Viewers of Netflix’s documentary series about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no doubt remember the sweet story of Meghan’s service to Grenfell Tower disaster survivors in the community kitchen and ultimately helping to distribute their recipes, with the proceeds going to further support the community. Now, her next step into the world of charity cooking has us wondering if she’s about to make the move to full-time influencer.
Penguin Random House recently announced that chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen will be releasing its first cookbook to raise funds for relief efforts, which features contributions from Michelle Obama, Aisha Curry, Guy Fieri …… and the Duchess of Sussex. Specifically, the recipe for her favourite lemon olive oil cake, from People. Previously, she had sent hospitality to women restaurateurs in Chicago during the pandemic, noting that the lemons came from her backyard (Southern California is full of citrus, and Markle went to Northwestern University outside Chicago, so it was kind of perfect).
Andrés and the Sussexes have worked together for charity before and the chef considers the couple to be his dear friends, as he previously told People magazine. “I love them…. For me, it’s nice to call them friends. I’ve spent my life trying to understand what we’re really missing, because why is there still hunger? What are we missing? We have to make the most of the opportunities for kindness and I believe that with people like Megan and Harry we can do that,” says Andres. The book was published in September, my birthday in October, hint hint.
It’s a genuine gesture and a very tasty cake, no doubt, but we also feel a lifestyle is quietly kicking in, don’t we? Before she became royalty, Meghan Markle was involved in acting, charity work …… and like other stars of that era, she was blogging. While she was with Harry, she shut down her website The Tig, but she will reportedly be relaunching the platform soon. She has re-established herself as a fashion and podcast icon, but to really dominate the lifestyle scene she needs a few more signature recipes.
