflict; in a recent earnings call, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan cited a drop in share prices due to poor sales, stating that “events in the Middle East also had an impact in the US, driven by misperceptions about our position.”

The intensifying debate over the boycott of Israeli products has prompted Islamic leaders to recommend avoiding Israeli firms, particularly in light of the historical significance of Masjid Al Aqsa in Islam. The movement to boycott Israeli products and those that financially support Israel has attracted growing international attention, urging consumers to reject firms perceived to fund Israel.

Overview of the Israel-Palestine conflict and consumer activism

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has displaced millions and resulted in numerous casualties, leaving many supporters of the Palestinian cause feeling helpless. Protests have erupted worldwide, even as political dissent faces restrictions in various nations. Boycotting products perceived as supporting Israel offers consumers a way to express their dissent. Major American corporations like Starbucks and McDonald’s have become targets of allegations concerning their supposed backing of Israel’s military actions. Notably, McDonald’s has come under fire for reportedly providing free lunches to the Israeli army, while Starbucks has faced a legal dispute related to pro-Palestinian messaging.

The tradition of consumer boycotts against Western companies over geopolitical issues is longstanding and often fueled by cultural, religious, and political motivations. The BDS Movement advocates for boycotting Israeli goods and services, divestment from Israeli businesses, and sanctions on the Israeli government in response to its treatment of Palestinians. This initiative, likened to the anti-apartheid movement, emerged during the World Conference against Racism in South Africa in 2001.

What is known about Hollister’s corporate position?

Hollister has not publicly disclosed any official position regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The brand has not explicitly endorsed Israel nor engaged in political actions backing the Israeli government. Unlike other global brands, there are no records linking Hollister to political or financial support for Israeli actions, nor is it mentioned in boycott lists related to pro-Israel sentiments. It appears that Hollister maintains a neutral corporate stance on this geopolitical issue, lacking official statements or confirmed involvement in relevant controversies. Such non-engagement is typical among many fashion retailers who prefer not to alienate segments of their customer base.

How to verify corporate positions on controversial issues?

To assess a company’s stance on contentious issues, consider its public statements and corporate principles. Hollister’s Supplier Code of Conduct outlines the company’s commitments to social responsibility and ethical business practices, which can provide insight into their current position. Public apologies and responses to prior disputes also reveal how companies manage issues. For instance, Hollister has previously committed to diversity initiatives and issued apologies following incidents involving racism and model conduct controversies in South Korea.

It is also prudent to review legal documents and news articles about any allegations of discrimination or litigation involving Hollister. Cases relating to religious discrimination connected to hijab policies and an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit regarding accessibility modifications offer pertinent examples. Additionally, evaluating reports from advocacy groups and media coverage about Hollister’s actions can clarify how the company navigates public and regulatory scrutiny. While some brands openly engage in geopolitical discussions, Hollister’s lack of public communications on the topic indicates a desire to evade controversy related to Israel-Palestine relations.